Web Chat: Quantitative GMAT

GMAT Quantitative Section
Overview, Strategies, and Sample OG Problems

Chat Participants
Angela Bostick, 04MBA
Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications
Goizueta Business School
Emory University
Stephanie Espy, 08MBA
Founder and Executive Director
MathSP Tutoring & Test Prep
www.MathSP.com
info@MathSP.com
Stay Tuned: Special GMAT PREP Offer for Chat Attendees

GMAT Quantitative Section Overview
• Two question types:
– Problem Solving (PS)
• Solve each problem and choose the correct response from 5 answer
choices
– Data Sufficiency (DS)
• Each problem consists of a question and two statements labeled
(1) and (2), each of which contain data
• Determine whether the data given are sufficient for answering the
question
• 37 questions total (~21 PS and ~16 DS)
• 75 minutes total
• Approx. 2 min per question on average

GMAT Quantitative Concepts Tested
• Arithmetic Concepts
– Integers (even, odd, positive, negative, consecutive), Number Lines, Digits,
Rounding, Prime, Factors, Multiples, Division, Divisibility Rules, Remainders,
Fractions, Ratios, Proportions, Percents, Order of Operations, Squares and Powers,
Roots, Data Analysis, Operations on Rational Numbers
• Algebra Concepts
– Exponents, Scientific Notation, Factor, FOIL, Absolute Value, Solving Equations,
Substitution, Rate, Work, Distance, Inequalities, Translations, Overlapping Sets,
Average, Median, Standard Deviation, Range, Probability, Permutations,
Combinations, Sets, Linear Functions, Slope, Intercepts, Symbols
• Geometry Concepts
– Lines and Angles, Parallel, Perpendicular, Transversal, Circles, Radius, Diameter,
Circumference, Area, Tangent, Triangles, Perimeter, Right Triangles, Isosceles,
Equilateral, Similar, Pythagorean Theorem, Triangle Inequality Theorem,
Quadrilaterals, Volume, Coordinate Geometry, Shaded Regions

Some Very Useful GMAT
Quantitative Strategies
– Diagram-It
– Pick-A-Number (PS only)
• Variables in Question and in Choices
• “What Fraction”
• “How Many”
– Back-Solve (PS only)
• Variables in Question but NOT in Choices
– Pattern Recognition
– POE using AD/BCE or BD/ACE (DS only)
– Stop when you have Enough Info (DS only)
– Extremes
– Built-in Constraints
– Simplify the Given and the Find (DS only)
– Don’t Assume Integers Only
– Prove-It! (DS only)
– Redraw and Label Diagrams

Problem Solving Sample Question #1 from the
Official Guide Book by GMAC – 13th
Edition
PS 116: If p is the product of the integers from 1 to
30, inclusive, what is the greatest integer k for which
3k
is a factor of p? A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 16 E) 18
Concepts tested: Definitions (product, integer,
inclusive, factor), exponents, factors & multiples
Strategy: Diagram-It
Level: Mid 500’s

Problem Solving Sample Solution #1 from the
Edition
PS 116: If p is the product of the integers from 1 to
30, inclusive, what is the greatest integer k for which
3k
is a factor of p?
A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 16 E) 18

Edition
PS 151: At a loading dock, each worker on the night
crew loaded 3/4 as many boxes as each worked on
the day crew. If the night crew has 4/5 as many
workers as the day crew, what fraction of all the
boxes loaded by the two crews did the day crew
load? A) 1/2 B) 2/5 C) 3/5 D) 4/5 E) 5/8
Concepts tested: Translating words into operations,
fractions
Strategy: Diagram-It and Pick-A-Number
Level: High 500’s - Low 600’s

Edition
PS 151: At a loading dock, each worker on the night
crew loaded 3/4 as many boxes as each worked on
the day crew. If the night crew has 4/5 as many
workers as the day crew, what fraction of all the
boxes loaded by the two crews did the day crew
load?
A) 1/2 B) 2/5 C) 3/5 D) 4/5 E) 5/8

Edition
PS 184: Lois has x dollars more than Jim has, and
together they have a total of y dollars. Which of the
following represents the number of dollars that Jim
has? A) (y-x)/2 B) y-(x/2) C) (y-2)/x D) 2y-x E) y-2x
Concepts tested: Translating words into operations
Strategy: Diagram-It and Pick-A-Number
Level: Mid - High 600’s

