No-Calculator Arithmetic, Algebra, Ratios, Rates, and Estimation
Math Skills questions test scratch-paper arithmetic, algebra, ratios, proportions, rates, and estimation without a calculator.
How to study for the SIFT
Use the seven SIFT subtests as your map: build fast visual accuracy, then rotate aviation knowledge, spatial orientation, reading, math, and mechanical reasoning.
Core concepts
Concept 1
No-Calculator Arithmetic, Algebra, Ratios, Rates, and Estimation questions reward the answer that follows the official source, the professional role, and the stated facts.
Exam cue: Identify the candidate role, client or public risk, source rule, calculation, or process step being tested.
Concept 2
The strongest answer identifies the rule, safety concern, ethical duty, calculation, client factor, or process step before acting.
Exam cue: Check whether the fact pattern is using a national standard, jurisdiction rule, handbook policy, or scenario-specific instruction.
Concept 3
Eliminate answers that ignore requirements, skip documentation, overreach the role, or treat convenience as the standard.
Exam cue: Choose the compliant and professionally scoped answer before the convenient or familiar answer.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Treating related standards as interchangeable without checking the source.
Guardrail: Avoid answers that rely only on habit, ignore the stated source, skip safety or compliance steps, or choose convenience over the professional standard.
Skipping screening, documentation, authorization, sanitation, recordkeeping, or other required procedure.
Guardrail: Avoid answers that rely only on habit, ignore the stated source, skip safety or compliance steps, or choose convenience over the professional standard.
Choosing an answer that protects convenience instead of client safety, public protection, or the stated professional duty.
Guardrail: Avoid answers that rely only on habit, ignore the stated source, skip safety or compliance steps, or choose convenience over the professional standard.
Memory anchors
No Calculator
No-calculator work requires clean setup, estimation, and arithmetic control.
Ratio
A ratio compares quantities by division.
Proportion
A proportion states that two ratios are equal.
Rate
A rate compares quantities with different units, such as miles per hour.
Variable
A variable represents an unknown quantity.
Equation
An equation states that two expressions are equal.
Estimation
Estimation checks whether a computed answer is reasonable.
Unit Conversion
Unit conversion changes measurement units while preserving the same amount.
Percent Change
Percent change divides the amount of change by the original value.
Work Rate
When people work together, add task-per-time rates rather than averaging completion times.
Direct Variation
In direct variation, the ratio y divided by x remains constant.
Independent Probability
Multiply probabilities to find the chance that independent events both occur.
Weighted Mean
Multiply each score by its weight and add the weighted results.
Absolute Value
Absolute value measures distance from zero and is never negative.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What is 3/4 + 5/8?
What is 7/9 − 1/6?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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