GRE Review

WHat is it?➔ Two sections that are 35 minutes in length➔ 20 questions in each section➔ There are 4 areas of math represented

◆ Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis➔ 5 types of questions

◆ Quantitative Comparison (A is greater, B is greater, Equal, Can’t determine the relationship)

◆ Multiple Choice - 1 answer◆ Multiple Choice - More than 1 answer◆ Numeric Entry◆ Data Interpretation Sets - Questions based on the same data presented

in tables, graphs or other displays of data

The breakdown

The Calculator

Tips and Tricks➔ MC - Instead of always “plugging in”, it may be faster to

cover the answer choices and solve the question on your own and then compare.

➔ Can you estimate or approximate?➔ Numeric Entry - Watch your rounding.➔ Numeric entry - Pay attention to special symbols in front

of boxes. ➔ All questions are weighted the same.➔ Questions may be written in a way to confuse you. Answer

choices are not random.➔ Be on guard if the problem seems too easy.

Tips and Tricks➔ Shapes are not drawn to scale.➔ You do not have to reduce fractions, so don’t take the

time.➔ Numeric entry can be written as a fraction or decimal.➔ Important information may be “hidden” in the middle of a

sentence.➔ Look for relationships. For example:

The area of a triangle with the same perpendicular height and base as the length and width of a rectangle is exactly half of the area of that rectangle.

Tips and Tricks➔ Make sure you know order of operations:

Tips and Tricks➔ A little more than a third of the questions have been

Quantitative Comparison (almost ⅖ or 40%).➔ Don’t give yourself more than 2 minutes for each

question.➔ Quantitative Comparison: It only takes 1 example for

something to not be true.

Ques 1

Ques 2

Ques 3

Ques 4

Ques 5

Ques 6 - The exception - Plug it in

Ques 7

Ques 8

Ques 9

Ques 10

Ques 11

5 Strategies for solving Quantitative Comp Problems1. Add: for simplifying problems with 1 or more inequalities2. Cancel: for removing duplicate terms3. Sign: for plugging in positive and negative signs (+/-)

in place of the variable(s) to help solve a problem4. Equate: for simplifying fractions that do not look alike

try making them look alike (either in the numerator/top or denominator/bottom)

5. Multiplying: for simplifying fractions through multiplication (to get rid of a denominator)

Example 1

Strategies used: Add and Cancel

Example 1Stem: You are comparing 2 inequalitiesQuantities: You only need to compare r and 1

Example 2

Strategies used: Cancel and Sign

Example 2Stem: All of the variables are less than zero which means they are all negative

Example 2They share the variable z

Quantities: They share the same variable

Example 2If this problem were x>y>z>0, then we would have used a positive sign.

Example 2a What do you notice?

Stem: t>1

Quantities: The numerators are the same, so all we are really doing is looking at the denominators (which are similar).

If t > 1, then a denominator of will be smaller than a denominator of

Which fraction is larger?

Example 3

Strategy used: Equate

Example 3 Stem: x is greater than 1Quantities: The numerators are pretty close, so I am going to make have the same sign. You must multiply the top AND bottom by the same number.

Example 3 Cancel: Ignore the x on top, and just compare the bottom.

Example 4

Strategies used: Equate and Sign OR Multiplying and Sign

Example 4

X < X + 1

You are nw comparing the NUMERATORS, so x + 1 will always be larger than x (given that x > 0)

Stem: Given x > 0 (so it is positive)Quantities: Fractions that I can multiply to make the same by eliminating the denominator.

Example 4a

Fractions: Use the multiply strategy to get rid of the denominator.

Tips for what I saw in problems➔ 203² - 201² Difference of squares (203 + 201)(203-201)

so that makes it (404)(2) = 808 This was much simpler.➔ Quantity A: 641713 x 451222 Quantity B: 897189 x 318977

Divide the 2nd values by 1000000 which changes them to decimals and now you can use the calculator. As long as you divide each one equally, it will work.

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Tips for what I saw in problems➔

Tips for what I saw in problems