GMAT Math : Understanding real numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #6 : Real Numbers

If  is a real number, which one of these cannot be a value of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For the expression to be defined, the denominator needs to be different from 0. Therefore:

So the correct answer is 2.

Example Question #11 : Understanding Real Numbers

If , and , and , what can we say for sure about ?

Possible Answers:

is positive

None of the other answers.

 is negative

Correct answer:

None of the other answers.

Explanation:

To show the other answers aren't always true, we need to choose 2 numbers that satisfy the given inequalities but also contradict each answer one-by-one.

 

Let this choice shows that sometimes , which rules out the answers is negative, and

 

Now Let , this will still satisfy the given inequalities, but now . This means that the answer " is positive" isn't always true either.

Example Question #11 : Understanding Real Numbers

Which of the following is equal to the sum of thirty-three one-thousandths and three hundred three ten-thousandths?

Possible Answers:

Six hundred three ten-thousandths

Six hundred six ten-thousandths

Three hundred sixty-six ten-thousandths

Six hundred thirty-three ten-thousandths

Three hundred thirty-six ten-thousandths

Correct answer:

Six hundred thirty-three ten-thousandths

Explanation:

The one-thousandths and ten-thousandths places are the third places and the fourth places, respectively, to the right of the decimal point. Therefore:

Thirty-three one-thousandths = 

Three hundred three ten-thousandths = 

Add:

The last nonzero digit ends at the ten-thousandths place, so this is , or 

 six hundred thirty-three ten-thousandths.

Example Question #11 : Understanding Real Numbers

Which of the following is equal to 0.0407?

Possible Answers:

Four hundred seventy ten-thousandths

Four hundred seven one-thousandths

Forty-seven ten-thousandths

Four hundred seventy one-thousandths

Four hundred seven ten-thousandths

Correct answer:

Four hundred seven ten-thousandths

Explanation:

The last nonzero digit is located in the fourth place right of the decimal point - the ten-thousandths place. Put the number, without decimal point or leading zeroes, over 10,000. This number is , or four hundred seven ten-thousandths.

Example Question #12 : Understanding Real Numbers

Which of the following is equal to three one-hundredths subtracted from one fourth?

Possible Answers:

Twenty-three one-hundredths

Thirty-seven one-hundredths

Twenty-two one-hundredths

Five one-hundredths

Forty-seven one-hundredths

Correct answer:

Twenty-two one-hundredths

Explanation:

The one-hundredths place is the second place to the right of the decimal point; therefore, three one-hundredths is equal to 0.03. One fourth can be converted to decimal form as follows:

,

which is twenty-five one-hundredths, or 0.25. Subtract:

,

or twenty-two one-hundredths.

Example Question #15 : Understanding Real Numbers

Order  from least to greatest.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can find each in terms of .

 

 

 

In ascending order, the numbers are:

 

The correct choice is  .

Example Question #1971 : Problem Solving Questions

Add one fourth to one seventh. Subtract this sum from one. What is the result?

Possible Answers:

Twenty-five twenty-eighths

Nine elevenths

Thirty-nine twenty-eighths

Seventeen twenty-eighths

Thirteen elevenths

Correct answer:

Seventeen twenty-eighths

Explanation:

The expression is equal to , which is calculated as follows:

,

or seventeen twenty-eighths.

Example Question #17 : Understanding Real Numbers

 and  are integers. Which of the following need not be an integer?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

. As the product of integers,  must be an integer. 

, making  the sum of integers, and, consequently, an integer.

, making  the sum of integers, and, consequently, an integer.

, making  the difference of integers, and, consequently, an integer.

We demonstrate that need not be an integer through a counterexample. Let .

 and , so the conditions of the problem are met. However,

, which is not an integer. This makes  the correct response.

Example Question #13 : Understanding Real Numbers

When evaluating the expression

,

which of the following operations should be performed third?

Possible Answers:

The leftmost subtraction

The rightmost subtraction

The rightmost multiplication

The leftmost multiplication

The middle subtraction

Correct answer:

The leftmost subtraction

Explanation:

In the absence of grouping symbols, all multiplications are performed before any of the subtractions. Therefore, the first two operations performed are the multiplications. The three remaining operations, all subtractions, are performed right to left, so the next operation - the third one - to be performed is the leftmost subtraction.

Example Question #14 : Understanding Real Numbers

When evaluating the expression

,

which of the following operations should be performed third?

Possible Answers:

The leftmost addition

The leftmost subtraction

The rightmost subtraction

The rightmost addition

The middle subtraction

Correct answer:

The middle subtraction

Explanation:

In the absence of grouping symbols, additions and subtractions are performed with precedence moving from left to right. Therefore, the five operations, each an addition or a subtraction, are performed right to left, and the third operation performed is the middle subtraction.

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