GMAT Math : DSQ: Understanding arithmetic sets

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #11 : Sets

Number_sets

Examine the above diagram, which shows a Venn diagram representing the sets of real numbers. 

If real number  were to be placed in its correct region in the diagram, which one would it be - I, II, III, IV, or V?

Statement 1: If , then  would be placed in Region IV.

Statement 2: If , then  would be placed in Region IV.

Possible Answers:

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.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Region IV comprises the rational numbers that are not integers. A number is rational if and only if it can be expressed as the quotient of integers. 

From Statement 1 alone, it can be inferred that  is rational, and that it is not an integer. Since , it follows that . However, this is not sufficient to narrow it down completely.

For example:

If , then , a natural number, putting it in Region I.

If , then , a rational number but not an integer, putting it in Region IV.

From Statement 2 alone, it can be inferred that  is rational, and that it is not an integer. From , it follows that . The nonzero rational numbers are closed under division, so  must be a rational number. However, since  is not an integer,  cannot be an integer, since the integers are closed under multiplication. Therefore, Statement 2 alone proves that  belongs in Region IV.

Example Question #12 : Sets

Number_sets

Examine the above diagram, which shows a Venn diagram representing the sets of real numbers. 

If real number  were to be placed in its correct region in the diagram, which one would it be - I, II, III, IV, or V?

Statement 1: If , then  would be placed in Region I.

Statement 2: If , then  would be placed in Region I.

Possible Answers:

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.

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.

Correct answer:

Statement 2 ALONE is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement 1 ALONE is NOT sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Region I comprises the natural numbers - 

From Statement 1 alone,  is a natural number; since , it follows that  is the difference of a natural number and 7 - that is, 

 could be in any of three regions - I, II, or III.

Conversely, from Statement 2 alone,   is the sum of a natural number and 7 - that is,

 must be a natural number and it must be in Region I.

Example Question #13 : Sets

Number_sets

Examine the above diagram, which shows a Venn diagram representing the sets of real numbers. 

If real number  were to be placed in its correct region in the diagram, which one would it be - I, II, III, IV, or V?

Statement 1: If , then  would be in Region I.

Statement 2: If , then  would be in Region III. 

Possible Answers:

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.

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

Assume Statement 1 alone. It cannot be determined what region  is in. 

For example, suppose , which is in Region I (the set of natural numbers, or positive integers). It is possible that , putting it in Region I, or , putting it in Region III (the set of integers that are not whole numbers - that is, the set of negative integers).

Assume Statement 2 alone. It cannot be determined what region  is in. 

For example, suppose , which is in Region III; then , which is also in Region III. But suppose ; then , which, as an irrational number, is in Region V.

Now assume both statements. Then  has an integer as a square and an integer as a cube.  must either be an integer or an irrational number. But 

, making it the quotient of integers, which is rational. Therefore,  is an integer. Furthermore, its cube is negative, so  is negative. The two statements together prove that  is a negative integer, which belongs in Region III.

Example Question #14 : Sets

How many elements are in set ?

Statement 1:  has exactly  subsets.

Statement 2:  has exactly  proper subsets.

Possible Answers:

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.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question. 

Correct answer:

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

A set with  elements has exactly  subsets in all, and  proper subsets (every subset except one - the set itself). 

From Statement 1, since  has  subsets, it follows that it has 6 elements. From Statement 2, since  has 63 proper subsets, it has 64 subsets total, and, again, 6 elements. Either statement alone is sufficient.

Example Question #15 : Sets

Which, if either, is the greater number:  or  ?

Statement 1: 

Statement 2: 

Possible Answers:

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.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are insufficient to answer the question.

EITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

Statement 1 alone gives insufficient information. For example, if , then:

 or 

Since , it is unclear which of  and  is greater, if either.

Statement 2 gives insufficient information; if  is positive,  is negative, and vice versa.

Assume both to be true. The two statements form a system of equations that can be solved using substitution:

 

Case 1: 

Case 2: 

This equation has no solution.

Therefore, the only possible solution is . Therefore, it can be concluded that .

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