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GRE High Frequency Math Terms

Subjects : gre, math

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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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. Diameter of a circle?
2r
(0 -0)
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.
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%.

2. HIGH: What is a 'Right isosceles' triangle?
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. Raising a fraction (between 0 and 1) to a power greater than 1 results in a SMALLER number. For example: (1/2) = 1/4. 2. A number raised to the 0 power is 1 - no matter what the number is. For example: 1 -287 = 1.
It will be a great advantage on test day to have your times table memorized from 1 through 15.
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.

3. What is the sum of any 'big' angle and any 'Small' angle?
3:4:5 5:12:13
S*v2
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.
180 degrees.

4. What is the factored version of x -2xy + y ?
(x-y)
x + 2xy + y
360 degrees
2pr -or- pd

5. HIGH: What numbers does ETS hope you'll forget to consider - for quant comp questions?
No. Never believe what you see - only what you read. GRE diagrams are often deliberately designed to be misleading or confusing.
S*v2
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

6. Define a factorial of a number - and how it is written.
An integer is divisible by 8 if its last three digits form a number that'S divisible by 8. For example - 11 -640.
2
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.

7. HIGH: Rough est. of v2 =
Find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. Then add or subtract.
180 degrees
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? x4 = x?-4 = x5
1.4

8. 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) = 1/4. 2. A number raised to the 0 power is 1 - no matter what the number is. For example: 1 -287 = 1.
6
An integer is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.

9. What is a 'Right' triangle?
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4
Percentage Change = Difference/Original * 100
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 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

10. Simplify this: v32
V32 = v16*2. We can take the square root of 16 and move it outside the square root symbol - = 4v2.
Total of the elements divided by the number of elements. Example: (4 -6 -7) -- add 4+6+7 = 17 and divide by 3
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.

11. HIGH: Rough est. of v1 =
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
The formula is a + b + c = d where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.
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.

12. HIGH: What is the formula for the diagonal of any square?
A triangle in which one of the three interior angles is 90 degrees.
1.7
S*v2
Probability A + Probability B

13. What is the key to dealing with ratio questions?
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
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.
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
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'.

14. HIGH: Define 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. 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.
360 degrees
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%.
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set

15. How many degrees does a circle contain?
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
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
360 degrees

16. How precise do you need to be - using p on the GRE?
Using a simple '3' is usually close enough. Just remember that p is slightly more than 3 - if a comparison is called for.
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? x4 = x?-4 = x5
The average - mean - median - or mode.
A radius

17. In a coordinate system - identify the quadrants and describe their location.
2 - 14 - and 34. So - a Bell - standard deviation - or normal distribution curve would be segmented: | 2% | 14% | 34% |average score| 34% | 14% | 2% |
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
Not necessarily. This is a trick question - because x could be either positive or negative.
Example: 1 < x < 10

18. What is one misleading characteristic of quadratic equations that will be exploited on the GRE?
That they often have not just one answer - but two. For example - solving x -10x + 24 = 0 factors to (x-4)(x-6)=0 - which means x could equal either 4 or 6. Just accept it.
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.
1.4
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.

19. Convert to a percentage: 2/5
4 angles are formed. Their sum is 360 degrees
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.
40%
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply

20. Define the mode of a set of numbers.
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.
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
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
1. Factored: x - y Unfactored: (x+y)(x-y) 2. Factored: (x+y) Unfactored: x + 2xy + y 3. Factored: (x-y) Unfactored: x - 2xy + y

21. What degree angle is a line?
(0 -0)
S
A line is a 180-degree angle.
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.

22. Solve this: v6 * -v6 = ?
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply
Find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. Then add or subtract.
6
Not reading the problems carefully enough!

23. An integer is divisible by 4 if...
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.
1.4
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
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.

24. How do you solve a combination?
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.
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.
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
V=prh (This is just the area multiplied by the height)

25. HIGH: To divide powers with the same base...
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.
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.
Subtract the exponents - retain the base For example - x? x4 = x?-4 = x5

26. Explain the difference between handling a permutation versus a combination.
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.
1. Factored: x - y Unfactored: (x+y)(x-y) 2. Factored: (x+y) Unfactored: x + 2xy + y 3. Factored: (x-y) Unfactored: x - 2xy + y
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.
6

27. Define the range of a set of numbers.
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.
Find a common denominator and make equivalent fractions. Then add or subtract.
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.

