GRE Math 1 Flashcards
Prime Number
Only divisible by 1 and itself ; must be greater than zero
smallest prime number is 2
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23,29
Zero
The only non-negative and non-positive integer
0 is an even number
is a multiple of every number
Integers
Whole numbers, negative numbers and Zero
Numbers we count with
Impossible to determine whether non-integers are even or odd
Digits
Math alphabet: they form numbers
2
the only even prime number
Factors
Small positive integer that divides evenly into a bigger number
GCF: The largest factor shared by a set of numbers
finite set of factors
Multiple
an integer that is the result of multiplying an integer by another integer …big numbers generated by multiplying smaller numbers
LCM: The smallest multiple shared by a set of numbers
infinite set of multiples
Remainder
always smaller than the number we are dividing by
Divisible by 2
if the number is even
if the units digits (the last number: 252…2) is even
Divisible by 3
if the sum of the digits is divisible by 3
Divisible by 4
if the 2-digit number formed by the last two digits is divisible by 4
Divisible by 5
if the last digit is 0 or 5
Divisible by 6
if the number is divisible by both 2 and 3
if and only if it is even and the sum of its digits is divisible by 3
Divisible by 9
if the sum of the digits is divisible by 9
Divisible by 10
if the last digit is 0
Average
Sum of values / number of values
Standard Deviation
A measure of how spread out a set of numbers is from the average. the larger the standard deviation, the more spread apart the numbers in a set
Prime Factorization
A number as expressed as the product of its prime factors
20 = 2 x 2 x 5
Converting a fraction into a decimal
divide the numerator by the denominator using long division
Converting a decimal to a fraction
numerator: move the decimal to the right until the number is an integer (whole)
denominator: count the number of places the decimal was moved, and then put the same number of 0s after a 1
ex) .45 = 45/100 = 9/20
ex) 6.75 = 6 and 3/4
Improper Fractions
Numerator is greater than the denominator
Mixed Fractions
Fractions that contain a whole number: 1 and 7/8
convert mixed fraction to manipulate them:
- multiply the whole number by the denominator
- add the numerator
- place total over denominator
ex) 1 and 7/8 = 15/8
Multiplying Fractions
Multiple numerators and denominators separately
Dividing Fractions
Multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction
the reciprocal of any number between 0 and 1, is greater than 1
Ratios
must be expressed in lowest, reduced terms
Relationships to each other ; values represent smallest possible quantity of each item… but you can have any multiple of each item
Real vs. Relationship Quantities - Relationship quantities do not dictate the actual quantity they are just a representation of the smallest possible quantity
Ration Formula:
(ratio)(x/total)
(ratio)(actual)
4/9 = x/36; x = 16
*if given only an actual number, the total of the ratio (a:b…a+b) must be a factor of the actual number ex) pg. 13
lab has 55 rabbits what could be the ratio of white rabbits to brown rabbits? 3:8 (8+3) bc 11 is a factor of 55
- when dealing with ratios, the total number needs to be divisible by the sum of the pieces of the ratio
when dealing with fractions, always try to clear the fractions:
- if you are given one fraction and a whole number multiply by the denominator to clear the fraction
- if you are given more than one fraction… do the division problem and then reduce … put colon between final fraction: 16/3 becomes 16:3
Percents
practice converting precent to fraction
type of ratio in which the total is always 100 … always try to get denominator of fraction to 100 o figure out what to multiple the numerator by
part/whole –> part/100
ex) 18 is what percent of 3?
what percent of means (x/100)
18 = (x/100)(3)
x=600
Percents to Fractions & Vice Versa:
*to convert a percent to a fraction divide the percent by 100% ex) 1/4% = (1/4)/100 = (1/4)(1/100) = 1/400 *
- to convert a fraction to a percent multiply it by 100% ex)
(12/5)(100%)=(12)(20%)=240%
*review photo in phone of common percent equivalents
Decimals to Percents and Vice Versa:
- to convert decimal to percent multiply it by 100% ex) (.002)(100%)= 0.2%*
- use the rules for multiplying by a power of 10… move the decimal point two places to the right and insert a percent sign
- to convert a percent to its decimal equivalent use the rules for dividing by powers of 10… move the decimal point two places to the left… what is the decimal equivalent of 32%? .32
if the denominator is 25, when trying to convert a fraction to a percent, you only have the multiply both the numerator and denominator by 4 in order to get the fraction to be over 100, which will give you the percent ex)
(7/25)(100%)= (7)(4%)= 28%
Percent Formula:
- part/whole(100%)
Percent Increase Formula:
- increase(100%)/original
Percent Decrease Formula:
- decrease(100%)/original
- the original is the base from which the change occurs…it may or may not be the first number mentioned in the problem*
ex) Two years ago, 450 seniors graduated from Inman High School. Last year 600 seniors graduated. By what percentage did the number of graduating seniors increase? - the original is the figure from the earlier time: 450
- the increase is 600 - 450, or 150. So the percent increase is: 150(100%)/450 = 33 and 1/3 %
Average and Statistics
AVG = Sum of Values / Number of Values
or…
AVG as the balance: difference between each term and the avg to determine what the unknown value needs to be in order to balance the other side of the avg
ex) avg of 3,4,5 and x is 5 … what is x?
diff bw 3&5 is 2; diff bw 4 and 5 is 1; diff bw 5 and 5 is 0… thus x must be 5+2+1+0 to balance the avg… x = 8
test question
the avg of six numbers is 6. If 3 is subtracted from each of four of the numbers, what is the new avg?
x = sum of the 6 numbers
x/6=6 (multiply both sides by 6 to solve for x) x = 36
but…
now we know that 3 is subtracted from 4 of those numbers so we multiply 3(4) and subtract that from 36… 24 becomes the new sum
but…
now we have to find the new avg. so we do 24/6 and find that the new average is 4.
