Workorder

Question 1

Reverse Plugging In: Not Sure In Which Direction To Go

Answer 1

If the answer you Plugged in doesn’t fit, POE it, and try to decide in which direction to go.

If you can’t make up your mind in which direction to go after 10 seconds, pick a direction and go.

Some answer choices do not need to be plugged in - Try to POE answer choices that don’t fit the problem before you Reverse PI.

The Reverse PI process within the question becomes faster and faster as you advance down the answer choices and embed the logical path in your mind.

Question 2

Data Sufficiency: Basic Work Order

Answer 2

Always begin by reading the question stem and try to figure out the issue of the problem (i.e which data is required to answer the question).

Read statement (1) alone and decide sufficient/insufficient.
 POE like so:

If statement (1) is sufficient POE BCE, hence statement (1)->S->AD

If statement (1) is insufficient POE AD, hence statement (1)->IS->BCE

Read statement (2) alone and decide sufficient/insufficient.

Don’t forget to POE as you go along.

Make sure you don’t use words such as “yes” or “no” for they may add to the confusion that is already there.

Question 3

Reverse Plugging In: Hard To Spot Reverse PI Situations - Basic and Additional Stop Signs

Answer 3

The advanced Stop Signs are more apparent. However, the basic Stop Signs which are sometimes overlooked, are essential to define a Reverse PI situation.

The basic Stop Signs for Reverse PI situations are:

Invisible variable in the problem.
Specific question.
Numbers in the answer choices.
The advanced Stop Signs for Reverse PI situations are:

Feeling an algebraic urge to set up one big equation.
The problem presents a long convoluted story.
You feel stuck, not sure how to approach the problem.

Question 4

Reverse Plugging In: What to Do with an Ugly Number in the Middle Answer?

Answer 4

In Reverse PI situations when there’s an uncomfortable, “ugly” number in the middle answer:

Don’t force the middle answer into the problem. It may cost you time and possibly careless errors.

Start by Reverse PI answer choices B or D instead, but never with the extremes (answer choices A and E) so you can POE effectively.

Don’t waste time trying to figure out which way to go. Pick a direction and go.

Keep going as in all Reverse PI problems, until you find the answer that fits.

Question 5

Powers: Reverse Rules - Multiplying Powers with the same Base

Answer 5

When multiplying powers of the same base, add the exponents.

an·am = an+m

This rule may also be applied in reverse. To do so, first rewrite the exponent as an addition. Next, apply the parts of the addition as exponents in two powers multiplied by one another, each with the same base as the original power.

For example:

x4 = x3+1 = x3∙x

x7 = x5+2 = x5∙x2

This is also the proper way to treat an exponent which already includes an addition sign:

xY+5 = xy∙x5

y3n+1 = y3n∙y

3x+1 = 3x∙31 = 3x⋅3

Question 6

Reverse Plugging In: Basic Technique

Answer 6

Identify what the question is asking. Reverse Plugging In questions are always specific (i.e. how much?, how many?, what is the number of…?, what is the value of x? etc.)

The two major identifiers of Reverse PI questions are a specific question and numbers in the answer choices.

Plug the middle answer (C) back into the question: Work the problem assuming that the answer is C. If everything checks out - that’s the answer. If not:
Notice that numerical answer choices are always in ascending/descending order. Figure out in which direction to move on so you are able to POE effectively.

There is no need to check all five answer choices as you must do in “regular” Plugging In questions. If you find an answer that fits the problem - stop. Pick it.