GRE Math : Integers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Integers

Which of the following integers is divisible by ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find a number divisible by 6, you must find a number divisible by both of its factors — 2 and 3. Only even numbers are divisible by 2, so 81 is eliminated. In order to be divisible by 3, the sum of the digits has to be divisible by 3.

The sum of the digits of 316 is  3 + 1 + 6 = 10.

For 240, the sum is 2 + 4 = 6.

For 118, the sum is 1 + 1 + 8 = 10.

Only 6 is divisible by 3.

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Integers

Which of the following rules makes the expression  an integer?

Possible Answers:

 divided by  has a remainder of

 divided by  has a remainder of

All of these rules make  an integer.

None of these rules makes  an integer.

 is a multiple of

Correct answer:

 divided by  has a remainder of

Explanation:

4 is already an integer, so we need to make sure x/10 is an integer too.  

Multiples of 5 won't work. For example, 5 is a multiple of 5 but 5/10 isn't an integer. Similarly, if x/10 leaves a remainder of 5, x/10 isn't an integer. For example, 15/10 leaves a remainder of 5 and isn't an integer.  

If x/10 has no remainder, then it must be an integer. For example, 10/10 and 20/10 both leave no remainders and simplify to the integers 1 and 2, respectively. 

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Integers

The remainder of  is .

Quantity A:

Quantity B: 

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is larger.

The relationship between the two quantities cannot be determined.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is larger.

Correct answer:

The relationship between the two quantities cannot be determined.

Explanation:

If the remainder of  is , we know that  could be:

Since this generates an entire list of values, we cannot know which quantity is larger.  

Do not be tricked by the question, which is trying to get you to say that they are equal!

Example Question #14 : Operations

The remainder of  is .

The remainder of  is .

Which of the following is a potential value for ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by writing out a few possible values for  and .  

Since the remainder of  is , we can list:

Since the remainder of  is , we can list:

Since  (which is ) is your smallest possible value, you know that  and  are not options.  You cannot derive either  or  from the values given.  

Therefore, the only option that is left is , which is equal to .

Example Question #201 : Arithmetic

Untitled

Which store had the greatest increase in thousands of book sales between 2000 and 2010?

Possible Answers:

Stores B and C tie

Stores A and B tie

Store A

Store C

Store B

Correct answer:

Stores A and B tie

Explanation:

Calculate the difference in thousands of sales for each store individually:

Store A: \dpi{100} \small 11-6=5 thousand

Store B: \dpi{100} \small 13-8=5 thousand

Store C: \dpi{100} \small 12-9=3 thousand

Stores A and B both had a 5000-book increase in sales, so A and B tie.

Example Question #1 : How To Subtract Integers

Choose the answer below which best solves the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If it helps, for this problem, think about starting at  and moving twelve places in a negative direction away from zero.  

Also you can think to add 408 with 12 and then multiply that number by a negative one. Starting with the ones place eight plus two gives ten so we keep the zero in the ones place and carry the one to the tens place. Then we add one plus one to give us a two in the tens column. Next we have a four in the hundreds place. This gives us 420. Now we multiply this by negtive one to get our final answer of -420.

Example Question #202 : Arithmetic

Choose the answer which best solves the equation below:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Whenever you subtract a negative number, you flip the sign and add:

Example Question #201 : Arithmetic

x = the total number of positive, odd 2 digit numbers less than 100

Column A                                                                                      

x

Column B

45

Possible Answers:

The two quantities are equal

The quantity in column B is greater

The quantity in column A is greater

The relationship cannot be determined from the given information

Correct answer:

The two quantities are equal

Explanation:

There are 50 positive, odd numbers less than 100, and 45 of them are 2 digit numbers.

Example Question #2 : Counting

0 < x < y < z < 10

 

x, y, and z are integers. 

Quantity A: –7

Quantity B: x + y – z

Possible Answers:

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

Quantity B is greater. 

Quantity A is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

Correct answer:

Quantity B is greater. 

Explanation:

Since:

  1. There are only 9 integers between 0 and 10
  2. x, y, and z must all be unique
  3. They must be specifically ordered such that x < y < z

There are actually not too many ways in which these numbers can be chosen. So what we can do is find a range of answers for Quantity B, and see if 6 falls a) below b) above or c) in between the range.

For the maximum:

Note that the term (x + y) is maximized when x and y are maximum. The (–z) term is maximized when z is minimized. However, there are 2 terms in (x + y) and one term in (–z); thus intuitively it seems we should prioritize (x+y). To make x and y maximum:

0 < 7 < 8 < 9 < 10 since x, y, and z must be unique.

Thus maximum: (x + y – z) = 7 + 8 – 9 = 6

For the minimum:

Note that (x + y) is minimum when (x) and (y) are minimum, and (–z) is minimum when (z) itself is maximimized. However since there are 2 terms in (x+y) and1 of (–z) , again intuititively you should prioritize  (x+y) over (-z). Then in order to make this the least number possible, x and y would be:

min(x + y – z) = 1 + 2 – 9 = –6  

Thus, the range of possible answers is:

(x + y – z): [–6, 6] 

and –7 is always less than this amount.

Example Question #1 : Counting

Quantity A: The number of positive even integers less than 1000

Quantity B: The number of positive odd integers less than 1000

Possible Answers:

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is greater.

Quantity A is greater.

Correct answer:

Quantity B is greater.

Explanation:

The question asks for the number of positive even and odd integers less than 1000. Because 1000 is not included, the numbers to consider are 1 through 999. Every positive odd integer will have a corresponding even integer (1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, etc.) until you get to 999. This gives the positive odd integers one more number than the number of positive even integers.

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