GMAT Math : DSQ: Calculating the perimeter of a square
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square
Gene is building a fence. He is using square fence posts and needs to know the total distance around one pole. Help him find the distance,
I) The fence will be 
II) The diagonal distance from one corner of a fence post to its other corner is 
Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.
Either statement is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.
Both statements are needed to answer the question.
Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.
Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.
We are asked to find the perimeter of a square. To do that we need a side length.
I) Is irrelevant and is trying to distract you with other aspects of the question.
II) Gives you the diagonal of the square. The diagonal of a square creates two 45/45/90 triangles.
Use this knowledge to find the other side lengths and then the perimeter.
Example Question #2 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square
Find the perimeter of the square.
- The length of the diagonal of the square is
.
- The area of the square is
.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.
Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1: The length of the diagonal of a square is found by multiplying the length of one side by the square root of 
Knowing the length of the side, we can find the perimeter of the square:
Statement 2: We can use the given area to solve for the length of the side
where 
We can now find the perimeter in the same manner:
Therefore, each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Example Question #3 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square
The ratio of square A to square B is 3:1. Find the perimeter of square B.
- The area of square A is
.
- The length of the diagonal of square B is
.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1: We can use the area to find the length of square A's side.
Keep in mind that the ratio of square A to square B is 3:1.
Now that we know the length of the side, we can find the perimeter of square B.
Statement 2: We can use the diagonal to find the length of the side.
We can easily see the side measures 
Example Question #1 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square
What is the perimeter of the square?
- A side measures
.
- The area of the square is
.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.
Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Recall the formula for perimeter of a square:
where 
Statement 1: We're given 
Statement 2: We're given the area 
With 
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Example Question #5 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square
Find the perimeter of the square.
- The diagonal measures
inches.
- The diagonal is found by
where
represents a square's side length.
Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1: We can find the length of the square's side using the information given.
so
We can now find the perimeter of the square: 
Statement 2: In order to find the length of the square's side using the information provided in Statement 1, we need to use this equation.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
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