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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. Convert to a percentage: 3/5
1/x^n For example - 6-² = 1/6² = 1/36
60%
The value that appears most often in a data set.
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.

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

3. HIGH: how do you calculate the surface area of a rectangular box?
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 ÷ 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
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.

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

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

6. 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.
An integer is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
The value that appears most often in a data set.
1.4

7. HIGH: What is the Pythagorean theorem?

8. Probability Formula
A radius
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
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.

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

10. What number goes on the bottom of a probability fraction?
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 total # of possible outcomes.
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
1.7

11. The three exterior angles of a triangle add up to...
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
360 degrees
V=s³

12. HIGH: What is the order of math operations - and the mnemonic to remember it?
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
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.
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

13. What do combination problems usually ask for?
180 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
Groups - teams - or committees.
(0 -0)

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

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

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.
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.
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.
A circle'S perimeter is roughly 3x its diameter (the formula is pd).

17. Area of a square?
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
S²
6
x² + 2xy + y²

18. HIGH: Rough est. of v3 =
Between 0 and 1.
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.
1.7
(a+b)(a-b)

19. Explain how to use an 'Average Pie'
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
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.
Draw a circle. The top half holds the Total. The bottom left quadrant holds Number of Things. Bottom right holds Average.
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2

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

21. v4 =
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.
90 degrees each.
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
2

22. Convert to a percentage: 1/4
25%
Probability A * Probability B
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 integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.

23. HIGH: Area of a circle
A=pr²
For RIGHT triangles only: c² = a² + b² 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse; 'a' and 'b' are the other two sides ('legs')
25%
6

24. HIGH: What is a '30:60:90' triangle?
(x+y)(x-y)
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
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'.
90 degrees each.

25. HIGH: To divide powers with the same base...
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
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5
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.
2pr -or- pd

26. List two odd behaviors of exponents
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 ÷ 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4
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.
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.

27. In a coordinate system - what is the origin?
Total of the elements divided by the number of elements. Example: (4 -6 -7) -- add 4+6+7 = 17 and divide by 3
Probability A * Probability B
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
(0 -0)

28. What is the sum of any 'big' angle and any 'Small' angle?
For RIGHT triangles only: c² = a² + b² 'c' is the length of the hypotenuse; 'a' and 'b' are the other two sides ('legs')
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.
180 degrees.
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5

29. HIGH: Define the formula for calculating slope.
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.
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.

30. What is the equation for a group problem?
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 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
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.
2

31. HIGH: How do you calculate the length of an arc?

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

33. How many angles are formed when 2 lines intersect? and what is the sum of these angles?
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.
(x+y)²
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.

34. What is the 'Third side' rule for triangles?
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.
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.
Probability A * Probability B

35. How do you solve a permutation?
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=pr²
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.
A line is a 180-degree angle.

36. If x² = 144 - does v144 = x?
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
Probability A + Probability B
Ratio of sides is x:xv3:2x - where x is the base - xv3 is the height - and 2x is the hypotenuse.
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.

37. List all the prime numbers that are less than 30:
Not reading the problems carefully enough!
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.
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.

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

39. What causes 80% of errors on the math section of the GRE?
Not reading the problems carefully enough!
A line is a 180-degree angle.
2 -3 -5 -7 -11 -13 -17 -19 -23 -29. Note that 0 and 1 are not prime numbers.
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.

40. HIGH: What is the factored version of (x+y)(x-y) ?
x²-y²
A radius
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
2pr -or- pd

41. The probability of an event happening and the probability of an event NOT happening must add up to what number?
A radius
1. Given event A: A + notA = 1.
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
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.

42. For a bell curve - what three terms might be used to describe the number in the middle?
25%
1
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.
The average - mean - median - or mode.

43. HIGH: Volume of a cylinder?
V=pr²h (This is just the area multiplied by the height)
The average - mean - median - or mode.
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.

44. In a coordinate system - identify the quadrants and describe their location.
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.
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.
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.
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.

45. HIGH: What numbers does ETS hope you'll forget to consider - for quant comp questions?
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
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? ÷ x4 = x?-4 = x5
This equals 7 ÷¼ - or 7/1 ÷ 1/4 = 7/1 * 4/1 = 28/1 = 28
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions

46. How many degrees does a circle contain?
An integer is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
180 degrees.
360 degrees
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.

47. Simplify this: v32
The total # of possible outcomes.
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.
Bh

48. HIGH: Simplify this: v75/v27
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.
60%
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
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.

49. HIGH: What is the factored version of x² + 2xy + y² ?
1
1.4
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
(x+y)²

50. What is the formula to determine probability?
2 - 14 - and 34. So - a Bell - standard deviation - or normal distribution curve would be segmented: | 2% | 14% | 34% |average score| 34% | 14% | 2% |
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) ÷ (total # of possible outcomes)
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.