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. Probability Formula
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
Example: 1 < x < 10
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

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

3. How do you solve a combination?

4. HIGH: What is the mode?
2r
The total # of possible outcomes.
S²
The value that appears most often in a data set.

5. Area of a parallelogram?
6
Bh
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
Total of the elements divided by the number of elements. Example: (4 -6 -7) -- add 4+6+7 = 17 and divide by 3

6. HIGH: What numbers does ETS hope you'll forget to consider - for quant comp questions?
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
x² -2xy + y²
1
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.

7. An integer is divisible by 2 if...
(a+b)(a-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
A circle'S perimeter is roughly 3x its diameter (the formula is pd).
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.

8. What do combination problems usually ask for?
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.
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.
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
Groups - teams - or committees.

9. Explain how to divide fractions.
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 ÷ 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4
A 90-degree angle.
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions

10. How do you calculate the percentage of change?
6
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
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.

11. HIGH: How much of your times table should you know - for the GRE?
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.
A=pr²
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
Probability A + Probability B

12. Convert to a percentage: 2/5
Groups - teams - or committees.
(a+b)(a-b)
40%
The total # of possible outcomes.

13. When 2 lines are perpendicular to each other - their intersection forms 4 angles. What degree are these 4 angles?
90 degrees each.
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.

14. What is the name of a line that extends from the center of a circle to the edge of a circle?
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
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
A radius
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.

15. What is the equation for a group problem?
Proportionate values are equivalent. Example: 1/2 and 4/8 are proportionate - but 1/2 and 2/3 are not.
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
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 ÷ 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4

16. HIGH: What is a 'Right isosceles' triangle?
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.
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+b)(a-b)
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.

17. Simplify this: v32
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.
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.
2pr -or- pd
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.

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

19. In a coordinate system - identify the quadrants and describe their location.
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.
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
A line is a 180-degree angle.

20. What is the formula to determine probability?
A=pr²
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) ÷ (total # of possible outcomes)
40%
1.4

21. Area of a square?
S²
Example: 1 < x < 10
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.
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)+

22. Explain how to solve for 7/¼
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.
This equals 7 ÷¼ - or 7/1 ÷ 1/4 = 7/1 * 4/1 = 28/1 = 28
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set
x² + 2xy + y²

23. An integer is divisible by 5 if...
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x² + x5 = x²+5 = x7
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. a² - b² is equal to
60%
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+b)(a-b)
3:4:5 5:12:13

25. How do you calculate the probability of EITHER one event OR another event happening? (Probability of A or B)
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.
6
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.
Probability A + Probability B

26. What'S the most important thing to remember about charts you'll see on the GRE?
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
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.
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.
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.

27. List two odd behaviors of exponents
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.
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.
Find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. Then add or subtract.

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

29. The three exterior angles of a triangle add up to...
360 degrees
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.
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 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.

30. Does order matter for a permutation? How about for a combination?
6
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
A circle'S perimeter is roughly 3x its diameter (the formula is pd).
Interior angles are equal: 60:60:60 degrees each. All sides are equal length.

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

32. HIGH: Volume of a cube?
S*v2
An integer is divisible by 6 if it'S divisible by BOTH 2 and 3.
V=s³
Not reading the problems carefully enough!

33. What is a 'Right' triangle?
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 radius
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.
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.

34. HIGH: Describe and define three expressions of quadratic equations - in both factored and unfactored forms. Know these cold.
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
1.4
Between 0 and 1.
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.

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

36. HIGH: What is the unfactored version of (x-y)² ?
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
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
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
x² -2xy + y²

37. HIGH: What is the side ratio for a 30:60:90 triangle?
360 degrees
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
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.

38. Solve this: v6 * -v6 = ?
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)
180 degrees
6
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.

39. Convert to a percentage: 3/5
60%
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.
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
Not reading the problems carefully enough!

40. Define the range of a set of numbers.
(a+b)(a-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
This equals 7 ÷¼ - or 7/1 ÷ 1/4 = 7/1 * 4/1 = 28/1 = 28
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.

41. HIGH: What is the Pythagorean theorem?

42. Convert to a percentage: 1/4
25%
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.
Ratio of sides is x : xv3 : 2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
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.

43. What is the factored version of x² -2xy + y² ?
A=pr²
(x-y)²
V=s³
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

44. How is a range expressed with inequalities?
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.
2r
Example: 1 < x < 10
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.

45. HIGH: Describe how to deal with 2 sets of parentheses.
The value that appears most often in a data set.
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.
Not reading the problems carefully enough!
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)+

46. What do permutation problems often ask for?
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 ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5

47. HIGH: Simplify this: v75/v27
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.
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.
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2
S*v2

48. For a bell curve - what three terms might be used to describe the number in the middle?
The average - mean - median - or mode.
x² -2xy + y²
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
360 degrees

49. What is the key to dealing with ratio questions?
Bh
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
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%.
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.

50. HIGH: how do you calculate a diagonal inside a 3-dimensional rectangular box?
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
360 degrees
The formula is a² + b² + c² = d² where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.
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.