GRE Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #8 : How To Find The Square Root Of A Decimal

Find the square root of the following decimal:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the square root of this decimal we convert it into scientific notation.

Because  has an even exponent, we can divide the exponenet by 2 to get its square root.  is a perfect square, whose square root is .

Example Question #3 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Put the following in order of least to greatest:

 

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

None of the other answers

Explanation:

Begin by converting each fraction into a decimal:

 

Now we can put the decimals in order:

0.269, 0.27, 0.2788, 0.28, 0.3157

or:

No answer choice matches this order, so our answer is "None of the other answers"

Example Question #1 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Put these decimals in order from least to greatest:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To put these numbers in order from least to greatest we start by looking at the number before the decimal. In this case they're all the same (7) so we move to the first number to the right of the decimal. Since 8 is greater than 3 we know that 7.8 and 7.835 must be greater than the other two options. To decide if 7.8 or 7.835 is greater we look at the next number to the right. Since 7.8 doesn't have another number to the right we know that the number to the right must be 0. Since 3 is greater than 0 we know that 7.835 is greater than 7.8. We follow the same process to find that 7.35 is less than 7.358. Then we can put the numbers in order from least to greatest: 7.35, 7.358, 7.8, 7.835.

Example Question #2 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Order these decimals from greatest to least:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We first look at the whole number and see that 5 is greater than 4, so we know that the two biggest numbers are going to be 5.19 and 5.09. We then look at the number to the right of the decimal since 1 is greater than 0 we know that 5.19 is the biggest number and 5.09 is the second biggest. Then we compare the numbers that start with 4 by looking to the number to the right of the decimal. Since 9 is greater than 1 or 0 we know that 4.9 is the next biggest number. Since 1 is greater than 0 we know that 4.19 is greater than 4.09. Then we just put the numbers in order from greatest to least to get the correct answer: 5.19, 5.09, 4.9, 4.19, 4.09.

Example Question #1 : How To Find Decimal Fractions

Convert  to an equivalent decimal number. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert this fraction to a decimal number, divide the numerator by the denominator. Since this fraction has a larger numerator than denominator, the fraction is classified as an improper fraction. This means that the fraction represents a value greater than one whole. Thus, the solution must be greater than one. 




Note that  fits into  evenly  times, and has a remainder for of 

Example Question #2 : How To Find Decimal Fractions

Find the decimal equivalent of 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Fractions and decimals both represent part of a whole. To solve this problem you may divide  by , or you can reduce the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by the common factor of  This will equal a fraction of  hundredths, which can be written as the decimal number "zero and  hundredths."




Note: both  and  equal 

Example Question #3 : How To Find Decimal Fractions

Find the fractional equivalent for .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Decimal numbers and fractions both represent part of a whole. This decimal number has a value of  in the tenths and thousandths place values. Since the decimal number reaches the thousandths place, the correct answer is  over --which represents  thousandths.  





Example Question #4 : How To Find Decimal Fractions

Convert  to a mixed number fraction. Then simplify your answer. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Both decimals and fractions represent part of a whole. To convert this decimal number to a mixed number fraction, use the following steps:

 

(because the decimal number has a  in the ones place value and an  in the hundredths place value). 

Then simplify .



Thus, the correct answer is 

Example Question #5 : How To Find Decimal Fractions

Convert  to a fraction. Then simplify. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Both decimals and fractions represent part of a whole. Since this decimal number has a value of  in the tenths place and a value of  in the hundredths place, it can be re-written as:

 .

Then, simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by a divisor of 

Thus, the solution is:

Example Question #6 : How To Find Decimal Fractions

Find the fractional equivalent to

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This problem requires several conversions. First, convert  into a mixed number fraction. This means, the new fraction will have a whole number of  and a fraction that represents  thousandths. Then, convert the mixed number to an improper fraction by multiplying the denominator by the whole number, and then add that product to the numerator. 

Thus, the solution is:

Tired of practice problems?

Try live online GRE prep today.

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