GRE Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #491 : Arithmetic

A shelf has  shirts, each a different pattern.

Quantity A: The total number of possible combinations of shirts if  shirts are drawn.

Quantity B: The total number of possible combinations of shirts if  shirts are drawn.

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is greater.

The relationship cannot be determined.

Correct answer:

The two quantities are equal.

Explanation:

It is important to realize that this problem deals with combinations, rather than permutations; the order the shirts are drawn does not matter. That being said, the formula for a combination is given as:

 

Where  is the total number of options and  is the size of the combination created.

Quantity A:

Quantity B:

Example Question #492 : Arithmetic

On a trip to his friend Leslie's house, Ron drives  miles per hour for  hours and  miles per hour for  hours. What was his average speed in miles per hour for the trip?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, you may find the total distance traveled and divide that by the total time taken.  The distance traveled in miles is:

Since the trip took  hours in total, Ron's average speed in miles per hour is:

Example Question #493 : Arithmetic

Quantity A: The average of the numbers above.

Quantity B: The median of the numbers above

Possible Answers:

The relationship between the two cannot be determined.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is greater.

Quantity A is greater.

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater.

Explanation:

The average, or arithmetic mean, of a set can be found by dividing the sum of the set by the amount of values in the set:

The median for a set depends on if there's an even or odd number of values in the set.

For an odd number of values in a set that is arranged in numerical order, the median is given as the middle value, .

For an even number of values in a set that is again arranged in numerical order, ,there is no value exactly in the middle; rather there are two. The median is then given as the average of these two values:

Rearranging the set into numerical order gives , thus the median is 

Example Question #1 : Whole And Part

If 4/13 of z is 2/7 then what is 8/11 of z?

Possible Answers:

14/17

61/83

7/13

52/77

Correct answer:

52/77

Explanation:

First solve for z by multiplying 2/7 by the reciprocal of 4/13. 

Then multiply this number by 8/11 to find the solution.

In setting up the problem, notice how “of” means to multiply z by 4/13 and “is” means to set (4/13)z equal to 2/7.

Example Question #2 : Whole And Part

The ratio of men to women in the room is 5 to 3. 3 men in the room are seniors, which represents 30% of the men. How many people are in the room?

Possible Answers:

6

18

16

10

12

Correct answer:

16

Explanation:

If 3 senior men = 30% * All Men →

All Men = 3/30% = 10 Men. 

The Ratio Men : Women = 5 : 3 = 10 : 6.

Thus there are 6 Women. 6 + 10 = 16. 

Example Question #3 : Whole And Part

Jessica bought a few pairs of socks for $50. If there had been a 20% discount, she could have bought 5 more pairs of socks for the same total price. How many pairs of socks did she buy?

Possible Answers:

10

20

15

2

5

Correct answer:

20

Explanation:

Say cost of each pair of socks = y and pairs of socks = x.

Since [quantity x cost per item = total cost]:

First, xy = 50.

Secondly, (x + 5) [y (1 - 20%)] = 50

Simplify the second equation:

 80%y(x + 5) = 50 or

 0.8xy + 4y = 50

Insert xy =50 here.

.8(50) + 4y = 50

40 + 4y = 50 or 4y = 10

Thus y = 10/4 = 5/2

Need to find x = pairs of socks. 

xy = 50 = x(5/2)

So 5x = 100 or x = 20

Example Question #4 : Whole And Part

An elevated train traveling its night route drops off exactly 2/3 of all passengers currently on board at each stop. Assuming no more passengers board the train tonight, if two passengers get off at the fifth stop, how many passengers were originally on the train when it started its route?

Possible Answers:

27

2430

243

300

81

Correct answer:

243

Explanation:

This problem requires you to work backwards from stop 5 to the passengers present at stop 1. If 2 person gets out at stop 5, that means there were 3 people on board at stop 5. This means there were 9 people present at stop 4 (9 total, 2/3 (6) got off, leaving the 3 for stop 5), 27 people present at stop 3 (27 total, 2/3 (18) got off, leaving 9 for stop 4), 81 people present at stop 2 and 243 passengers present at stop 1. That is, the number of passengers on board the train at any stop follows a logarithmic reduction along powers of three, from 35 at stop 1 to 31 at stop 5.

Example Question #5 : Whole And Part

If you travel meters per minute for  hours, how far do you travel in meters?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We need to convert 5 hours into minutes. There are 60 minutes in an hour, so 5 hours = 5 * 60 minutes = 300 minutes. Therefore, you go 20 meters/minute for 300 minutes, or 20 * 300 = 6000 meters.

Example Question #3 : Whole And Part

For every two pounds of fudge are bought at the regular price of $4.25 per pound, the store gives a free pound of fudge to the customer.  Lauren’s fudge bill was $21.25.  How many pounds of fudge did she leave the store with?

Possible Answers:

7

9

5

6

8

Correct answer:

7

Explanation:

21.21/ 4.25 = 5 pounds paid for.  Since a pound is given for every 2 pounds sold, that is 5/2 = 2.5 so an extra 2 pounds is given to Lauren, totaling 7 pounds.

Example Question #6 : Whole And Part

Bob and Nancy, while working together at the same rate, can clean their entire house in 3 hours. What fraction of the house can Bob clean in 45 minutes?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since Bob and Nancy work at the same rate, each person can finish  of the job in 3 hours. Because 45 minutes is  of 3 hours, Bob working alone would get  of the job done, .

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