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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. Define 'proportionate' values
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.
1/1
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.
S²

2. Area of a parallelogram?
Bh
A 90-degree angle.
60%
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.

3. What is the key to dealing with ratio questions?
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.
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
25%
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.

4. Convert to a percentage: 2/5
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%
(a+b)(a-b)
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.

5. HIGH: What is the Pythagorean theorem?

6. How do you calculate the probability of EITHER one event OR another event happening? (Probability of A or B)
S²
Probability A + Probability B
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set
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.

7. List two odd behaviors of exponents
A line is a 180-degree angle.
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.
A median is the middle value of a set of numbers. For an odd number of values - it'S simply the middle number. For an even number of values - take the average of the center two values.
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)+

8. HIGH: Volume of a cylinder?
Probability A + Probability B
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
1
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)

9. HIGH: how do you calculate a diagonal inside a 3-dimensional rectangular box?
180 degrees
x² + 2xy + y²
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set
The formula is a² + b² + c² = d² where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.

10. HIGH: How do you multiply powers with the same base?
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
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set

11. HIGH: What is the median?
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
1/1
(a+b)(a-b)
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set

12. How many angles are formed when 2 lines intersect? and what is the sum of these angles?
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
1/1
V=s³

13. HIGH: Area of a triangle?
(x+y)²
Probability A * Probability B
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.

14. HIGH: What is the order of math operations - and the mnemonic to remember it?
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
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100
Example: 1 < x < 10
180 degrees

15. Explain how to use a 'Rate Pie'
V=s³
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
A=pr²
A 90-degree angle.

16. v4 =
2pr -or- pd
2
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.
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)+

17. HIGH: Area of a circle
6
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.
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
A=pr²

18. What is a 'Right' angle?
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.
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
A radius

19. What'S the most important thing to remember about charts you'll see on the GRE?
Draw a circle. The top half holds the Total. The bottom left quadrant holds Number of Things. Bottom right holds Average.
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.
Total of the elements divided by the number of elements. Example: (4 -6 -7) -- add 4+6+7 = 17 and divide by 3
For RIGHT triangles only: c² = a² + b² 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse; 'a' and 'b' are the other two sides ('legs')

20. HIGH: Describe and define three expressions of quadratic equations - in both factored and unfactored forms. Know these cold.
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
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
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
x² + 2xy + y²

21. What are the side ratios for a 30:60:90 triangle?
Find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. Then add or subtract.
Ratio of sides is x : xv3 : 2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
60%
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

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

23. In a coordinate system - what is the origin?
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
(0 -0)
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

24. HIGH: How do you multiply and divide square roots?
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2
V=s³
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
Between 0 and 1.

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

26. What is an 'equilateral' triangle?
(x-y)²
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.
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.
25%

27. List all the prime numbers that are less than 30:
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.
90 degrees each.
Groups - teams - or committees.
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply

28. What should you do BEFORE you start to solve a GRE math problem?

29. Diameter of a circle?
1
A 90-degree angle.
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
2r

30. HIGH: How do you get rid of the fraction in this equation: 5x + 3/2 = 7x
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.
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
(0 -0)
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.

31. Define the mode of a set of numbers.
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
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.

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

33. An integer is divisible by 3 if...
For RIGHT triangles only: c² = a² + b² 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse; 'a' and 'b' are the other two sides ('legs')
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.
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
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.

34. HIGH: What is the factored version of x² + 2xy + y² ?
(x+y)²
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.
1.4
(x-y)²

35. HIGH: x^-n is equal to
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.
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.

36. When 2 lines are perpendicular to each other - their intersection forms 4 angles. What degree are these 4 angles?
The formula is a² + b² + c² = d² where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.
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.
90 degrees each.
360 degrees

37. HIGH: To divide powers with the same base...
A median is the middle value of a set of numbers. For an odd number of values - it'S simply the middle number. For an even number of values - take the average of the center two values.
S*v2
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.
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5

38. Convert to a percentage: 3/5
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
60%
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.
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.

39. HIGH: What is the unfactored version of (x-y)² ?
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'.
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.
The value that appears most often in a data set.
x² -2xy + y²

40. How do you add or subtract fractions?
For RIGHT triangles only: c² = a² + b² 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse; 'a' and 'b' are the other two sides ('legs')
Ratio of sides is x : xv3 : 2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
Find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. Then add or subtract.
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.

41. What kind of triangle is this: has two sides of equal length - and a 90 degree angle?
For RIGHT triangles only: c² = a² + b² 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse; 'a' and 'b' are the other two sides ('legs')
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.
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.

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

43. What are 'vertical angles'?
1
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.

44. What is the 'Third side' rule for triangles?
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x 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.
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
180 degrees.

45. HIGH: Describe how to deal with 2 sets of parentheses.
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
(x+y)(x-y)
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)+
3:4:5 5:12:13

46. HIGH: How do you calculate the circumference of a circle?
1.4
25%
Bh
2pr -or- pd

47. What is the sum of any 'big' angle and any 'Small' angle?
360 degrees
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
180 degrees.
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.

48. What is the 'distributive law'?
This equals 7 ÷¼ - or 7/1 ÷ 1/4 = 7/1 * 4/1 = 28/1 = 28
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)
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. If something is certain to happen - how is the probability of this event expressed mathematically?
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
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
Bh
1/1

50. HIGH: What is the unfactored version of x²-y² ?
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
180 degrees.
(x+y)(x-y)
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.