GMAT Math : Problem-Solving Questions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Ratio & Proportions

Company sells  liters of soda for , and Company sells  liters of soda for .

If the amount of soda sold per dollar is the same for each company, what is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since the amount of soda per dollar is the same for each company, we can equate the 2 ratios

And solve

(Cross multiply)

Example Question #12 : Ratio & Proportions

Ms. Lopez earned $236.25 after working 15 hours last week. At this rate, how much will she have earned if she works 25 hours?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The first thing we must do is set up our equation. We do this by writing our earnings to hours worked ratio:

where  represents her earnings after working 25 hours.

We can then solve this equation for .

Then, 

Example Question #14 : Calculating Ratio And Proportion

George just finished the first week of his new job. He calculated that if he works 50 hours in two weeks, his biweekly paycheck will be $812.50. If he has worked a total of 27 hours so far, how much additional money must he earn in order to reach $812.50? 

Possible Answers:

$621.00

$432.75

$373.75

$438.75

Correct answer:

$373.75

Explanation:

He has worked 27 hours out of the 50 hours calculated. As such, we are asked how much he will earn after working the remaining 23 hours. 

We can first find his hourly pay and then calculate his earnings for 23 hours.

where  represents his hourly earnings

He earns $16.25 an hour

We can now calculate how much he earns for the remaining 23 hours:

So, George needs $373.75. 

Example Question #1 : Proportion / Ratio / Rate

A small company's workforce consists of store employees, store managers, and corporate managers in the ratio 10:3:1. How many employees are either corporate managers or store managers if the company has a total of  employees?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let  be the number of store employees,  the number of store managers, and  the number of corporate managers.

, so the number of store employees is .

, so the number of store managers is .

, so the number of corporate managers is .

Therefore, the number of employees who are either store managers or corporate managers is .

Example Question #19 : Calculating Ratio And Proportion

A scale model of the newest Mars rover has a wheel radius of  and its antennae are each  long. If the radius of the wheel on the actual rover is , what is the length of the antennae on the actual rover?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Setting up a proportion here is the way to go. To make our proportion even easier to solve, set it up in such a way that your unknown (antennae length for the actual rover) is in the numerator. Recall that in a proportion, we want to have similar parts together. In this case, we will keep the wheel radii on the left and the antennae lengths on the right.

By leaving our unknown on top, we can solve this in one fell swoop. Simply multiply both sides by  and simplify to get the answer.

Example Question #21 : Calculating Ratio And Proportion

An architect built a scale model of a new building she was designing. In the scale model, the base of the building is  wide by  long. If the actual building with have base length of , what will the width of the actual building be?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are asked to compare lengths of sides between a scale model and an actual building. This sounds like a ratio question. Set up our ratio so that our unknown is in the numerator. Make sure to set it up with similar sides together:

Cross-multiply and simplify to find the correct answer:

So, the width of the actual building is .

Example Question #162 : Arithmetic

Leticia ran a half marathon (13.1 miles) in  hours and  minutes. Using her average running speed, how long would it take her to run a 10k (6.2 miles)?

(Round your answer to the nearest minute).

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We need to use her total time and distance to find her running pace. Once we do, we can solve the problem.

 

That is, she ran at about a -minute-mile pace

 

So, it will take her about 

Example Question #21 : Calculating Ratio And Proportion

If a fabric costs  a yard, how much will  feet cost?

(Round your answer to the nearest cent.)

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We first need to determine how much one foot of the fabric cost. Remember, one yard is equivalent to three feet:

So, five feet would cost 

Example Question #1713 : Gmat Quantitative Reasoning

What is the sum of the prime numbers that are greater than 50 but less than 60?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 173

\dpi{100} \small 112

\dpi{100} \small 179

\dpi{100} \small 51

\dpi{100} \small 110

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 112

Explanation:

A prime number is only divisible by the number 1 and itself. Of the integers between 50 and 60, all of the even integers are also divisible by the number 2 so they are not prime numbers. The integers 51 and 57 are divisible by 3. The integer 55 is divisible by 5. The only integers that are prime are 53 and 59. The sum of these two integers is 112.

Example Question #1714 : Gmat Quantitative Reasoning

What is the product of the four smallest prime numbers?

Possible Answers:

210

1155

0

945

30

Correct answer:

210

Explanation:

We must remember that 0 and 1 are NOT prime numbers, but 2 is.

The four smallest prime numbers are 2, 3, 5, and 7. Then 2 * 3 * 5 * 7 = 210.

Note: There are NO negative prime numbers, so we don't have to look for tiny, negative numbers here.

Tired of practice problems?

Try live online GMAT prep today.

1-on-1 Tutoring
Live Online Class
1-on-1 + Class
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors