A square that fits snugly inside a circle is inscribed in the circle. The square’s corners will touch, but not intersect, the circle’s boundary, and the square’s diagonal will equal the circle’s diameter. Also, as is true of any square’s diagonal, it will equal the hypotenuse of a 45°-45°-90° triangle. GRE questions about squares inscribed […]
Arithmetic: Translating Percentage Problems
Percentage questions on the GRE often use words and phrases in place of mathematical operators and expressions. To find the answers, just translate the relevant English into the required math. Call this solution strategy translation.
Quanitative: Sequences and Series
Repeated Question Patterns Whether straightforward or difficult, almost every problem on GRE Quantitative Reasoning follows established templates, variations on time-tested scenarios. In this post, we will define sequences and series, explain how they work, and then attempt an example problem. Key to success on the GRE is the ability to deal with problems in multiple ways, […]
Number Lines and Number Properties
Number Lines and Number Properties Attempt the question; then read the explanation below. Good Scratch Work is Essential Start by Recording What You Know™, drawing a picture, and getting your answer choices set up. This step is absolutely essential with many GRE problems, especially the more difficult ones. You need a chance to get your […]
Quantitative Challenge: Circle Inscribed in a Right Triangle
Where’s the Radius? Occasionally on GRE Quant, we might encounter a geometry problem that confounds easy analysis. Our usual techniques of drawing our own image and labeling values might not seem to produce any useful information, and we end up feeling “stuck.” As we’ve discussed previously, one key to success on GRE Quant is to […]
Quantitative: Simple and Compound Interest
How to Prepare for Less Common Quant Topics: With limited time and a lot to cover, a difficult choice many GRE students face is how much time to devote to the “errata” of the GRE Quant section. Among the more difficult problems, the GRE may throw students a curve ball: perhaps a difficult probability question, […]
Algebra Challenge: Quadratics and Negative Exponents
GRE algebra questions will occasionally hit you with a quadratic equation. To solve it, you won’t need the quadratic formula. You probably won’t even need the FOIL method. GRE Quant permits—and often rewards—problem solving methods that buck the conventions taught in high school math classes. To see what I mean, try these two algebra problems […]
How to Make Sense of Symbolic Functions in GRE Algebra
GRE algebra can get weird sometimes. Strange markings like ⧫ or ⊛ will appear in equations that otherwise use ordinary operators like + and −. Unusual symbols in GRE Quant are the hallmark of symbolic functions—pairings of inputs and outputs that, as it turns out, are connected by some pretty standard math. Symbols in math […]
Data Analysis Challenge: Compare Standard Deviation
GRE data analysis includes some tough Quant topics. One is standard deviation, a measure of how far the values in a data set tend to fall from the set’s mean. This statistic can be confusing and tedious to calculate. Luckily, you probably won’t need to calculate it when it comes up on the exam. Try this […]
Unmasking Disguised Average Questions on the GRE
Sometimes the challenge in GRE Quant isn’t doing the math; it’s knowing what math to do.