Avg of consecutive, EVENLY spaced numbers:
when consecutive numbers are evenly spaced, the avg will be the middle value: ex) 6,7,8…7 is the avg
if there is an even number, there won’t be on middle value. so to find the avg add the values and then divide by 2
Combining averages: iff there is an equal number of terms in each set, you can combine
ex) suppose there are two bowlers and you must find their average score per game.. one has an avg of 100 and the other 200. Iff they bowled the same number of games, you can find their combined average…they both bowled 4 games so plug that into the formula and get:
4(100) + 4(200)/8 = 150
Exponents
count the number of times something is multiplied by itself
Raising a positive fraction less than 1 to a positive exponent greater than 1 results in a smaller value… The higher the exponent the smaller the result.
When a negative number is raised to an even = the result is positive
When a negative number is raised to an odd exponent, the result is negative
Any number raised to the 0 power = 1
- An important rule to keep in mind is that we can only multiply and divide powers if the base numbers are the same. If our base numbers are different, then we cannot add, subtract, multiply, or divide exponents.*
- You cannot combine exponents when adding or subtracting the bases!*
To add or subtract with powers, both the variables and the exponents of the variables must be the same. You perform the required operations on the coefficients, leaving the variable and exponent as they are:
2x^2 + 3x^2 = 5x^2
8y^3 - 5y^3 = 3y^3
In the testmaker’s favorite exponent trap you’ll see a variable squared. The square of a number is positive, so the student assumes that the number is positive, when it could be positive or negative. Keep in mind the rules from the previous slide.
Don’t forget: If x^2 = 4, that means that x could be 2 or - 2.
Radicals
follow the same rules as exponents
Note: The square root symbol refers to the positive root only. In other words:
If x2 = 25, then x equals 5 or - 5. But root 25 equals 5 only.
In order to multiply or divide numbers with exponents, all exponents needed to have the same base. The same is true for operations involving roots, as evidenced by the following rule and examples.
Roots Tip #3: Square roots with the same base can be added or subtracted: 4 root 3 + 7 root 3 = 11 root 3
Roots Tip #6: When taking the square root of a fraction between 0 and 1, the result will always be larger than the fraction itself: the square root of 1/4 is 1/2 which is greater than 1/4… just as a fraction is always larger than its square.
square root of 169 is 13
when dealing with radicals in QC, use both the positive & negative:
ex) radical (x^sqaured+39) = 8
so we need to figure out what plus 39 will give 64. 25 will.
so x = pos 5 & neg 5…test both when deciding the QC answer bc they could result in D being the answer
*refer to picture in phone
Linear Equations - Isolating a Variable
use PEMDAS to isolate variables
- Eliminate any fractions by multiplying both sides: (multiply by the LCM to eliminate fractions)
(you can also cross multiply if the fractions are equal ex -
12+b/3 = b+10/3… 6(12+b) = 3(b+10) - Put all terms with the variable you are solving for on one side by adding or subtracting on both sides
- Combine like terms
- Factor out the desired variable
- Divide to leave the desired variable by itself
Systems of Linear Equations
To solve for all of the variables in a system of equations, we must have at least as many distinct linear equations n as we have distinct variables n
There are two ways to solve systems:
- Substitution - solve one equation for one of the variables, and substitute that variable into the other equation (easy when one of the equations is solved for)
- Combination - add or subtract one equation from another equation to cancel out one of the variables
(create equivalent fractions with LCM so that one of the variables cancels)
(use when one of the variables will easily drop out)
Quadratic Equations
refer to picture in phone
polynomials & quadratics:
- the FOIL method
- difference of two squares:
a^squared - b^sqaured can be factored into (a+b)(a-b)
9x^squared - 1 = (3x+1)(3x-1)
- factoring polynomials of the form a^sqaured+2ab+b^squared:
a & b are perfect squares and the middle is the product of 2 times the perfect squares
the sign in front of the 2ab term will determine whether the sign is positive or negative… (a+b)^squared or (a-b)^squared:
ex) x^squared + 6x + 9 = (x+3)^squared
Solving quadratic equations:
- factor then set each binomial equal to zero & solve for each variable :
(x-1)(x-2) = 0
x-1=0 or x-2=0… x = 1 or 2 … plug both values back into the unfactored equation and see if the equation works
Inequalities
Greater than: >
Less than: <
dash under implies or equal to
Should be treated like equations with two exceptions:
1. when we multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number, we must reverse the direction of the inequality sign
- Single-variable equations are usually solved for a specific value, whereas inequalities can only be solved for a range of values
Pythagorean Triplets (side ratios)
3: 4:5
5: 12:13
7: 24:25
8: 15:17
9: 40:41
also appear in multiples
Isosceles Right: (45 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees)
x:x:x(root 2)
30, 60, 90 right triangle:
x:x(root 3):2x
a^2+b^2=c^2
ex) what is the length of the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle of area 32?
area of an isosceles right triangle is v^2/2
v^2/2 = 32
v^2= 64
v=8…the hypotenuse is 8(root)2