GRE Subject Test: Math : Other Topics

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #591 : Gre Subject Test: Math

Abby, Bryan, Cindy, Doug, and Ernie are sitting on a bench. How many ways can I arrange their seating order?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 75\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 120\)

\(\displaystyle 720\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 120\)

Explanation:

Step 1: We need to identify how many seats there are on the bench. We have 5 names, so 5 seats.

Step 2: When 1 person sits in seat 1, he/she cannot sit in the next set, and so on.

Step 3: Let's work out the math...

Seat 1- 5 people can sit
Seat 2- 4 people can sit
Seat 3- 3 people can sit
Seat 4/5-2/1 people/person can sit 

Total possibilities=\(\displaystyle 5\cdot4\cdot3\cdot2\cdot1=120\). We can also say that \(\displaystyle 120=5!\)

Example Question #2 : Permutations

There are 12 boys in a football competition,  the top 3 competitors are awarded with an trophy. How may possible groups of 3 are there for this competition?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 33\)

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 1,320\)

\(\displaystyle 1,200\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1,320\)

Explanation:

This is a permutation. A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations is:

\(\displaystyle _{n}P_{k} = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!} - n(n-1) (n-2)...(n-k+1)\)

This is written as \(\displaystyle _{n}P_{k}\)

\(\displaystyle _{12}P_{3} = 12\times11\times10 = 1,320\)

There are \(\displaystyle 1,320\) possible groups of 3.

 

Example Question #3 : Permutations

An ice cream shop has 23 flavors. Melissa wants to buy a 3-scoop cone with 3 different flavors, How many cones can she buy if order is important?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10,626\)

\(\displaystyle 17,457\)

\(\displaystyle 9,660\)

\(\displaystyle 69\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10,626\)

Explanation:

This is a permutation. A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations is:

\(\displaystyle _{n}P_{k} = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!} - n(n-1) (n-2)...(n-k+1)\)

This is written as \(\displaystyle _{n}P_{k}\)

\(\displaystyle _{23}P_3=P(23,3)\) represents the number of permutations of 23 things taken 3 at a time.

\(\displaystyle P(23,3) = 23\times22\times21 = 10,626\) 

Example Question #2 : Permutations

Find the value of  \(\displaystyle P(7,5)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 840\)

\(\displaystyle 2,400\)

\(\displaystyle 2,520\)

\(\displaystyle 360\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2,520\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle P(7,5)\) is asking to find the permutation of seven items when you want to choose five. When dealing with permutations, order matters.

A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations is:

\(\displaystyle _{n}P_{k} = \frac{n!}{(n-k)!} - n(n-1) (n-2)...(n-k+1)\)

This is written as 

\(\displaystyle \\_nP_k\\_7P_5=P(7,5) = 7\times6\times5\times4\times3 = 2,520\)

Example Question #5 : Permutations

Evaluate \(\displaystyle P(4,4)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 196\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 24\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle P(4,4)\) is asking to find the permutation of four items when you want to choose all four. When dealing with permutations, order matters.

A permutation is an arrangement of objects in a specific order.

The formula for permutations in this case will be,

\(\displaystyle P(4,4) = 4!\) or \(\displaystyle 4\) factorial.

\(\displaystyle P(4,4) = 4\times3\times2\times1 = 24\)

Example Question #2 : Permutations

There are \(\displaystyle 11\) people at a family dinner. After the dinner is over, people shake hands with each other. How many handshakes were there between these \(\displaystyle 11\) people. Note: Once two people shake hands, they cannot shake hands again..

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 55\)

\(\displaystyle 45\)

\(\displaystyle 66\)

\(\displaystyle 54\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 55\)

Explanation:

Step 1: A handshake MUST ALWAYS be between TWO people.


Step 2: Break down each person and who they can shake hands with:

Person \(\displaystyle 1\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 2\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 3\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 4\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 5,6,7,8,9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 5\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 6,7,8,9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 6\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 7,8,9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 7\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 8,9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 8\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 9,10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 9\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 10,11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 10\) can shake hands with: \(\displaystyle 11\)
Person \(\displaystyle 11\) already shook everybody's hand..

Step 3: Count how many handshakes each person can make:

Person \(\displaystyle 1\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 10\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 2\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 9\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 3\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 8\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 4\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 7\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 5\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 6\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 6\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 5\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 7\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 4\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 8\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 3\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 9\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 2\) times.
Person \(\displaystyle 10\) shakes hands \(\displaystyle 1\) time.
Person \(\displaystyle 11\) already shook everybody's hand.

Step 4: Add up the number of times each person shook hands:

\(\displaystyle 10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1=55\)

There were \(\displaystyle 55\) handshakes made between these \(\displaystyle 11\) people.

Example Question #91 : Probability & Statistics

How many three-digit numbers can I create from the set of numbers \(\displaystyle \{2,2,4,5,6,7,9\}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 252\)

\(\displaystyle 343\)

\(\displaystyle 210\)

\(\displaystyle 294\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 343\)

Explanation:

Step 1: Identify if there are any restrictions to how the numbers can be made...

There are no restrictions, so we can have repeating numbers.

Step 2: Determine how many numbers can go in each slot..

First Slot: 7 choices
Second Slot: 7 Choices
Third Slot: 7 choices

Step 3: Multiply the choices for all three sets together:

\(\displaystyle 7\cdot7\cdot7\equiv7^3\equiv 343\)

We can create \(\displaystyle 343\) different three-digit numbers...

Example Question #12 : Permutations

How many non-repetitive three-digit numbers can I create from the set of numbers \(\displaystyle \{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9\}\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 376\)

\(\displaystyle 350\)

\(\displaystyle 336\)

\(\displaystyle 307\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 336\)

Explanation:

Step 1: See if there are any restrictions..

We see we want only non-repetitive numbers...

Step 2: Find how many numbers can be put in each spot:

First Spot: \(\displaystyle 8\)
Second Spot: \(\displaystyle 7\)
Third Spot: \(\displaystyle 6\)

Step 3: Multiply the number of choices of each spot

\(\displaystyle 8\cdot6\cdot7=336\)

I can create \(\displaystyle 336\) non-repetitive three-digit numbers...

Example Question #13 : Permutations

How many ways can I arrange the letters in the word \(\displaystyle MISSISSIPPI\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 34650\)

\(\displaystyle 35353\)

\(\displaystyle 34800\)

\(\displaystyle 34500\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 34650\)

Explanation:

Step 1: Count how many letters are in the word MISSISSIPPI...

There are 11 numbers.

Step 2: Find which letters repeat, and how many times it repeats:

\(\displaystyle I-4\) times
\(\displaystyle S-4\) times
\(\displaystyle P-2\) times

Step 3: Use formula for arranging letters:

\(\displaystyle \frac {(Total\\Letters)!}{(Repeats)!}=\frac {11!}{2!4!4!}\)

Step 4: Expand:

\(\displaystyle \frac {11\cdot 10\cdot 9\cdot 8\cdot 7\cdot 6\cdot 5\cdot 4\cdot 3\cdot 2\cdot 1}{4\cdot 3\cdot 2\cdot 1\cdot 2\cdot 1\cdot 2\cdot 1}\)

Step 5: Simplify Step 4:

\(\displaystyle \frac {11\cdot 10\cdot 9\cdot 8\cdot 7\cdot 6\cdot 5}{4}=11\cdot10\cdot9\cdot2\cdot7\cdot6\cdot5=34650\)

I can rearrange the letters in MISSISSIPPI \(\displaystyle 34650\) times...

Example Question #11 : Permutations

How many ways can I arrange the letters in the word CORRECT?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: Count how many letters are in the word CORRECT...

There are \(\displaystyle 7\) letters.

Step 2: Find any letters that repeat and how many times they repeat:

C (two times), R (two times)

Step 3: Find how many ways can I arrange the letters:

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