GRE Subject Test: Math : Probability & Statistics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Combinations

If there are  students in a class and  people are randomly choosen to become class representatives, how many different ways can the representatives be chosen?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, we must understand the concept of combination/permutations. A combination is used when the order doesn't matter while a permutation is used when order matters. In this problem, the two class representatives are randomly chosen, therefore it doesn't matter what order the representative is chosen in, the end result is the same.  The general formula for combinations is , where  is the number of things you have and  is the things you want to combine.

 

Plugging in choosing 2 people from a group of 20, we find

.  Therefore there are a  different ways to choose the  class representatives.

Example Question #1 : Combinations

There are eight possible flavors of curry at a particular restaurant.

Quantity A: Number of possible combinations if four unique curries are selected.

Quantity B: Number of possible combinations if five unique curries are selected.

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is greater.

The relationship cannot be determined.

Quantity B is greater.

The two quantities are equal

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater.

Explanation:

The number of potential combinations for  selections made from  possible options is

Quantity A:

Quantity B:

Quantity A is greater.

Example Question #22 : Combinational Analysis

Quantity A: The number of possible combinations if four unique choices are made from ten possible options.

Quantity B: The number of possible permutations if two unique choices are made from ten possible options.

Possible Answers:

Quantity B is greater.

Quantity A is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

The relationship cannot be established.

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater.

Explanation:

For  choices made from  possible options, the number of potential combinations (order does not matter) is

And the number of potential permutations (order matters) is

Quantity A:

Quantity B:

Quantity A is greater.

Example Question #2 : Combinations

There are  possible flavor options at an ice cream shop.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When dealing with combinations, the number of possible combinations when selecting  choices out of  options is:

For Quantity A, the number of combinations is:

For Quantity B, the number of combinations is:

Quantity B is greater.

Example Question #21 : Permutation / Combination

Quantity A: The number of potential combinations given two choices made from ten options.

Quantity B: The number of potential combinations given four choices made from twenty options.

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is larger.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is larger.

The relationship cannot be determined.

Correct answer:

Quantity B is larger.

Explanation:

Since in this problem we're dealing with combinations, the order of selection does not matter.

With  selections made from  potential options, the total number of possible combinations is

Quantity A:

Quantity B:

Quantity B is larger.

Example Question #22 : Permutation / Combination

Quantity A: The number of combinations if five choices are made from ten options.

Quantity B: The number of combinations if two choices are made from twenty options.

Possible Answers:

Quantity B is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

The relationship cannot be determined.

Quantity A is greater.

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater.

Explanation:

Since we're dealing with combinations in this problem, the order of selection does not matter.

With  selections made from  potential options, the total number of possible combinations is

Quantity A:

Quantity B:

Quantity A is greater.

Example Question #72 : Other Topics

Rachel is buying ice cream for a sundae. If there are twelve ice cream choices, how many scoops will give the maximum possible number of unique sundaes?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since in this problem the order of selection does not matter, we're dealing with combinations.

With  selections made from  potential options, the total number of possible combinations is

In terms of finding the maximum number of combinations, the value of  should be 

Since there are twelve options, a selection of six scoops will give the maximum number of combinations.

Example Question #1 : Combinations

A coach must choose  starters from a team of  players. How many ways can the coach choose the starters?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: We need to read the question carefully. Order does not matter here.

Step 2: Order does not matter, so we need to use Combination.

Step 3: The combination formula is .

Step 4: We need to find the value of  and .

The value of  is how many players the coach can choose from, so
The value of  is how many players that the coach can choose at one time, so .

Step 5: Plug in the values of n and r into the equation in step 2:



Step 6. Simplify the equation in step 5. The "!" means that I multiply that number by every other number below until 1.



Step 7: Cross out any terms that are on both the top and the bottom. We see  is on top and bottom.



Step 8: Cross out  in the denominator with  in the numerator. Rewrite.



Step 9: Divide  in the numerator by  in the denominator.



Step 10: Divide  in the numerator by  in the denominator.



Step 11: Multiply the right side



There are 462 ways that the coach can choose 5 players out of 11 players on the bench.

Example Question #2 : Combinations

How many ways can a coach choose  players to play on the field out of a bench of  players?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: Read the question carefully. Look for hints of restrictions..

There are no order in which players can be chosen, which goes against the definition of Permutation. Permutation is the arrangement of objects by way of order.. If it's not permutation, it's Combination.

Step 2: Write what we know down..

Total Players =
Choosing # of players =..

Step 3: Plug in the numbers to the formula: ..

We ger 13C6. 

There is no need to evaluate this expression...

Example Question #571 : Gre Subject Test: Math

Find .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are two types of statistical calculations that are used when dealing with ordering a number of objects. When the order does not matter it is known as a combination and denoted by a C.

Thus the formula for this particular combination is,

The  will cancel out because it is in the numerator and denominator,

.

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