GRE study guide
Class 1 before + examples
Working with fractions
Park your thinking/ don’t skip steps
write your steps
example for a quant comp
write out all steps - don’t rush to the end
Fraction vocabulary
numerator - top number of the fraction
denominator - bottom part of the fraction
reciprocals - the flip of the numerator and denominator
improper fraction
mixed fraction
bowtie method
1st is multiply numerator and denominator
2nd multiply denominator and numerator
3rd multiply across the bottom
most appropriate method for each of these operations
adding or subtracting fractions with different denominators: bowtie
multiplying fractions: multiply straight across
dividing fraction: flip the second fraction and multiply
comparing fractions: multiply bottom right to top left and bottom left to top right
finding the reciprocal: flip the fraction
Basic properties of integers
RTFQ - read the full question
if you need after you answer the question reread the question
PEMDAS
the order in operations
parenthesis
exponents
multiplication/division
whichever one comes first left to right
addition/subtraction
whichever one comes first left to right
Divisibility rules
2: units last digit is even
3: sum of digits is divisible by 3
4: last 2 digits are divisible by 4
5: the units digit of 5 or 0
6: rules for 2 and 3
units last digit is even
sum of digits is divisible by 3
9: sum of digits is divisible by 9
10: unit digit is 0
Numeric entry questions
you have to put in a number for it
there is a transfer button from the calculator to the box (only one box)
only one or two per section
Basic properties of integers
a does not work because the integers have to greater than 1
d does not work because the questions says distinct (as in different) integers so 4 and 4 cannot be used
even and odd refer to integers and do not apply to fractions or decimals
Working with decimals
using the GRE calculator
simple
transfer - only for numeric entry
what is a place value
the ones place is also known as the units place
all that apply questions
have to select all correct (no more and no less)
one extra marks incorrect
miss one marks incorrect
working with decimals
terminating decimals: finish at a place
ie .4 (terminates in the tenths place)
Operations with expressions
the distributive law
distribute to all terms
operations with expressions
Plugging in
assign a plug in number
find the target number
plug in the number into the answer choices until the target number is found
“in terms of …”
QC plugging in
method for quant comps
Fractions
Repeats
One
Zero
Extremes
Negatives
Class 1 in
Class 2 Class
Class 3 before + examples
Solving linear equations
Park your thinking/ don’t skip steps
write your steps
example for a quant comp
write out all steps - don’t rush to the end
PEMDAS
the order in operations
parenthesis
exponents
multiplication/division
whichever one comes first left to right
addition/subtraction
whichever one comes first left to right
the distributive law
distribute to all terms
what are variables and coefficients
constant: a fixed value
variable: a unit that could vary
coefficient: the number that comes before the variable
solving linear equations
isolating x
what you do to one side of the equation you have to do to the other side
cross multiplication
only when two fractions are set equal to each other
combining like terms
Solving linear inequalities
solving linear inequalities
1. combine like terms
2. what you do to one side, also do to the other
3. when you multiply or divide by a negative, flip the inequality
Solving absolute value equations
don’t panic
combine like terms
look at the denominator then solve the square roots
solving absolute value equations
quant comps
absolute vale in inequalities
for positive just remove the brackets
for negative flip the sign of the inequality and the number on the other side
Solving simultaneous equations
solving simultaneous equations
aka system of equations
substitution may take to long
stack em’
keep stacking
what can I do to get the value of the expression
in this case it was subtraction
out of order variables
first line them up in order
since we are solving for x eliminate y
in this case triple the second expression
lastly isolate x
look for ways to stack
add, subtract, multiply, divide
Class 3 Class: exponents and roots, hidden plug ins, plugging in the answers
exponents and roots
multiplication becomes addition
division becomes subtraction
a power raised to another power is multiplication
pg 32 question 1
no variables so eliminate option B
64 is 4³
the goal is to get the base numbers to match
so 4³^3 is 4^9
next is factoring (factor out 4^9)
the answer is going to be C
pg 32 q 2
select all that apply; must be true
memorize squared values to 15
variable is in the question and answer so plug and chug
first plug in chug x =16
second plug and chug FROZEN x= ½
one would also have been a great choice
answer is b
p 32 q 3
question
set up the choices like a grid because the x and y are in pairs
since it is division with the same base - subtract powers
since the expression equals 1 the exponent has to equal 0
anything to the 0 power equals 1
so we found the pair that equals 0 when subtracted
p 34 q 4
question
break down - dont fight the factoring
p 34 q 5
no plug-in chug bc of exponents and not a word problem
1st factor out what you can
since division you subtract the exponents
p 34 q 6
cannot consolidate addition and subtraction of roots
go with the most detailed section then work backwards
hidden plug ins: need total to solve Q → PI total
fractions or % in Q
pick 100
answers are in % or fractions
multiply the denominators
p 38 q 1
the total is 80 (from the multiplied denominator
section it out
always reduce your fraction for the answer choice
p 38 q 2
make the total 100
40 obu
8 vacant
60 2bu
6 vacant
14 vacant = 14%
plugging in the answers
total in the question
solve to match the total
start with (C)
do POE to move up or down
answers are actual numbers
1. recognize the opportunity
2. list the answer choices
3. label the answer choices
4. plug in (C)
5. work the problem
6. POE
p 40 q 1
p 40 q 2
