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Trade Mathematics Course 2026

This course is for apprentices, trades helpers and anyone preparing for trade school or a trades exam. Six lessons cover fractions and the tape measure, conversions and scale drawings, area and volume, ratios and percentages, right triangles and trigonometry, and estimating materials and costs, with worked examples from construction, electrical, plumbing, carpentry and welding. Each lesson has an untimed topic quiz, and a timed final assessment unlocks a Certificate of Completion when you score 80% or more.

  • Course
  • Canada
  • 90 questions
  • Checked October 13, 2026
  • Fact-checked October 13, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 240 minutes of lessons, 6 untimed topic quizzes (90 questions in all) and a timed final assessment of 35 questions drawn at random. Score 80% or more on the final assessment to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.

Start with the lessonsTrade Mathematics Course: Lessons: about 240 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

  • Read imperial and metric tapes and work with fractions of an inch
  • Convert between imperial and metric units, including areas and volumes
  • Read real lengths from metric and imperial scale drawings
  • Calculate perimeter, area and volume for rooms, slabs, footings, tanks and pipes
  • Use ratios, percentages, slope and roof pitch on the job
  • Use the Pythagorean theorem and basic trigonometry for layout, rafters and offsets
  • Estimate material quantities and build a job price with labour and GST

Score 80% or more to download your certificate.

Your study plan

Read each lesson, take its topic quiz (untimed, with explanations), then the timed final assessment. A new mix of questions is drawn every time. Your progress is saved in this browser.

  1. Read the lessons6 lessons, about 240 min
  2. Topic quiz 1: Fractions, decimals and the tape measure15 questions
  3. Topic quiz 2: Measurement, conversions and scale drawings15 questions
  4. Topic quiz 3: Perimeter, area and volume15 questions
  5. Topic quiz 4: Ratios, proportions and percentages15 questions
  6. Topic quiz 5: Angles, right triangles and trigonometry15 questions
  7. Topic quiz 6: Estimating materials and costs15 questions
  8. Final exam35 questions, 35 min · Score 80% or more

Topic quiz 1: Fractions, decimals and the tape measure

  1. Question 1 of 15

    A tape measure is marked in sixteenths of an inch. How many sixteenths are in 3/4 in?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 12

    3/4 = 12/16, because you multiply the top and bottom by 4. So 3/4 in is 12 sixteenth marks.

  2. Question 2 of 15

    You measure a gap of 10/16 in. What is this fraction in lowest terms?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 5/8 in

    Divide the top and the bottom by the same number. 10 ÷ 2 = 5 and 16 ÷ 2 = 8, so 10/16 = 5/8.

  3. Question 3 of 15

    What is 7/8 in as a decimal?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 0.875 in

    Divide the top by the bottom: 7 ÷ 8 = 0.875. (0.625 is 5/8 and 0.75 is 3/4.)

  4. Question 4 of 15

    A carpenter adds two measurements: 2 3/8 in + 1 3/4 in. What is the total?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 4 1/8 in

    Change 3/4 to 6/8, then add: 3/8 + 6/8 = 9/8 = 1 1/8. Add the whole numbers (2 + 1 = 3) and the carried 1 to get 4 1/8 in.

  5. Question 5 of 15

    A board is 96 in long. You cut off a piece 35 5/8 in long. Ignoring the saw cut, how long is the piece that is left?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 60 3/8 in

    Borrow 1 inch: 96 = 95 8/8. Then 95 8/8 − 35 5/8 = 60 3/8 in.

  6. Question 6 of 15

    You cut 4 pieces, each 18 1/4 in long, from one board. Each cut removes 1/8 in of wood (the kerf), and you make 4 cuts. How much of the board do you use?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 73 1/2 in

    Pieces: 4 × 18 1/4 = 73 in. Kerf: 4 × 1/8 = 1/2 in. Total 73 + 1/2 = 73 1/2 in.

  7. Question 7 of 15

    You stack 6 spacer blocks. Each block is 1 5/8 in thick. How tall is the stack?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 9 3/4 in

    Change 1 5/8 to an improper fraction: 13/8. Then 6 × 13/8 = 78/8 = 9 6/8 = 9 3/4 in.