Problem Solving Solution Question #3 from the
Edition
PS 184: Lois has x dollars more than Jim has, and
together they have a total of y dollars. Which of the
following represents the number of dollars that Jim
has?
A) (y-x)/2 B) y-(x/2) C) (y-2)/x D) 2y-x E) y-2x

Edition
PS 186: Of 30 applicants for a job, 14 had at least 4
years’ experience, 18 had degrees, and 3 had less than
4 years’ experience and did not have a degree. How
many of the applicants had at least 4 years’ experience
and a degree? A) 14 B) 13 C) 9 D) 7 E) 5
Concept tested: Overlapping sets
Level: Mid - High 600’s

Edition
PS 186: Of 30 applicants for a job, 14 had at least 4
years’ experience, 18 had degrees, and 3 had less
than 4 years’ experience and did not have a degree.
How many of the applicants had at least 4 years’
experience and a degree?
A) 14 B) 13 C) 9 D) 7 E) 5

Edition
PS 215: Xavier, Yvonne, and Zelda each try
independently to solve a problem. If their individual
probabilities for success are 1/4, 1/2, and 5/8,
respectively, what is the probability that Xavier and
Yvonne, but not Zelda, will solve the problem?
A) 11/8 B) 7/8 C) 9/64 D) 5/64 E) 3/64
Concept tested: Probability
Level: High 600’s – Low 700’s

Edition
PS 215: Xavier, Yvonne, and Zelda each try
independently to solve a problem. If their individual
probabilities for success are 1/4, 1/2, and 5/8,
respectively, what is the probability that Xavier and
Yvonne, but not Zelda, will solve the problem?
A) 11/8 B) 7/8 C) 9/64 D) 5/64 E) 3/64

Edition
PS 216: 1 1 1
In the equation above, x could be
A) 0 B) -1 C) -2 D) -3 E) -4
Concepts tested: Solving equations with fractions
with variables in the denominator
Strategy: Back-Solve
x x+1 x+4

Edition
PS 216: 1 1 1
In the equation above, x could be
A) 0 B) -1 C) -2 D) -3 E) -4
x x+1 x+4

A Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement
(2) alone is not sufficient
B Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement
(1) alone is not sufficient
C BOTH statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are
sufficient, but NEITHER statement (1) or (2) ALONE is
sufficient
D Each statement (1) and (2) ALONE is sufficient
E Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are not
sufficient
NOTE: In DS problems that ask for a value, the data given in the statements
are only sufficient when it is possible to determine exactly one value.
Data Sufficiency Answer Choices

Eliminating Data Sufficiency Answer Choices

Data Sufficiency Sample Question #1 from the
Edition
DS 72: If m is an integer, is m odd?
(1) is not an even integer
(2) m-3 is an even integer
Concepts tested: Integers, even and odd rules
Strategy: Don’t assume integers only
Level: 500’s
m
2

Data Sufficiency Sample Solution #1 from the
Edition
DS 72: If m is an integer, is m odd?
(1) is not an even integer
(2) m-3 is an even integer
A B
D C
E
m
2

Edition
DS 98: Is rst = 1?
(1) rs = 1
(2) st = 1
Concepts tested: Integers and fractions
Strategy: Don’t assume integers only
Level: mid 500’s

Edition
DS 98: Is rst = 1?
(1) rs = 1
(2) st = 1
A B
D C
E

Edition
DS 120: A certain bookcase has 2 shelves of books.
On the upper shelf, the book with the greatest
number of pages has 400 pages. On the lower shelf,
the book with the least number of pages has 475
pages. What is the median number of pages for all
of the books on the 2 shelves?
(1) There are 25 books on the
upper shelf. (2) There are 24 books on the
lower shelf.
Concept tested: Median
Level: Low to mid 600’s

Edition
DS 120: A certain bookcase has 2 shelves of books. On
the upper shelf, the book with the greatest number of
pages has 400 pages. On the lower shelf, the book with
the least number of pages has 475 pages. What is the
median number of pages for all of the books on the 2
shelves?
(1) There are 25 books on the upper shelf.
(2) There are 24 books on the lower shelf.
A B
D C
E

