Test your basic knowledge |

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 do you solve a combination?

2. a² - b² is equal to
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
x²-y²
(a+b)(a-b)
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.

3. What is the name of a line that extends from the center of a circle to the edge of a circle?
A radius
360 degrees
That they often have not just one answer - but two. For example - solving x² -10x + 24 = 0 factors to (x-4)(x-6)=0 - which means x could equal either 4 or 6. Just accept it.
2r

4. What degree angle is a line?
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.
A line is a 180-degree angle.
180 degrees.
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36

5. HIGH: What is the equation of a line?

6. HIGH: What is a '30:60:90' triangle?
80%
This is an equilateral triangle that has been divided along its height. Interior angles are 30:60:90 degrees. Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse. This allows you to deduce any side - given
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.
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.

7. In a coordinate system - what is the origin?
Bh
1.4
Not reading the problems carefully enough!
(0 -0)

8. Explain how to calculate an average (arithmetic mean)
y = mx + b -- where: x -y are the coordinates of any point on the line (allows you to locate) m is the slope of the line b is the intercept (where the line crosses the y-axis) Sometimes on the GRE - 'a' is substituted for 'm' - as in 'y = ax + b'.
Total of the elements divided by the number of elements. Example: (4 -6 -7) -- add 4+6+7 = 17 and divide by 3
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.
The equation must be set equal to zero. If during the test one appears that'S not - before you can solve it you must first manipulate it so it is equal to zero.

9. How do you divide fractions?
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.
The value that appears most often in a data set.
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply

10. HIGH: How do you calculate the circumference of a circle?
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
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
2pr -or- pd

11. What'S the most important thing to remember about charts you'll see on the GRE?
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.
That - unlike a normal chart - they are constructed to HIDE information or make it HARDER to understand. Be sure to scroll down - read everything - and look carefully for hidden information - asterisks - footnotes - small print - and funny units.
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)

12. HIGH: x^-n is equal to
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
2pr -or- pd
A=pr²
Probability A * Probability B

13. HIGH: To divide powers with the same base...
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.
360 degrees
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.

14. List all the prime numbers that are less than 30:
That - unlike a normal chart - they are constructed to HIDE information or make it HARDER to understand. Be sure to scroll down - read everything - and look carefully for hidden information - asterisks - footnotes - small print - and funny units.
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
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.
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.

15. HIGH: What is the mode?
180 degrees.
The value that appears most often in a data set.
x² -2xy + y²
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.

16. Explain the difference between handling a permutation versus a combination.
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.
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
80%
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.

17. HIGH: What are the percentages for standard deviation?
2 - 14 - and 34. So - a Bell - standard deviation - or normal distribution curve would be segmented: | 2% | 14% | 34% |average score| 34% | 14% | 2% |
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
The range is the difference between the biggest and smallest numbers in the set. Example: for the set {2 -6 -13 -3 -15 -4 -9} the smallest number is 2 - largest is 15 - so the range is 15-2=13.
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)

18. The three interior angles of a triangle add up to...
180 degrees
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.
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.
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.

19. When 2 lines are perpendicular to each other - their intersection forms 4 angles. What degree are these 4 angles?
360 degrees
90 degrees each.
180 degrees
1.4

20. HIGH: Rough est. of v1 =
3:4:5 5:12:13
S*v2
1
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.

21. Diameter of a circle?
2r
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) ÷ (total # of possible outcomes)

22. What number goes on the bottom of a probability fraction?
x²-y²
40%
The total # of possible outcomes.
This is an equilateral triangle that has been divided along its height. Interior angles are 30:60:90 degrees. Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse. This allows you to deduce any side - given

23. v4 =
2
The average - mean - median - or mode.
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) ÷ (total # of possible outcomes)
80%

24. HIGH: What is the factored version of (x+y)(x-y) ?
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
Draw a circle. The top half holds the Total. The bottom left quadrant holds Number of Things. Bottom right holds Average.
x²-y²
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.

25. What kind of triangle is this: has two sides of equal length - and a 90 degree angle?
This is an equilateral triangle that has been divided along its height. Interior angles are 30:60:90 degrees. Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse. This allows you to deduce any side - given
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.
The total # of possible outcomes.
That they often have not just one answer - but two. For example - solving x² -10x + 24 = 0 factors to (x-4)(x-6)=0 - which means x could equal either 4 or 6. Just accept it.

