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HESI A2 Mathematics practice questions

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These are original practice items written to the HESI A2 blueprint (4 options, no penalty for wrong answers), not actual exam questions. Try each one before you open the answer.

What this topic covers

Mathematics sits inside the Mathematics section of the HESI A2. Our bank holds 38 verified items tagged to it, and the 4 below are a fixed sample so the page stays the same every time you open it. Each one shows the reasoning, not just the letter.

The topic tag comes from our own items rather than from a published syllabus, so treat it as a map of what we cover. For the official section breakdown see the HESI A2 page.

Mathematics sample questions

Question 1

A nurse needs to combine 1/3 cup of saline with 1/4 cup of antiseptic. What is the total amount in cups?

  1. A 1/12
  2. B 2/7
  3. C 7/12
  4. D 1/6
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

To add fractions, find a common denominator. 1/3 = 4/12 and 1/4 = 3/12. Sum = 7/12 cup.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: 1/12 results from subtracting the fractions (4/12 - 3/12) instead of adding.
B: 2/7 results from incorrectly adding numerators and denominators (1+1=2, 3+4=7), which is not the correct method.
D: 1/6 results from incorrectly adding numerators (1+1=2) and using the product of denominators (3×4=12) to get 2/12 = 1/6.

Question 2

A patient is to receive 0.75 liters of intravenous fluid. How many milliliters is this?

  1. A 7.5 mL
  2. B 750 mL
  3. C 75 mL
  4. D 7500 mL
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

1 liter equals 1000 milliliters. To convert 0.75 liters to milliliters, multiply by 1000: 0.75 × 1000 = 750 mL. Option A (75 mL) would be 0.075 L. Option C (7.5 mL) would be 0.0075 L. Option D (7500 mL) would be 7.5 L.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: 7.5 mL is equivalent to 0.0075 L, which is too small.
C: 75 mL is equivalent to 0.075 L, not 0.75 L.
D: 7500 mL is equivalent to 7.5 L, which is ten times the given amount.

Question 3

A medication is supplied as 250 mg per 5 mL. How many mL are needed to administer a 100 mg dose?

  1. A 2.5 mL
  2. B 2 mL
  3. C 1 mL
  4. D 5 mL
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Set up a proportion: 250 mg / 5 mL = 100 mg / x mL. Cross-multiply: 250x = 500, so x = 2 mL. This can also be computed as a concentration of 50 mg/mL (250 ÷ 5), then 100 mg ÷ 50 mg/mL = 2 mL.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: 2.5 mL would contain 125 mg (50 × 2.5), which is too much.
C: 1 mL would contain only 50 mg, not enough for a 100 mg dose.
D: 5 mL would contain 250 mg, which is the full strength of the entire vial, too much.

Question 4

What is 1/3 + 1/4?

  1. A 2/12
  2. B 2/7
  3. C 7/12
  4. D 1/7
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C

Find a common denominator of 12: 1/3 = 4/12, 1/4 = 3/12. Sum = 4/12 + 3/12 = 7/12.

Why the other options are wrong:
A: This adds only the numerators without converting to a common denominator (1+1=2 over 12).
B: This incorrectly adds numerators and denominators directly (1+1=2, 3+4=7).
D: This incorrectly uses 1/7 by adding denominators and using 1 as numerator.

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Related pages

All HESI A2 sample questions 7 sections All Mathematics questions 7 topics Mathematics: Fractions with explanations Mathematics: Unit and Dosage Conversions with explanations Mathematics: Ratios and Proportions with explanations TEAS 7 sample questions with explanations NCLEX-RN sample questions with explanations

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