FTCE General Knowledge Math: Sales Tax, Simplifying Expressions & Factoring

What's going on, my math party people! Welcome back to the Duran Learning FTCE GK Math channel - your go-to resource for passing the FTCE General Knowledge Math test and becoming a certified Florida teacher! In today's video, Coach Anderson walks you through 3 FTCE-style multiple choice problems covering two key competency areas: Number Sense and Algebraic Thinking. These are exactly the kinds of problems you will see on test day, so let's get into it! --- 📚 PROBLEMS COVERED TODAY: 0:00 - Ava buys a blender for $65 and a mixer for $95. Both have 6% sales tax. What is the combined tax? 3:36 - What is the coefficient of x when the expression (-27x - 2) - (-2x - 13) is simplified? 6:35 - Which expression is equivalent to x^3 + 34x^2? --- 🧠 COMPETENCIES COVERED: Knowledge of Number Sense, Concepts, and Operations: Solve real-world problems involving financial literacy, such as calculating percentages with rational numbers. Knowledge of Algebraic Thinking and the Coordinate Plane: Determine whether two algebraic expressions are equivalent by applying properties of operations or equality. This skill also shows up on the Praxis Core Math exam, so if you are preparing for both, today's algebra problems are working double duty for you! --- 💡 QUICK TIPS FOR TEST DAY: For sales tax problems, add the prices first and then apply the percentage rate - one multiplication step saves time and reduces errors. When subtracting expressions, distribute the negative sign carefully before combining like terms. That sign is where most points are lost! When factoring, always look for the greatest common factor first. Pulling out a shared variable term can simplify a problem in seconds. --- 🔥 Pass the FTCE GK Math with confidence - Coach Anderson is here to help: 🌐 Free Practice Test & GK Math Course: https://teachers.duranlearning.com 📧 Email us for help: teachers@DuranLearning.com #FTCE #GKMath #teachercertification #generalknowledgemath #salestax #simplifyingexpressions #factoringexpressions #praxis #praxiscoremath