GMAT Math : Problem-Solving Questions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Calculating An Angle Of A Line

What is the measure of an angle that is supplementary to a \(\displaystyle 80^{\circ}\) angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 80^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 20^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 100^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 10^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 280^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 100^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Supplementary angles have degree measures that total \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ }\). Since we have an \(\displaystyle 80^{\circ}\) angle, the supplementary angle would measure \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}-80^{\circ }=100^{\circ}\) 

Example Question #8 : Calculating An Angle Of A Line

Which of the following angles is complementary to an \(\displaystyle 18^{\circ}\) angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 342^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 18^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 72^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 162^{\circ}\)

Not enough information provided.

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 72^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Complementary angles have degree measures that total \(\displaystyle 90^{\circ }\). Since we have an \(\displaystyle 18^{\circ}\) angle, the supplementary angle would measure \(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}-18^{\circ }=72^{\circ}\) 

Example Question #421 : Geometry

Which of the following angles is congruent to a \(\displaystyle 119^{\circ}\) angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 249^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 71^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle -29^{\circ}\)

Not enough information to solve.

\(\displaystyle 119^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 119^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Congruent angles have the same degree measure, so an angle congruent to a \(\displaystyle 119^{\circ}\) angle would also measure \(\displaystyle 119^{\circ}\)

Example Question #10 : Calculating An Angle Of A Line

What is the measurement of an angle that is supplementary to a \(\displaystyle 16^{\circ}\) angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 16^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 180^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 164^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 74^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 164^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Two angles are supplementary if the total of their degree measures is \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ }\). Therefore, an angle supplementary to a \(\displaystyle 16^{\circ}\) angle measures \(\displaystyle 180^{\circ }-16^{\circ}=164^{\circ}\)

Example Question #41 : Lines

What is the measure of an angle that is complementary to a \(\displaystyle 70^{\circ}\) angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 290^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 110^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 70^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 20^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

Two angles are complementary if the total of their degree measures is \(\displaystyle 90^{\circ }\). Therefore, an angle complementary to a \(\displaystyle 70^{\circ}\) angle measures \(\displaystyle 90^{\circ }-70^{\circ}=20^{\circ}\)

Example Question #41 : Lines

What is the measurement of an angle that is congruent to an \(\displaystyle 89^{\circ }\) angle?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 90^{\circ }\)

\(\displaystyle 89^{\circ }\)

\(\displaystyle 91^{\circ }\)

\(\displaystyle 1^{\circ }\)

\(\displaystyle 271^{\circ }\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 89^{\circ }\)

Explanation:

Two angles are congruent if they have the same degree measure. Therefore, an angle congruent to an \(\displaystyle 89^{\circ }\) angle also measures \(\displaystyle 89^{\circ }\)

Example Question #42 : Lines

A right triangle is given with a missing value of \(\displaystyle t\). It is stated that the triangle is an acute right triangle with angles \(\displaystyle 50^\circ\) and \(\displaystyle 2t\). What is a possible value of \(\displaystyle t\) in degrees?

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined

\(\displaystyle 60\)

\(\displaystyle 40\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 80\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Explanation:

It is important to recall that all triangles add to 180 degrees and a right triangle contains one angle that is equal to 90 degrees. Therefore, in this particular problem we can write the following equation to solve for the missing variable.

\(\displaystyle \\90^\circ+50^\circ+2t=180^\circ \\140^\circ-2t=180^\circ \\2t=180^\circ-140^\circ \\2t=40^\circ \\t=20\)

Example Question #43 : Lines

Lines

Which is another name for \(\displaystyle \angleFBC\)\(\displaystyle \angle FBC\) in the above diagram? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \angle B\)

\(\displaystyle \angleDBF\)\(\displaystyle \angle DBF\)

\(\displaystyle \angle CBD\)

\(\displaystyle \angle BFG\)

\(\displaystyle \angle FCB\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \angleDBF\)\(\displaystyle \angle DBF\)

Explanation:

The middle letter of an angle must be its vertex, so the vertex of \(\displaystyle \angle FBC\) is \(\displaystyle B\)

An angle can be named after its vertex alone as long as it is the only angle with that vertex. This is not the case here, so \(\displaystyle \angle B\) cannot be correct. Also, \(\displaystyle \angle FCB\) and \(\displaystyle \angle BFG\) are incorrect since the middle letters are not \(\displaystyle B\).

The first and last letters of a three-letter angle name must be points on different sides of the angle. \(\displaystyle \angle CBD\) is incorrect since \(\displaystyle C\) and \(\displaystyle D\) are on the same side of the angle. The correct choice is therefore \(\displaystyle \angle DBF\), since \(\displaystyle D\) and \(\displaystyle F\) are on different sides of the angle.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Intersecting Lines

Lines

Which of the following is not a valid name for the triangle in the above diagram?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \Delta FCB\)

All of the names in the other four choices are valid names for the triangle.

\(\displaystyle \Delta BCF\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta CBF\)

\(\displaystyle \Delta BF C\)

Correct answer:

All of the names in the other four choices are valid names for the triangle.

Explanation:

A triangle can be named after its three vertices in any order. Since the vertices of the triangle are \(\displaystyle B,C,F\), any name that includes these three letters is valid. All of the choices fit this description.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Intersecting Lines

Lines

Refer to the above diagram.

Which of the following is not a valid alternative name for \(\displaystyle \angle ECA\) ?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \angle FCB\)

\(\displaystyle \angle ACF\)

\(\displaystyle \angle C\)

\(\displaystyle \angle BCE\)

\(\displaystyle \angle FCA\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \angle C\)

Explanation:

An angle can be given a name with three letters if the middle letter is the name of the vertex and the other two letters denote points on different sides of the angle. All four of the three-letter choices fit this description.

An angle can be given a one-letter name if the letter is the name of the vertex and if it is the only angle shown in the diagram to have that vertex (thereby avoiding ambiguity). There are four angles in the diagram with vertex \(\displaystyle C\), so we cannot use \(\displaystyle \angle C\) to indicate any of them, including \(\displaystyle \angle ECA\)\(\displaystyle \angle C\) is the correct choice.

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