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GRE High Frequency Math Terms

Subjects : gre, math

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. How precise do you need to be - using p on the GRE?

2. HIGH: Simplify this: v75/v27
V75 = v253 = 5v3 - and v27 = v93 = 3v3. So we have 5v3/3v3. The v3 in the top and bottom of the fraction cancel - leaving 5/3.
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.
1
PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally): P = Parentheses. Solve anything inside of parentheses first. E = Exponents. Solve these second. MD = Multiplication - Division. From left to right - do all multiplication and division during one step through

3. HIGH: How do you multiply powers with the same base?
Example: 1 < x < 10
Always read the answer choices first. Try to eliminate choices by ballparking or estimating. But watch out for 'Trap' answers that look temptingly correct at first glance.
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7

4. HIGH: Area of a triangle?
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.
Between 0 and 1.
Draw a circle. The top half holds the Total. The bottom left quadrant holds Number of Things. Bottom right holds Average.
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.

5. Convert to a percentage: 3/5
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.
60%

6. How many angles are formed when 2 lines intersect? and what is the sum of these angles?
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.

7. Define the mode of a set of numbers.
Probability A * Probability B
Multiply each numerator by the other fraction'S denominator. Example: 3/7 and 7/12. Multiply 312 = 36 - and 77 = 49. If you completed the full calculation - you'd also cross-multiply the denominators - but you don'T have to in order to compare values
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.
The mode is the number in a set that occurs most frequently. Example: for the set {3 -6 -3 -8 -9 -3 -11} the number 3 appears most frequently so it is the mode.

8. What is the key to dealing with ratio questions?
1. Factored: x² - y² Unfactored: (x+y)(x-y) 2. Factored: (x+y)² Unfactored: x² + 2xy + y² 3. Factored: (x-y)² Unfactored: x² - 2xy + y²
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
2

9. HIGH: What is the unfactored version of (x+y)² ?
x² + 2xy + y²
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
Probability A * Probability B
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.

10. HIGH: What is the order of math operations - and the mnemonic to remember it?
Bh
The mode is the number in a set that occurs most frequently. Example: for the set {3 -6 -3 -8 -9 -3 -11} the number 3 appears most frequently so it is the mode.
Multiply all elements of both sides of the equation by 2 (the denominator of the fraction). This will produce 10x + 3 = 14x. Solve from there: 3 = 4x - x = 3/4.
PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally): P = Parentheses. Solve anything inside of parentheses first. E = Exponents. Solve these second. MD = Multiplication - Division. From left to right - do all multiplication and division during one step through

11. HIGH: What is the factored version of x² + 2xy + y² ?
80%
S*v2
(x+y)²
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.

12. List two odd behaviors of exponents
The value that appears most often in a data set.
6
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7
1. Raising a fraction (between 0 and 1) to a power greater than 1 results in a SMALLER number. For example: (1/2)² = 1/4. 2. A number raised to the 0 power is 1 - no matter what the number is. For example: 1 -287° = 1.

13. Explain the difference between a digit and a number.

14. How do you multiply fractions?
First - translate into clear math: 56 = x/100(80) ('56 is x one-hundredths of 80') = 56 = 80x/100 = 56 = 4x/5 Divide both sides by 4/5 (multiply by 5/4) 70 = x - so 70%.
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.
A=pr²
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.

15. Area of a parallelogram?
Bh
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.
V=s³
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7

16. How do you divide fractions?
6
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2
(x+y)(x-y)
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply

17. Explain the special properties of zero.
3:4:5 5:12:13
2pr -or- pd
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
Zero is even. It is an integer. It is neither positive nor negative. Zero multiplied by any other number = zero. You cannot divide by zero.

18. How do you solve a combination?

19. How many degrees does a circle contain?
Total of the elements divided by the number of elements. Example: (4 -6 -7) -- add 4+6+7 = 17 and divide by 3
1/1
360 degrees
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.

20. Explain how to solve for 7/¼
This equals 7 ÷¼ - or 7/1 ÷ 1/4 = 7/1 * 4/1 = 28/1 = 28
Ratio of sides is x : xv3 : 2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
Probability A * Probability B

21. Convert to a percentage: 2/5
40%
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
3:4:5 5:12:13
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.

22. What is a 'Right' triangle?
Probability A * Probability B
A=pr²
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.
180 degrees.

23. What is the formula to determine probability?
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) ÷ (total # of possible outcomes)
(0 -0)
An integer is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3. For example - adding the digits of the number 2 -145 (2+1+4+5) = 12 - which is divisible by 3.

24. Diameter of a circle?
2r
Probability A + Probability B
1. Figure out how many slots you have (i.e. you'Re supposed to bring home 3 different types of ice cream) 2. Write down the number of possible options for each slot (i.e. 5 flavors of ice cream at the store - 5 options for the 1st slot - 4 options fo
S*v2

25. HIGH: What is the factored version of (x+y)(x-y) ?
x²-y²
x² + 2xy + y²
A 90-degree angle.
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.

26. An integer is divisible by 3 if...
The total # of possible outcomes.
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 ÷ 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4
2
An integer is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3. For example - adding the digits of the number 2 -145 (2+1+4+5) = 12 - which is divisible by 3.

