Introduction to the Quantitative Section

Question 1

Which are the 5 Data Sufficiency answer choices?

Answer 1

A.- Statement (1) YES, statement (2) NO.

B.-Statement (1) NO, statement (2) YES.

C.-Both statements (1) & (2) TOGETHER - YES

D.- Each statement ALONE - YES

E.- Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER - NO

Question 2

What are Value Questions in the Data Sufficiency sections looking for? Provide an example.

Answer 2

Value Question asks us whether we have sufficient information to determine the unique value of something.

Example:

• What is the value of X?
• What is the value of a-b?

Bonus - Usually, the questions explicitly ask for the value of something.

Question 3

What are “Yes or No” questions in the Data Sufficiency sections looking for? Provide an example.

Answer 3

“Yes or No” questions don’t ask us whether we have sufficient information to determine a definitive value. Instead, they ask us whether we have enough information to answer conclusively Yes or No.

Example:

• Is X > 0?
• Is X = 10?

Bonus - It seems most questions start with “Is”.

Question 4

What is the importance of simplifying the information given in the stem and statements? Provide an example.

Answer 4

Not simplifying the information to its simplest form will harm us through the GMAT.

Example:

• If C + A + 5 = A + B - 10 + C, then what is A - B?
  1) A = 8
  B = 15. Then 8 - 15 = -7

Question 5

What is the difference between producing an answer and determining and answer? Provide an example.

Answer 5

In DS we are not asked to calculate a numerical answer. Instead, we are being asked only whether we could produce a unique answer. Take your analysis only to the point where you are sure you could or could not answer the question.

Example:

-What is the value of X?
1) 3.01x + 5.99 = 1/4 + 0.65x

Instead of doing all the math that would be very time-consuming, we only need to know that we can figure out the value

Question 6

How do you test the “Black Swan” concept?

Answer 6

The “Black Swan” concept states that we must test a sufficient array of different types of numbers to evaluate a statement and make conclusions.

1.- Positive Integer
2.- Positive Proper Fractions - Fractions between 0 & 1
3.- Zero
4.- Negative Proper Fractions - Fractions between -1 & 0
5.- Negative Integers

When testing strategic numbers, use the evidence presented in the problem to you’re advantage. For example, if we know that some unknown value is a negative fraction, we won’t test positive integers.