Math Flashcards
1 - What is the most important question to ask before evaluating the statements?
1 - What would be sufficient to answer this question? The biggest mistake people make on Data Sufficiency question is doing more work than they have to. Taking the time to figure out what is needed before looking at the statements helps prevent that.
2 - What does 12TEN stand for?
2 - 12TEN is a mnemonic to remember the order of answer choices in Data Sufficiency questions. It stands for: 1 alone is sufficient 2 alone is sufficient Together the statements are sufficient Either statement is sufficient Neither statement is sufficien
3 - What is the Kaplan Method for Data Sufficiency questions?
3 - 1) Analyze the question stem. 2) Evaluate the statements using 12TEN.
4 - What is the Kaplan Method for Problem Solving?
4 - 1) Analyze the question. 2) Identify the task. 3) Approach strategically 4) Confirm your answer
5 - What are the major topics tested on the quantitative section?
5 - Algebra, Proportions, Number Properties, and Geometry
6 - What is the approximate mix of questions on the quantitative section?
6 - 15 Data Sufficiency questions 22 Problem solving questions
7 - True or False: An answer of “no” to a yes/no Data Sufficiency question means that statement is insufficient.
7 - False. A statement is insufficient when it leads to the answer being “sometimes yes/sometimes no.” As long as the statement leads to a single answer, it is sufficient.
8 - When should you combine the statements in Data Sufficiency?
8 - Combine the statements only if both of them have been proven insufficient. Once that is the case, you have to determine whether the answer is (C ) or (E).
9 - What is the best way to combines statements in Data Sufficiency?
9 - Treat them as if they are one long statement.
10 - True or False: A statement in a value question is sufficient only if it leads to a singular value.
10 - True. If, for example, a statement leads to x = [-2,2] it is not sufficient. It must lead to a single value.
11 - What are the two criteria that must be remembered when Picking Numbers?
11 - The numbers must be permissible and manageable. You get to pick the numbers you work with, to make them as easy to work with as possible, remembering any rules that the question has given you. Remember that this doesn’t mean the numbers need to be re
12 - What are the clues that you can look for to help you pick numbers?
12 - If there are fractions in the answer choices, try to pick numbers that work with the denominators of the fractions. If there are percents in the question, 100 is usually the easiest number to work with. If you need to divide one variable by anoth
13 - Can you pick numbers on Data Sufficiency questions?
13 - Yes, but only to prove insufficiency. Even if you pick multiple sets of numbers, you’re only making it more likely that an answer is sufficient, not proving it sufficient.
14 - What answer choices are more likely to be correct when the question asks “Which of the following ….?”
14 - (D) or (E)
15 - What is Backsolving?
15 - Backsolving is a form of Picking Numbers, only you pick the numbers given to you in the answer choices. Because one of those numbers must be correct, Backsolving can often get you the right answer quickly, and with little extra work.
16 - When should you think about using Backsolving?
16 - Whenever there are numbers but no variables in the answer choices, especially with word problems.
17 - Which answer choice do you want to test first when Backsolving?
17 - Test either (B) or (D) first. There’s usually some hint as to whether the answer is more likely to be high or low; if not, just pick whichever seems easier. If you pick (D) and that works, great. If it’s too low, then (E) must be the answer. If it’s
18 - What are the two ways to solve a system of linear equations?
18 - Substitution - Isolate one variable in one equation, then substitute for all instances of that variable in the other equation. Combination - Add or subtract whole equations. Use this when it will allow you to eliminate a variable or get directly to
19 - If a question asks you what CANNOT be true, what does that mean about the incorrect answers?
19 - It means they could be true. It’s important to note that it doesn’t mean the wrong answers MUST be true.
20 - What are the four Core Competencies that the GMAT tests?
20 - 1) Critical Thinking 2) Pattern Recognition 3) Paraphrasing 4) Attention to the right detail
21 - What are the two types of Data Sufficiency questions?
21 - Value - The question is asking for a specific value for a variable. Yes/No - The question is asking whether or not a statement is true. Value questions make up about two-thirds of the Data Sufficiency questions you’ll see.
22 - when two objects are heading in opposite directions, how do you find their combined speed? How do you find it when they are heading in the same direction?
22 - When objects move in opposite directions, add their speeds. When objects move in the same direction, subtract their speeds.
23 - [(32)(34)]5
23 - First, the two exponents of the same base (3) are multiplied, so add the exponents: 2 + 4 = 6, so you have 3(2+4) = 36. Then you raise an exponent to an exponent, so the values are multiplied, and the final value is 3(6 * 5) = 330.
24 - For what values of x is x2 < x?
