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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. HIGH: List the two most common side ratios for right triangles
3:4:5 5:12:13
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) ÷ (total # of possible outcomes)
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.
x² + 2xy + y²

2. How do you solve a combination?

3. How do you calculate the percentage of change?
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.
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100
A digit is a number that makes up other numbers. There are ten digits: 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9. Every 'number' is made up of one or more digits. For example - the number 528 is made up of three digits - a 5 - a 2 - and an 8.
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)

4. HIGH: What is the mode?
The value that appears most often in a data set.
(0 -0)
Probability A * Probability B
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.

5. HIGH: What is the unfactored version of (x-y)² ?
x² -2xy + y²
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
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees

6. HIGH: Describe how to deal with 2 sets of parentheses.
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.
A 90-degree angle.
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.
Use the FOIL method: First - Outer - Inner - Last. This simply means to multiply every term in the first parentheses by every term in the second parentheses. Example: (x+4)(x+3) = First: (xx) + Outer: (x3) + Inner: (4x) + Last: (43) = (xx)+(x3)+(x4)+

7. List all the prime numbers that are less than 30:
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.
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
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.
x²-y²

8. HIGH: Area of a triangle?
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
(0 -0)
60%
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.

9. An integer is divisible by 8 if...

10. For a bell curve - what three terms might be used to describe the number in the middle?
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.
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.
Bh
The average - mean - median - or mode.

11. HIGH: Define the formula for calculating slope.
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
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.
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.

12. HIGH: How do you multiply powers with the same base?
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7
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'.
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
(x+y)(x-y)

13. HIGH: Rough est. of v1 =
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.
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
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions

14. Does order matter for a permutation? How about for a combination?
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
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.
The average - mean - median - or mode.
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.

15. How do you multiply 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.
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.
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

16. What kind of triangle is this: has two sides of equal length - and a 90 degree angle?
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 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.
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.
S*v2

17. HIGH: What is a '30:60:90' triangle?
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
S²
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.

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

19. What do permutation problems often ask for?
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
25%
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.

20. HIGH: What must be true before a quadratic equation can be solved?

21. HIGH: Rough est. of v2 =
60%
2
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
1.4

22. HIGH: What is the factored version of x² + 2xy + y² ?
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.
The value that appears most often in a data set.
(x+y)²
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.

23. HIGH: Explain a method for quickly comparing fractions with different denominators - to determine which is larger.

24. Convert to a percentage: 2/5
40%
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.
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.

25. Probability Formula
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.
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
1/1

26. In a coordinate system - identify the quadrants and describe their location.
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.
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
25%
(x+y)²

27. HIGH: Area of a circle
A=pr²
The formula is a² + b² + c² = d² where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.
Probability A + Probability B

28. What is a 'Right' angle?
1/1
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
A 90-degree angle.
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.

29. Define the median of a set of numbers - and how to find it for an odd and even number of values in a set.

30. When 2 lines are perpendicular to each other - their intersection forms 4 angles. What degree are these 4 angles?
Probability A * Probability B
2 - 14 - and 34. So - a Bell - standard deviation - or normal distribution curve would be segmented: | 2% | 14% | 34% |average score| 34% | 14% | 2% |
90 degrees each.
Groups - teams - or committees.

31. HIGH: how do you calculate the surface area of a rectangular box?
80%
The value that appears most often in a data set.
2r
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.

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

33. Define the range of a set of numbers.
Bh
80%
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.
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'.

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

35. HIGH: What is the side ratio for a 30:60:90 triangle?
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.
A line is a 180-degree angle.
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.

36. HIGH: How do you calculate the circumference of a circle?
The average - mean - median - or mode.
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
2pr -or- pd
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.

37. Define a factorial of a number - and how it is written.
360 degrees
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
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.
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.

38. HIGH: What is a 'Right isosceles' triangle?
A digit is a number that makes up other numbers. There are ten digits: 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9. Every 'number' is made up of one or more digits. For example - the number 528 is made up of three digits - a 5 - a 2 - and an 8.
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
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.
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.

39. What is the formula to determine probability?
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) ÷ (total # of possible outcomes)
x²-y²
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
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

40. What causes 80% of errors on the math section of the GRE?
Not reading the problems carefully enough!
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7
The average - mean - median - or 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.

41. How is a range expressed with inequalities?
Example: 1 < x < 10
(x-y)²
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.

42. On the GRE - should you ever assume that diagrams are truthful?
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.
V=s³
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.
2

43. HIGH: how do you calculate a diagonal inside a 3-dimensional rectangular box?
S²
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
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.
The formula is a² + b² + c² = d² where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.

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

45. What'S one way to avoid mistakes on algebra questions in the GRE?

46. If something is possible but not certain - what is the numeric range of probability of it happening?
Between 0 and 1.
An integer is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5
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.

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

48. How many angles are formed when 2 lines intersect? and what is the sum of these angles?
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
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.
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.
The formula is a² + b² + c² = d² where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.

49. What is the 'distributive law'?
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2
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.
x² -2xy + y²
Probability A + Probability B

50. What is an 'equilateral' triangle?
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.
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'.
80%
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7