26. An integer is divisible by 9 if...
(x-y)²
An integer is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
Example: 1 < x < 10

27. HIGH: Area of a triangle?
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.
x² + 2xy + y²
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.

28. HIGH: What is the factored version of x² + 2xy + y² ?
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.
Probability A + Probability B
(x+y)²

29. HIGH: Define the 'Third side' rule for triangles

30. How many degrees does a circle contain?
The length of any one side of a triangle must be less than the sum of the other two sides. It must also be greater than the difference between the other two sides. So - 'A' will always be < B+C - and > B-C or C-B.
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
360 degrees
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.

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

32. Convert to a percentage: 3/5
60%
Absolute value is a number'S distance away from zero on the number line. It is always positive - regardless of whether the number is positive or negative. It is represented with | |. For example - |-5| = 5 - and |5| = 5.
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.
y = mx + b -- where: x -y are the coordinates of any point on the line (allows you to locate) m is the slope of the line b is the intercept (where the line crosses the y-axis) Sometimes on the GRE - 'a' is substituted for 'm' - as in 'y = ax + b'.

33. HIGH: How much of your times table should you know - for the GRE?
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.
(a+b)(a-b)
(0 -0)
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.

34. What is the key to dealing with ratio questions?
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.
An integer is divisible by 4 if its last two digits form a number that'S divisible by 4. For example - 712 is divisible by 4 because its last two digits (12) is divisible by 4.
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
Bh

35. How do you multiply fractions?
90 degrees each.
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.
Length of an Arc = (n/360)(2pr) - where 'n' equals the central angle (the angle formed by the two edge radii of the arc). For example: if n=60 - then n/360 = 1/6 - which means the arc formed by the 60-degree central angle will be 1/6 of the circle'S
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

36. HIGH: Volume of a cube?
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.
V=s³
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.

37. Explain how to use an 'Average Pie'
x² -2xy + y²
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.
25%
Draw a circle. The top half holds the Total. The bottom left quadrant holds Number of Things. Bottom right holds Average.

38. How do you calculate the percentage of change?
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
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
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100

39. What is one misleading characteristic of quadratic equations that will be exploited on the GRE?
An integer is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
That they often have not just one answer - but two. For example - solving x² -10x + 24 = 0 factors to (x-4)(x-6)=0 - which means x could equal either 4 or 6. Just accept it.
By Plugging In an actual value for the variable(s). This will be quicker - more accurate - you'll avoid built-in traps - and you can use the calculator. When Plugging In - use simple numbers but avoid 1 and 0.
Bh

40. HIGH: how do you calculate a diagonal inside a 3-dimensional rectangular box?
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
The formula is a² + b² + c² = d² where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.
2

41. Area of a parallelogram?
An integer is divisible by 4 if its last two digits form a number that'S divisible by 4. For example - 712 is divisible by 4 because its last two digits (12) is divisible by 4.
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7
Bh

42. Area of a square?
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
60%
S²
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5

43. What is the 'distributive law'?
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.
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.
x² -2xy + y²
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

44. An integer is divisible by 6 if...

45. How is a range expressed with inequalities?
Example: 1 < x < 10
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.
1. Figure out how many slots you have (i.e. there are 3 winning positions in a race - 1st - 2nd - and 3rd) 2. Write down the number of possible options for each slot (i.e. 5 runners in the race - so 5 options for the 1st slot - 4 options for the 2nd
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.

46. HIGH: Simplify this: v75/v27
2r
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.
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
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.

47. Convert to a percentage: 1/4
25%
A line is a 180-degree angle.
Calculate and add the areas of all of 6 its sides. Example: for a rectangle with dimensions 2 x 3 x 4 - there will be 2 sides each - for each combination of these dimensions. That is - 2 each of 2x3 - 2 each of 3x4 - and 2 each of 4x2.
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100

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

49. What is a 'Right' angle?
V=s³
2pr -or- pd
1. Figure out how many slots you have (i.e. there are 3 winning positions in a race - 1st - 2nd - and 3rd) 2. Write down the number of possible options for each slot (i.e. 5 runners in the race - so 5 options for the 1st slot - 4 options for the 2nd
A 90-degree angle.

50. HIGH: What numbers does ETS hope you'll forget to consider - for quant comp questions?
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
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 90-degree angle.
x² + 2xy + y²