24 - x2 when 0 < x < 1. At 1 or 0, x2 - x, and squaring any positive number greater than 1 will result in an even larger value. All negative values of x will become positive when squared. Only Fractions between 0 and 1 get smaller when squared.
25 - Of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, with which two can radicals be combined or split? With which two can the radicals not be combined or split?
25 - Radicals can be combined or split when the operations are multiplication and division. They cannot be combined or split when the operations are addition and subtraction.
26 - √(a2)
26 - On the GMAT, the square root sign always designates the positive square root. So √(a2) = a is positive, and √(a2) = -a when a is negative.
27 - How many solutions do absolute value problems normally have?
27 - Absolute value problems normally have two solutions. However, there will only be one correct answer choice, so only one of these solutions will appear in the answer choices of a GMAT question.
28 - True or False: The value inside an absolute value sign must be positive.
28 - False. The final result of an absolute value must be positive, but any number or variables inside the absolute value sign can be positive or negative. Watch out for this common Test Day trap.
29 - In inequalities, what must you know in order to multiply or divide by variables?
29 - In inequalities, you cannot multiply or divide by the variables unless you know whether they are positive or negative. Dividing by a negative will change the sign of the inequality.
30 - True or False: One is a prime number.
30 - False. A Prime number is divisible only by “1 and itself” - in the case of the number “1 and itself” are the same number. Thus, the smallest prime is 2.
31 - When variables are in the powers of an equation with exponents, how can you equate the exponents?
31 - You can equate the exponents by setting the bases of the exponents equal to one another, then canceling the common base.
32 - What is the formula for overlapping sets?
32 - Total = Group 1 + Group 2 - Both + Neither
33 - What fraction is used in all probability questions?
33 - Every probability question can be solved by finding (Desired)/(Total).
34 - Many radicals can be simplified by factoring out what?
34 - Many radicals can be simplified by factoring out perfect squares.
35 - What is absolute value on a number line?
35 - Absolute value is the distance from zero on the number line.
36 - What is an integer?
36 - An integer is a positive whole number, a negative whole number, or zero.
37 - To find the factors of a number, what do you start with and count up?
37 - To find the factors of a number, start with 1 and count up, noting which factors go evenly into the number.
38 - True or False: All prime number are odd.
38 - False. There is one even prime number: 2.
39 - What is the smallest prime number?
39 - 2
40 - How can you Pick Numbers for a number with a remainder n when divided by k?
40 - To Pick Number for a number with a remainder n when divided by k, take a multiple of k and add n. Because every number is a multiple of itself, k + n is often the easiest number to pick.
41 - What is the sum of the differences of each term on a list from the average of that list?
41 - The sum of the differences of each term on a list from the average of that list is 0.
42 - True or False: It is sometimes possible to determine the average without knowing the exact number of terms.
42 - True. You can use the weighted average formula if you have averages for proportions or the population, even if you don’t have an example of the population. Weighted average = (Avg. of A)(Percent that are A) + (Avg of B)(Percent that are B) ….. (Avg
43 - True or False: Many complex multiplication and division problems can be simplified by reducing the terms to primes.
43 - True. On the GMAT, test-takers are rarely expected to do complex arithmetic. Most scary-looking division and multiplication will end up reducing to a simpler form one the prime factors of the elements are identified and canceled out.
44 - What is the prime factorization of 210?
44 - 2 * 105 2 * 5 * 21 2 * 5 * 3 * 7
45 - What is the average speed formula?
45 - Average speed = Total distance / Total time
46 - True or False: An easy shortcut to average-speed problems is to simply take the average of the speeds.
46 - False. Averaging the speeds is, in fact, a common wrong-answer trap; test-takers who make this error are failing to account for the different times spent at each speed.
47 - What are the steps for isolating a variable?
47 - 1) Eliminate any fractions by multiplying both sides or eliminate radicals by squaring both sides. 2) Put all terms with the variable you’re solving for on one side by adding or subtracting on both sides. 3) Combine like terms. 4) Factor out the d
48 - What does an represent in a sequence? an-1? an+1?
48 - an represents any term in a sequence. an-1 is the term before it, and an+1 is the term after.
49 - How can you rapidly eliminate answer choices on average speed questions?
49 - You can rapidly eliminate answer choices by recognizing which way the speeds are weighted. If a problem involves more time at a fast speed than at a slower speed, the average speed will be higher, and vice versa.
50 - What is the combined work formula for two workers?
50 - The combined work formula is T = (AB) / (A + B). T is the total time it will take to complete one task if the two workers work together, and A and B are the times it takes each worker to complete the task alone.
51 - What is the combined work formula for three of more workers?
51 - For three or more workers, the combined work formula is (1/T) = 1/A + 1/B + ….. + 1/n. T is the total time it will take all the workers working together to complete one task, and A, B, …. N are the times it will take the individual workers to complet
52 - What is the difference between simple and compound interest?