  8. Question 8 of 15

    You must divide 72 in into 5 equal spaces. What is each space, to the nearest 1/16 in?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 14 3/8 in

    72 ÷ 5 = 14.4 in. 0.4 × 16 = 6.4 sixteenths, which rounds to 6/16 = 3/8. So each space is about 14 3/8 in.

  9. Question 9 of 15

    A plan gives a length of 12.75 ft. What is this in feet and inches?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 12 ft 9 in

    Only the decimal part changes: 0.75 ft × 12 = 9 in. So 12.75 ft = 12 ft 9 in, not 12 ft 7.5 in.

  10. Question 10 of 15

    A metric tape reads 1 metre, 4 centimetres and 7 millimetres. What is this length in metres?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 1.047 m

    4 cm = 0.04 m and 7 mm = 0.007 m. 1 + 0.04 + 0.007 = 1.047 m.

  11. Question 11 of 15

    On a tape marked in sixteenths, the end of a part lines up 5 small marks past the 2-inch line. How long is the part?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 2 5/16 in

    Each small mark is 1/16 in, so 5 marks = 5/16 in. The length is 2 5/16 in.

  12. Question 12 of 15

    You join three pieces of pipe: 1.25 m, 760 mm and 0.6 m. What is the total length?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 2.61 m

    Put everything in metres first: 760 mm = 0.76 m. Then 1.25 + 0.76 + 0.6 = 2.61 m.

  13. Question 13 of 15

    A drawing gives a thickness of 0.3125 in. What fraction of an inch is this?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 5/16 in

    Multiply by 16: 0.3125 × 16 = 5. So 0.3125 in = 5/16 in.

  14. Question 14 of 15

    Which of these drill bit sizes is the largest?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 5/8 in

    Change each to a decimal: 5/8 = 0.625, 19/32 = 0.594, 0.6 and 9/16 = 0.5625. 0.625 is the largest.

  15. Question 15 of 15

    A board is 47 3/8 in long. Where do you mark its centre, measured from one end?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 23 11/16 in

    Half of 47 is 23 1/2 = 23 8/16, and half of 3/8 (6/16) is 3/16. 23 8/16 + 3/16 = 23 11/16 in.

What to know before the test

  • The Government of Canada's Skills for Success model defines numeracy as the ability to find, understand, use and report mathematical information in words, numbers, symbols and graphics.
  • Numeracy is one of nine Skills for Success. The model describes five numeracy proficiency levels; at the highest level, tasks have several steps and numbers may need to be derived or estimated.
  • Under the Weights and Measures Act, all units of measurement used in Canada are based on the International System of Units (SI).
  • The Act defines the yard as exactly 0.9144 metre and the inch as 1/36 of a yard, so 1 inch is exactly 25.4 mm.
  • The Act defines the Canadian gallon as 0.00454609 cubic metre (4.54609 L) and the pound as 0.45359237 kilogram.
  • Red Seal exam questions are multiple choice with four choices and one correct answer, and the pass mark is 70%.
  • The Red Seal exam guide advises candidates to know the math concepts used in their trade and to estimate the answer to a calculation question first.
  • The Canada Revenue Agency lists the GST rate in Alberta as 5%, with no provincial sales tax.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Certificate of Completion, and what is it not?

It shows that you finished this course and scored at least 80% on the final assessment. It is not an accredited qualification, a Red Seal or apprenticeship credential, or a government, employer or vendor certification.

Will this course prepare me for the Red Seal exam?

It practises the general math that many trades use, which can help. The Red Seal exam also tests the full knowledge of your trade, so study your trade's occupational standard and official Red Seal preparation materials too.

Does the course use metric or imperial units?

Both, because Canadian job sites use both. Lesson 2 shows how to convert between them using the exact definitions in the Weights and Measures Act.

Can I use a calculator?

Yes. Most questions are easier with a calculator, and the trigonometry questions need one set to degrees. Estimate the answer first so you can spot a slip.

How does the final assessment work?

It has 35 questions drawn at random from the course question bank, with a 35-minute time limit. You need 80% to pass, and each attempt gives a new mix of questions.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

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