GMAT Math : DSQ: Calculating the length of the diameter

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Diameter

What is the circumference of a circle?

(1)The diameter of this circle is 10

(2)The area of this circle is 25\pi

Possible Answers:

Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.

Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

Correct answer:

EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

Explanation:

The calculation of the circumference is C=2\pi r. From statement (1) we know that d=10. Therefore r=5, and we can calculate C using the formula. From statement (2) we know that \pi r^{2}=25\pi. Therefore r=5, and we can calculate C using the formula.

 

Example Question #2 : Dsq: Calculating The Length Of The Diameter

If  and  are points on a plane and  lies inside the circle  with center  and radius 5, does  lie inside circle ?

(1) The length of line segment  is 7.

 

(2) The length of line segment  is 7.

Possible Answers:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but the other statement alone is not sufficient.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are not sufficient to answer the question.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but the other statement alone is not sufficient.

 

EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but the other statement alone is not sufficient.

Explanation:

(1) The max distance between two points in the circle is twice the length of the

raidus (diameter =  = ). However,  can still be anywhere on the plane

(outside of the circle) as the statement does not indicate otherwise. Therefore, this statement is insuffieicent.

 

(2) The length of the line segment from  to  is greater than the radius of the circle. Thus,  must be outside of the circle. This statement is sufficient. 

Example Question #3 : Dsq: Calculating The Length Of The Diameter

Find the diameter of circle B.

I) Circle B has a circumference of .

II) Circle B has an area of .

Possible Answers:

Both statements taken together are sufficient to solve the question.

Neither statement is sufficient to solve the question. More information is needed.

Each statement alone is enough to solve the question.

Statement 1 is sufficient to solve the question, but statement 2 is not sufficient to solve the question. 

Statement 2 is sufficient to solve the question, but statement 1 is not sufficient to solve the question. 

Correct answer:

Each statement alone is enough to solve the question.

Explanation:

We are given the area and circumference of a circle and asked to find the diameter.

Given the following equations:

We can see that having either area or circumference will allow us to find the radius and in turn the diameter.

Thus, either statement is sufficient by itself.

Example Question #4 : Dsq: Calculating The Length Of The Diameter

Find the diameter of circle 

I) The area of  of   is .

II) An arc making up  of  is .

Possible Answers:

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements together are needed to answer the question.

Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.

Either statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Either statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

I) Gives us a portion of the area of the circle. From this we can find the total area and solve for the radius. Then we can double our answer to find the diameter.

II) Gives us a portion of the circumference. From this we can find the total circumference and work our way back to the radius and then the diameter.

Example Question #5 : Dsq: Calculating The Length Of The Diameter

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The circle of center  is inscribed in square . What is the diameter of the circle?

(1) The ratio of the diameter to the circumference of the circle is .

(2) The area of square  is .

Possible Answers:

Statement 1 alone is sufficient.

Statments 1 and 2 together are not sufficient.

Both statements together are sufficient.

Statement 2 alone is sufficient.

Each statement alone is sufficient.

Correct answer:

Statement 2 alone is sufficient.

Explanation:

To find the diameter of the circle we would need information about the square or about the circle itself.

Statement 1 gives us a ratio of the diameter to the circumference  of the circle.

If we write the equation it is  or .

Therefore, for all circles, the ratio of the diameter to the circumference will be .

This statement is not helping.

 

Statement 2 on the other hand gives us the area of the square and therefore allows us to calculate the side of the circle, which is the same as the diameter. 

Hence, statement 2 alone is sufficient.

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