52 - In simple interest, money is paid only on the principal. In compound interest, interest is paid both on the principal and on any previously accrued interest.
53 - What is the compound interest formula?
53 - (Total of principal and interest) = Principal*(1+rate)time, where time is the number of times the interest is compounded and rate is the interest rate per time period, expressed as a decimal.
54 - What are perpendicular lines?
54 - Perpendicular lines are linear that meet at a 90° angle. Their slopes are negative reciprocals of one another.
55 - What do the interior angles of a triangle sum up to? For every additional side, what must you add? For example, what will the angles total in a five-sided figure?
55 - The interior angles of a triangle sum to 180°. For every side beyond three, add another 180°. For example, a five-sided figure will have angles totaling 180° + 2 (180) = 540°.
56 - The are of a circle is 36p and the circumference of that circle is 12p. If you take a 30° slice from the center, what will be the area of that slice? What will be the length of the arc formed by that slice?
56 - You know 30° is 1/12 of 360°, so the are of a 30° slice (or, as the GMAT will call it, “sector”) will be 1/12 of the area of the circle, or 3p and the length of the arc will be 1/12 of the circumference of the circle, or p.
57 - True or False: 1) You can determine the ratio from two quantities. 2) You need at least one quantity in a ratio to determine the other quantities.
57 - 1) True. Any two quantities form a ratio. 2) True. A ratio can have an number of numerical values. You need at least one value to determine the other values.
58 - What is the percent formula?
58 - Percent = (New Value/Old Value) x 100% Do not confuse this formula with the percent change formula.
59 - What is the formula for percent change?
59 - Percent change = ((New Value - Old Value)/ Old Value) * 100% The percent change between the new value and the old value will always be exactly 100% less than the new value as a percentage of the old value. On the GMAT, beware of answers exactly 100%
60 - What is standard deviation, and how is it tested?
60 - Standard deviation is the spread of numbers around the average. You will almost never be required to calculate standard deviation on the GMAT. To calculate the standard deviation of a set of numbers: 1) Find the mean. 2) Find the differences between
61 - To combine mutually exclusive probabilities, do you add or subtract the probabilities? To combine independent probabilities, do you multiply or divide the probabilities?
61 - To combine mutually exclusive probabilities, add the probabilities. To combine independent probabilities, multiply the probabilities.
62 - What are consecutive numbers?
62 - Consecutive numbers are numbers of a certain type, following one another without interruption. Numbers may be consecutive in ascending or descending order. The GMAT prefers to test consecutive integers (e.g., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ….) but you may encou
63 - What is a cube root?
63 - The cube root of x is the number that multiplied by itself 3 times (i.e. cubed) give you x. Both positive and negative numbers have one and only one cube root, denoted by the symbol cube(), and the cube root of a number is always the same sign as the
64 - What is division by zero?
64 - Division by zero is undefined. For GMAT purposes that translates as “it can’t be done.” Because fractions are essential division (that is, 1/4 means 1 divided by 4), any fraction with a zero in the denominator is also undefined. So when you are given
65 - What is an isosceles triangle and how can you recognize one?
65 - An isosceles triangle is any triangle in which two sides are equal and the two angles opposite those two sides are also equal. Either the angles or the side-lengths are enough to recognize an isosceles triangle; equal angles will always be opposite t
66 - True or False: In a list of consecutive integers, the mean equals the median.
66 - TRUE
67 - There are 220 ways to select a committee of 3 members from a board of 12 members. How many ways are there to select the committee if it is expanded to 9 members?
67 - 220 For unordered subgroups, the existence of 220 possible groups of 3 committee members that there are 220 possible groups of 9 who could sit out. In the question, you are simply swapping the roles of the three-member groups and the nine-member gr
68 - What is the least common multiple of 6 and 8?
68 - Start by finding the prime factors of 6 and 8: 6 = (2)(3) 8 = (2)(2)(2) You see 2 appears as a factor three times in the prime factorization of 8, while 3 appears as only a single factor of 6. So the least common multiple of 6 and 8 will be (2)(2)
69 - Rules for Odds and Evens: Odd + Odd = Even + Even = Odd + Even = Odd x Odd = Even x Even = Odd x Even =
69 - Odd + Odd = Even Even + Even = Even Odd + Even = Odd Odd x Odd = Odd Even x Even = Even Odd x Even = Even Note that multiplying any number by an integer always produces another even number.
70 - What are the factors of 36?
70 - Thirty six has nine factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36. You can group these factors in pairs: (1)(36) = (2)(18) = (3)(12) = (4)(9) = (6)(6)