GMAT Math Basics

Here are ten reasonably challenging problems on powers and roots.  Solutions follow the problems.   Remember, no calculator! Statement #1: x < 1 Statement #2: x > –1 4 8 14 28 42 5) If A is an integer, what is the value of A? 11 30 45 75 225   Powers & roots This is […]

Here are ten problems on fractions and decimals, some of which are quite challenging.  Remember, no calculator! (A) 0.1 (B) 1 (C) 10 (D) 100 (E) 1000 6)  Suppose you have access to a large vat of distilled water, several gallons large.  You have two precise measuring pipettes, one to measure exactly 1/3 of an […]

First, a few practice problems: 1) In the figure above, AC = BC = 8, angle C = 90°, and the circular arc has its center at point C.   Find the area of the shaded region. 2)  Employees at a company will vote for an executive team of five people from eight qualified candidates.  The […]

First of all, try these challenging GMAT Problem Solving practice problems without a calculator. (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5 (E) 6 2) In the month of August, Pentheus Corporation made $200,000 in profit.  Pentheus made 6% of that profit on the second Wednesday of August.   If the profits that day were approximately […]

Here are four GMAT Data Sufficiency questions involving inequalities. Full solutions will come at the end of this article.   The arithmetic of equations: a review First of all, let’s review what should be more familiar — the arithmetic of equations.   Suppose A = B and P = Q.  The soundbyte is: you can combine […]

Many folks remember Order of Operations by means of the mnemonic PEMDAS.  Just for review, PEMDAS is a quick way to remember the following order of mathematical prioritization: Priority #1: P = Parentheses Priority #2: E = Exponents Priority #3: MD = Multiplication & Division Priority #4: AS = Addition and Subtraction A few things […]

What does the GMAT Quantitative section test?  Math, of course.  As tautological as that may seem, there is a very subtle point here.  What exactly is math?   Mathematics Strange as it may seem, there is no generally accepted formal definition of the word mathematics.  Most of the dictionary definitions, for example, cover the more […]

First, some practice questions.  The scenario below is relevant to questions #1-#3. There are two sets of letters, and you are going to pick exactly one letter from each set. Set #1 = {A, B, C, D, E} Set #2 = {K, L, M, N, O, P} 1) What is the probability of picking a […]

First of all, for warm-up, a practice Data Sufficiency question. The symbol What does this symbol mean in math? Technically, this symbol, typographically a dash, has three different meanings in mathematics, viz.: a) a subtraction sign b) a negative sign c) an opposite sign   The subtraction sign When the dash appears between two terms  […]

Master these seemingly intimidating mathematical symbols! Practice Questions First, try these practice questions. 1) The numbers a, b, and c are all non-zero integers. Is a > 0? Statement #1: Statement #2:   2) The numbers a, b, and c are all non-zero integers. Is a > 0? Statement #1: Statement #2:     Square […]

For a start, give these problems a try. A complete explanation will come at the end of the discussion.   1) When positive integer N is divided by positive integer J, the remainder is 14. If N/J = 134.08, what is value of J? (A) 22 (B) 56 (C) 78 (D) 112 (E) 175 2) […]

Learn to master this often confusing topic!  Why Fractions Are Hard Of all the math topics that raise dread, fear, anxiety, and confusion, few do so as consistently and as potently as do fractions.  I have my own personal theory why fractions are hard.  The trouble is: think about when you learned fractions — maybe […]

Because of their clarity and concision, the laws of exponents lend themselves well to GMAT math, especially to the Data Sufficiency format.  If math isn’t your thing, then perhaps the last time you gave any thought to exponents was back in Algebra Two, and perhaps exponents weren’t your favorites there either.  Take heart!  In this […]