All GMAT Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #431 : Arithmetic
When evaluating each of the following expressions, which one(s) require you to multiply first?
I)
II)
III)
I and III only
I only
II and III only
I and II only
III only
I and III only
According to the order of operations, any operations within parentheses must be performed first. In expression (II), this is the addition; in expression (III), this is the multiplication.
Expression (I) does not have any parentheses, so, by the order of operations, in the absence of grouping symbols, multiplication precedes addition.
Therefore, the correct response is I and III only.
Example Question #36 : Real Numbers
is the multiplicative inverse of . Which of the following expressions is equivalent to
for all values of the variables?
By the distributive property,
is the multiplicative inverse of , meaning that, by defintion, , so
.
is the correct choice.
Example Question #32 : Understanding Real Numbers
Define an operation on the real numbers as follows:
If , then .
If , then
If , then .
Multiply by . What is the result?
First, evaluate . Since , use the defintion of for the case :
.
Now, evaluate . Since , use the defintion of for the case :
The product of and is .
Example Question #38 : Real Numbers
Define an operation on the real numbers as follows:
If , then
If , then
If , then
Divide by . What is the quotient?
Undefined
and are both calculated by using the defintion of for the case :
Their quotient is .
Example Question #1992 : Problem Solving Questions
Each of stands for a real number; if one appears more than once in a choice, it stands for the same number each time.
Which of the following diagrams demonstrates a commutative property?
If and , then
If then
Addition and multiplication are both commutative, which means that a sum or product has the same value regardless of the order in which the addends or factors are written. The diagram
is the one that demonstrates this for addition.
Example Question #33 : Understanding Real Numbers
Define an operation on the real numbers as follows:
If and are both negative, then .
If and are not both negative, then .
Divide by . What is the quotient?
Undefined
Undefined
can be evaluated using the definition of for the case of both and being negative:
can be evaluated using the definition of for the case of and not both being negative:
The quotient: , which is undefined, as zero cannot be taken as a divisor.
Example Question #441 : Arithmetic
Define an operation on the real numbers as follows:
If both and are integers, then .
If neither nor is an integer, then .
If exactly one of and is an integer, then .
Which of the following is equal to
?
First, evaluate using the definition of for neither nor an integer:
Therefore, , which is evaluated using the definition of for exactly one of and an integer:
,
the correct response.
Example Question #42 : Understanding Real Numbers
Define an operation on the real numbers as follows:
If both and are positive, then .
If neither nor is positive, then .
If exactly one of and is positive, then .
Evaluate .
First, evaluate using the definition of for neither nor positive:
Therefore,
, which is evaluated using the definition of for neither nor positive:
, the correct response.
Example Question #43 : Understanding Real Numbers
Each of stands for a real number; if one appears more than once in a choice, it stands for the same number each time.
Which of the following diagrams demonstrates the reflexive property?
If then
If and , then
According to the reflexive property of equality, any number is equal to itself. This is demonstrated by the diagram
.
Example Question #44 : Understanding Real Numbers
Define an operation on the real numbers as follows:
If both and are integers, then .
If neither nor is an integer, then .
If exactly one of and is an integer, then .
Which of the following is equal to
?
can be evaluated using the defintion of for exactly one of and an integer:
can be evaluated using the defintion of for and both integers:
, which can be evaluated using the defintion of for and both integers:
, the correct response.