27. If something is certain to happen - how is the probability of this event expressed mathematically?
x²-y²
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
The factorial of a number is that number times every positive whole number smaller than that number - down to 1. Example: 6! means the factorial of 6 - which = 65432*1 = 720.
1/1

28. How do you calculate the probability of EITHER one event OR another event happening? (Probability of A or B)
Probability A + Probability B
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
Multiply each numerator by the other fraction'S denominator. Example: 3/7 and 7/12. Multiply 312 = 36 - and 77 = 49. If you completed the full calculation - you'd also cross-multiply the denominators - but you don'T have to in order to compare values

29. HIGH: What is the median?
An isoceles right angle. Remember that interior angles are 90:45:45 degrees. The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
Bh
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set
1.4

30. Does order matter for a permutation? How about for a combination?
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
Multiply each numerator by the other fraction'S denominator. Example: 3/7 and 7/12. Multiply 312 = 36 - and 77 = 49. If you completed the full calculation - you'd also cross-multiply the denominators - but you don'T have to in order to compare values
Example: 1 < x < 10
Probability A * Probability B

31. Explain how to use an 'Average Pie'
The mode is the number in a set that occurs most frequently. Example: for the set {3 -6 -3 -8 -9 -3 -11} the number 3 appears most frequently so it is the mode.
Draw a circle. The top half holds the Total. The bottom left quadrant holds Number of Things. Bottom right holds Average.
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.
180 degrees.

32. List all the prime numbers that are less than 30:
A line is a 180-degree angle.
The average - mean - median - or mode.
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.

33. What kind of triangle is this: has two sides of equal length - and a 90 degree angle?
1
Probability A * Probability B
An isoceles right angle. Remember that interior angles are 90:45:45 degrees. The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
60%

34. HIGH: What is the Pythagorean theorem?

35. HIGH: What is a 'Right isosceles' triangle?
The total # of possible outcomes.
80%
This triangle is a square divided along its diagonal. Interior angles are 90:45:45 degrees. The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
For RIGHT triangles only: c² = a² + b² 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse; 'a' and 'b' are the other two sides ('legs')

36. What do permutation problems often ask for?
180 degrees.
Zero is even. It is an integer. It is neither positive nor negative. Zero multiplied by any other number = zero. You cannot divide by zero.
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.

37. Explain how to divide fractions.
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 ÷ 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4
This equals 7 ÷¼ - or 7/1 ÷ 1/4 = 7/1 * 4/1 = 28/1 = 28
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes

38. How do you add or subtract fractions?
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
1
Find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. Then add or subtract.

39. HIGH: What is the unfactored version of (x-y)² ?
x² -2xy + y²
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.
First - translate into clear math: 56 = x/100(80) ('56 is x one-hundredths of 80') = 56 = 80x/100 = 56 = 4x/5 Divide both sides by 4/5 (multiply by 5/4) 70 = x - so 70%.
2 - 14 - and 34. So - a Bell - standard deviation - or normal distribution curve would be segmented: | 2% | 14% | 34% |average score| 34% | 14% | 2% |

40. What are the side ratios for a 30:60:90 triangle?
A(b+c) = ab + ac a(b-c) = ab - ac - For example - 12(66) + 12(24) is the same as 12(66+24) - or 12(90) = 1 -080.
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)
Ratio of sides is x : xv3 : 2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.

41. HIGH: Volume of a cube?
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
This triangle is a square divided along its diagonal. Interior angles are 90:45:45 degrees. The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
Multiply each numerator by the other fraction'S denominator. Example: 3/7 and 7/12. Multiply 312 = 36 - and 77 = 49. If you completed the full calculation - you'd also cross-multiply the denominators - but you don'T have to in order to compare values
V=s³

42. When a pair of parallel lines is intersected by another line - two types of angles are formed. What are they?

43. Convert to a percentage: 4/5
This is similar to an Average Pie - and can be used for some story problems. Draw a circle. Top half holds the Distance or other Amount. Bottom left holds Time. Bottom right holds Rate. Rate * Time = Amount
An integer is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
First - translate into clear math: 56 = x/100(80) ('56 is x one-hundredths of 80') = 56 = 80x/100 = 56 = 4x/5 Divide both sides by 4/5 (multiply by 5/4) 70 = x - so 70%.
80%

44. An integer is divisible by 4 if...

45. HIGH: What is 'absolute value' - and how is it represented?

46. What is the 'Third side' rule for triangles?
The mode is the number in a set that occurs most frequently. Example: for the set {3 -6 -3 -8 -9 -3 -11} the number 3 appears most frequently so it is the mode.
The length of any one side of a triangle must be less than the sum of the other two sides - and greater than the difference between the other two sides.
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.

47. What is the equation for a group problem?
Multiply each numerator by the other fraction'S denominator. Example: 3/7 and 7/12. Multiply 312 = 36 - and 77 = 49. If you completed the full calculation - you'd also cross-multiply the denominators - but you don'T have to in order to compare values
The value that appears most often in a data set.
If order matters - then you have a permutation -- do NOT divide. If order does NOT matter - then you have a combination -- divide by the factorial of the number of available slots.
T = G1 + G2 - B + N Where T = Total G1 = first Group G2 = second Group B = members who are in Both groups N = members who are in Neither group

48. What is the 'distributive law'?
The factorial of a number is that number times every positive whole number smaller than that number - down to 1. Example: 6! means the factorial of 6 - which = 65432*1 = 720.
A circle'S perimeter is roughly 3x its diameter (the formula is pd).
A(b+c) = ab + ac a(b-c) = ab - ac - For example - 12(66) + 12(24) is the same as 12(66+24) - or 12(90) = 1 -080.
Probability A * Probability B

49. What'S a handy rough estimate for a circle'S perimeter - if you know it'S diameter?

50. Define a factorial of a number - and how it is written.
The factorial of a number is that number times every positive whole number smaller than that number - down to 1. Example: 6! means the factorial of 6 - which = 65432*1 = 720.
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.