Edition
DS 154: A report consisting of 2,600 words is divided into
23 paragraphs. A 2-paragraph preface is then added to the
report. Is the average (arithmetic mean) number of words
per paragraph for all 25 paragraphs less than 120?
(1) Each paragraph of
the preface has more than 100 words.
(2) Each paragraph of the
preface has fewer than 150 words.
Concepts tested: Average, manipulating inequalities
Strategy: Simplify the given and the find
Level: High 600’s

Edition
DS 154: A report consisting of 2,600 words is divided into
23 paragraphs. A 2-paragraph preface is then added to
the report. Is the average (arithmetic mean) number of
words per paragraph for all 25 paragraphs less than 120?
(1) Each
paragraph of the preface has more than 100 words.
(2) Each
paragraph of the preface has fewer than 150 words.
A B
D C
E

Edition
DS 158: If Carmen had 12 more tapes, she would have
twice as many tapes as Rafael. Does Carmen have
fewer tapes than Rafael?
(1) Rafael has more than 5 tapes.
(2) Carmen
has fewer than 12 tapes.
Concepts tested: Translating words into equations
Strategy: Extremes

Edition
DS 158: If Carmen had 12 more tapes, she would have
twice as many tapes as Rafael. Does Carmen have
fewer tapes than Rafael?
(1) Rafael has more than 5 tapes.
(2) Carmen
has fewer than 12 tapes.
A B
D C
E

Edition
DS 162: Is 5k
less than 1,000?
(1) 5k+1
> 3,000
(2) 5k-1
= 5k
- 500
Concepts tested: Exponent rules, equations vs.
inequalities
Strategy: Stop when you have enough info
Level: Low 700’s

Edition
DS 162: Is 5k
less than 1,000?
(1) 5k+1
> 3,000
(2) 5k-1
= 5k
- 500
A B
D C
E

Edition
DS 166: What is the value of x+y in the figure below?
(1) w = 95
(2) z = 125
Concepts tested: Lines,
angles, and polygons
Strategy: Redraw and Label
Diagrams
Level: 700’s
x°
w°
z°
y°

Edition
DS 166: What is the value of x+y in the figure below?
(1) w = 95
(2) z = 125
A B
D C
E
x°
w°
z°
y°

Create a Study Plan to Optimize
Your GMAT Quantitative Score
Start Early
– Commit to a date and schedule the test
– Allot 3-6 months of preparation before taking the GMAT
Do something everyday to prepare
– “Official Guide for GMAT Review” 13th
edition by the GMAC to practice with retired
questions
– Computer-adaptive practice exams at www.MBA.com to practice on the computer
with time constraints
– Like “MathSP” on Facebook, “MathSP Academy” on Twitter, and “MathSP” on
LinkedIn for questions of the day to practice on the go
Be realistic
– Schedule around vacation, birthdays, etc.
– Simulate a real testing environment
Write down your plan
– Hold yourself accountable and stick to the plan
– Amend MathSP’s sample plan to fit your needs!

Next MathSP GMAT Small Group Course
Begins Thursday, March 6
Features of the GMAT Ladder Small Group Course include:
• Master Problem Solving, Data Sufficiency, and Integrated Reasoning questions in the Official
GMAT Study Guide book
• Small group course comprised of a maximum of 10 students
• 24 hours of classroom instruction – 8 three-hr sessions meeting weekly from 6:30pm-
9:30pm at Goizueta Business School
• Weekly homework assignments that revisit concepts, reinforce strategies, and evaluate your
understanding of course material
• 90-minute homework review each session utilizing MathSP’s Facilitative Approach that
allows you to ask your individualized questions and understand your mistakes
• Practice tests throughout the course to familiarize yourself with computer-adaptive testing,
track your improvement, and develop your personalized testing strategy
• Highly interactive student learning with an expert MathSP GMAT Coach
• Timed practice problems each session to master timing
REGISTER BY MONDAY, MARCH 3 AND SAVE $100
USE COUPON CODE “GOIZUETACHAT” AT CHECKOUT

Contact Information
Stephanie Espy
Graduate of MIT, UC Berkeley, and Emory (Goizueta MBA ‘08)
Founder and Executive Director
MathSP Tutoring and Test Prep
info@MathSP.com
www.MathSP.com
(678) 628-4650
Join the MathSP online community for more sample problems and
solutions, competitions, news, and promotions!
Facebook (MathSP) - Twitter (MathSPAcademy) - LinkedIn (MathSP)

Web Chat: Quantitative GMAT

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Featured

Featured (20)

Web Chat: Quantitative GMAT