GMAT Math : DSQ: Simplifying algebraic expressions
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Example Questions
Example Question #103 : Algebra
Evaluate the expression
Statement 1:
Statement 2:
EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
We simplify to make sure of whether we need to know one or both of 
Indeed, the values of both 
Example Question #11 : Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Carleton's teacher challenged him to fill in the circle and the square below to form a polynomial with degree 
Did Carleton succeed?
Statement 1: The sum of the numbers Carleton filled in the two shapes was 
Statement 2: Carleton wrote a 
Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
The degree of a polynomial is the highest of the degrees of any of its terms; the degree of a term with one variable is the exponent of the variable.
Statement 1 alone provides insufficient information, since, for example, the degree 
The two statements together are sufficient; if the number in the circle is 
Example Question #11 : Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Michelle was challenged by her teacher to create a monomial of degree 
Did Michelle succeed?
Statement 1: Michelle wrote the same positive integer in both the circle and the square.
Statement 2: Michelle wrote a 
BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question.
EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
The degree of a monomial with more than one variable is the sum of the exponents of the two variables.
If Statement 1 alone is assumed, then, since the same integer is in both shapes, the sum must be twice this integer. The monomial must therefore have even degree—and, specifically, its degree cannot be 
Statement 2 alone proves nothing; if Michelle wrote a 
Example Question #904 : Data Sufficiency Questions
Gary was challenged by his teacher to write some whole numbers in the shapes in the diagram below in order to form a simplified expression.
Did Gary succeed?
Statement 1: Gary wrote the same whole number in the square and in the diamond.
Statement 2: Gary wrote different whole numbers in the circle and the triangle.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
A polynomial in one variable is simplified if and only if no two of its terms are like—that is, if and only if no two terms have the same exponent. Statement 1 alone only addresses the coefficients, which are not relevant to whether the expression can be simplified further. By Statement 2 alone, Gary wrote different exponents, so he succeeded in forming a simplified polynomial.
Example Question #902 : Data Sufficiency Questions
Evaluate the expression 
Statement 1:
Statement 2:
BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question.
Statement 1 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 2 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.
EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.
Simplify the expression:
This is equal to
Knowing the sum or the difference of 
____________
The expression can now be evaluated by substitution.
The answer is that both statements together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
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