28. HIGH: What is the unfactored version of x-y ?
1.7
(x+y)(x-y)
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.
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.

29. In a coordinate system - what is the origin?
(x+y)
(0 -0)
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
Not reading the problems carefully enough!

30. HIGH: x^-n is equal to
1/x^n For example - 6- = 1/6 = 1/36
Like any other number. For example - v3*v12 = v36 = 6 For example - v(16/4) = v16/v4 = 4/2 = 2
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4
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

31. When a pair of parallel lines is intersected by another line - two types of angles are formed. What are they?
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.
S
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.
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.

32. What'S the most important thing to remember about charts you'll see on the GRE?
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.
Example: 1 < x < 10
Find the total - or whole - first - and then set up a Ratio Box.
Turn the second fraction upside down (find its reciprocal) and multiply. Example: 2/3 4/5 = 2/3 * 5/4

33. HIGH: Area of a triangle?
1.4
A=1/2bh. The height of the triangle must be measured by a line perpendicular to the base.
A circle'S perimeter is roughly 3x its diameter (the formula is pd).
Multiply numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

34. An integer is divisible by 2 if...
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.
180 degrees.
(x+y)
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.

35. Does order matter for a permutation? How about for a combination?
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.
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.
x -2xy + y
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.

36. HIGH: How do you multiply powers with the same base?
Add the exponents - retain the base. for example - x + x5 = x+5 = x7
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
The formula is a + b + c = d where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.
180 degrees.

37. HIGH: how do you calculate the surface area of a rectangular box?
ZONE-F numbers: Zero - One - Negatives - Extreme values - Fractions
A 90-degree angle.
The average - mean - median - or mode.
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.

38. An integer is divisible by 5 if...
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'.
180 degrees.
The # falling in the center of an ordered data set
An integer is divisible by 5 if its units digit is either 0 or 5.

39. HIGH: Explain the process to solve '56 is what percent of 80?'
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
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
(0 -0)
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%.

40. How do you divide fractions?
Invert the second fraction (reciprocal) and multiply
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
Draw a circle. The top half holds the Total. The bottom left quadrant holds Number of Things. Bottom right holds Average.

41. What'S one way to avoid mistakes on algebra questions in the GRE?
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.
Arrangements - orders - schedules - or lists.
1.4
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.

42. What causes 80% of errors on the math section of the GRE?
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
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.
Not reading the problems carefully enough!
2r

43. HIGH: what is the side ratio for a Right Isosceles triangle?
The ratio of sides is x:x:xv2 - where xv2 is the hypotenuse.
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
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%.
The value that appears most often in a data set.

44. What are 'vertical angles'?
Probability A + Probability B
An integer is divisible by 2 if its units digit is divisible by 2.
Vertical angles are the angles that are across from each other when 2 lines intersect. Vertical angles are always equal.
The average - mean - median - or mode.

45. Explain how to use a 'Rate Pie'
The formula is a + b + c = d where a - b - c are the dimensions of the figure and d is the diagonal.
Order does matter for a permutation - but does not matter for a combination.
Quadrant 1 is top right. Q 2 is top left. Q 3 is bottom left. Q 4 is bottom right.
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

46. How do you calculate the probability of EITHER one event OR another event happening? (Probability of A or B)
Probability A + Probability B
Favorable Outcomes/Total Possible Outcomes
1. Factored: x - y Unfactored: (x+y)(x-y) 2. Factored: (x+y) Unfactored: x + 2xy + y 3. Factored: (x-y) Unfactored: x - 2xy + y
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. Convert to a percentage: 1/4
1/x^n For example - 6- = 1/6 = 1/36
25%
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.
360 degrees

48. HIGH: How do you calculate the length of an arc?
Bh
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
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.
(x-y)

49. What is the formula to determine probability?
Probability A * Probability B
90 degrees each.
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.
(# of possible outcomes that satisfy the condition) (total # of possible outcomes)

50. HIGH: Define the formula for calculating slope.
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.
'Big' angles and 'Small' angles.
2
Slope = rise/run. Find the change in y-coordinates (rise) and the change in x-coordinates (run) to calculate.

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