Thursdays w/ Ron

Question 1

When does GMAT tolerate pronoun ambiguity? (3)

Answer 1

1) the context is obvious
2) the pronoun is parallel to the intended noun
3) the pronoun is not parallel to the other noun(s)

Question 2

What can “because of …” be followed by? (2)

Answer 2

Because CLAUSE
Because of NOUN

not Because of VERBing

Question 3

What should I look for if I see an answer split involving singular and plural verbs?

Answer 3

Subject-verb agreement

Question 4

What are the 2 ways to find the localisation of the subject of the verb?

Answer 4

1. Mechanically: eliminate all the intervening modifiers

2. Context: think about the literal meaning

Question 5

What things can’t be subjects? (3)

Answer 5

1. Objects of verbs
2. Objects of prepositions
3. Subordinate clauses (even if they have their own S and V)

Question 6

“X is Y” ; “X was/were Y” - what is the subject? (2)

Answer 6

1. If anything before the verb can be the subject -> that’s the subject
2. If nothing before the verb can be the subject, then you have a backward construction (= the subject follows the verb)

Question 7

If you have a compound subject (X and Y) or a list (X, Y and Z) ..

Answer 7

.. then you should threat that as you would treat a single plural noun

Question 8

Compound nouns (X and Y) and lists (X, Y and Z) should be treated as \_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Sing or plur

Answer 8

single words

Question 9

On sentences such as “X is/are Y” - what are the subject cases? (2)

Answer 9

1. If X is eligible to be the subject, then X is the subject

2. If X is inedible to be the subject, then it’s a backward construction and Y is the subject

Question 10

Prep + noun + verb-ing

is only correct if ___

Answer 10

the NOUN is the intended object of the preposition

Question 11

Two very basic principles of combinations

Answer 11

1. And : multiply

2. Or : add (provided that different situations are mutually exclusive)

Question 12

The slot method

Answer 12

Used when you have an “AND” situation (choose one of these, AND one of those, AND ..)

1. Create a SLOT for EACH DECISION that you have to make
2. Fill in each SLOT with the NUMBER OF OPTIONS (pick the restricted slots FIRST to know how many options you have)
3. MULTIPLY (be sure to multiply in easiest possible order)
4. If order doesn’t matter:
   - take the NUMBER(S) of items within which ORDER DOESN’T MATTER
   - take the FACTORIALS of those numbers
   - DIVIDE

Question 13

ORDER MATTERS means

Answer 13

that if you INTERCHANGE or SCRAMBLE the chosen elements, then you get a DIFFERENT OUTCOME

Question 14

What is the operative question to find out if order matters?

Answer 14

If I scramble the elements, do I get a different outcome?

Question 15

Is it possible for order not to matter WITHIN SOME SUBSETS?

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

Combinations x Order :

You don’t have to pick things in the given order, but

Answer 16

you can still pay attention to the order.

In many problems you are better off picking a different oder

Question 17

What is the default meaning of “set” in combinations?.

Answer 17

Order does NOT matter

Question 18

How many ways are there to scramble the elements in a set of n things?

Answer 18

n! different ways

Question 19

When should one use the “C” or “P” formulas in combinations?

Answer 19

Only when choices are not restricted

Question 20

If you have a simple relationship,

Answer 20

then you should use one variable.

Cf. Unknown multiplier, sum-x, etc

Question 21

If a relationship is not particularly simple, then

Answer 21

you should go ahead and use more than one variable

Question 22

Besides simple relationships you should also use a single variable when

Answer 22

one quantity is expressed IN TERMS OF another quantity

Ex: price of orange expressed in price of banana

Question 23

If you have a word translation that relates an ISOLATED quantity to an EMBEDDED quantity,
(role variable)

Answer 23

you should use your VARIABLE to stand for the EMBEDDED quantity

Ex: the price of an orange (iso. quant) is 20c more than twice the price of a banana (embedded quantity, part of a larger expression).
X = price of banana
2x + 20 = price of orange

Question 24

Can you cross-multiply inequalities with unknowns?

Answer 24

Usually no.

If you don’t know the sign, you don’t know if you have to flip the sign

Question 25

What does b/d > 0 mean?

Answer 25

1) b / d is positive
2) b & d have the same sign (++ or –)
3) bd is positive (++ or --)

Question 26

On word problem look for implied restrictions regarding the numbers

Answer 26

Ex: If need to find number of pencils, I can’t have decimals, it MUST be integers. It also has to be positive.

Question 27

If a problem is restricted to whole numbers, then algebra _______

Answer 27

will be unable to solve the problem (can’t make the difference) and you’ll have to test values