GMAT Question Patterns in ArithmeticWe have gone through the
OG 13 and analyzed all of the questions to spot the most common patterns. This discussion is dedicated to the types of arithmetic problems that could appear on the test. If you have spotted any other patterns, please let me know.
Background: GMAT arithmetic problems deal with operations on fractions, decimals and irrational numbers. Most of them are quit straightforward and generally are encountered in problem solving section.
Typical questions:
Arithmetic: Fractions and Decimals\(\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{3}}-\frac{1}{1+\frac{1}{2}}\)
(A) -1/3
(B) -1/6
(C) -1/12
(D) 1/12
(E) 1/3
Discussed
HERE\(1-(\frac{1}{2}-\frac{2}{3})=\)
(A) 6/5
(B) 7/6
(C) 6/7
(D) 5/6
(E) 0
Discussed
HERE1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0
Discussed
HERE\(\frac{1}{0.75-1}=\)
(A) -4
(B) -0.25
(C) 0.25
(D) 0.75
(E) 4
Discussed
HERE Arithmetic: InequalitiesThe sum \(\frac{7}{8}+\frac{1}{9}\) is between(A) \(\frac{1}{2}\) and \(\frac{3}{4}\)
(B) \(\frac{3}{4}\) and 1
(C) 1 and \(1\frac{1}{4}\)
(D) \(1\frac{1}{4}\) and \(1\frac{1}{2}\)
(E) \(1\frac{1}{2}\) and 2
Discussed
HERE Arithmetic: Exponents0.1+0.1^2+0.1^3=(A) 0.1
(B) 0.111
(C) 0.1221
(D) 0.2341
(E) 0.3
Discussed
HERE(0.0036)(2.8) / (0.04)(0.1)(0.003) = (A) 840.0
(B) 84.0
(C) 8.4
(D) 0.84
(E) 0.084
Discussed
HERE\(\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=\)
(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)
Discussed
HERE\((\frac{1}{2})^{-3}(\frac{1}{4})^{-2}(\frac{1}{16})^{-1}=\)
(A) (1/2)^(-48)
(B) (1/2)^(-11)
(C) (1/2)^(-6)
(D) (1/8)^(-11)
(E) (1/8)^(-6)
Discussed
HEREThe value of (2^(-14) + 2^(-15) + 2^(-16) + 2^(-17))/5 is how many times the value of 2^(-17)?A. 3/2
B. 5/2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
Discussed
HERE Arithmetic: Roots\(\sqrt{16*20+8*32}=\)
(A) \(4\sqrt{20}\)
(B) 24
(C) 25
(D) \(4\sqrt{20}+8\sqrt{2}\)
(E) 32
Discussed
HERE\(\sqrt{80}+\sqrt{125} =\)
(A) \(9\sqrt{5}\)
(B) \(20\sqrt{5}\)
(C) \(41\sqrt{5}\)
(D) \(\sqrt{205}\)
(E) 100
Discussed
HERE Arithmetic: ApproximationMany GMAT arithmetic problems require approximations, for example:
The average distance between the Sun and a certain planet is approximately 2.3 x 10^14 inches. Which of the following is closest to the average distance between the Sun and the planet, in kilometers? (1 kilometer is approximately 3.9 x 10^4 inches.)(A) 7.1 x 10^8
(B) 5.9 x 10^9
(C) 1.6 x 10^10
(D) 1.6 x 10^11
(E) 5.9 x 10^11
Discussed
HEREM is the sum of the reciprocals of the consecutive integers from 201 to 300, inclusive. Which of the following is true?(A) 1/3 < M < 1/2
(B) 1/5 < M < 1/3
(C) 1/7 < M < 1/5
(D) 1/9 < M < 1/7
(E) 1/12 < M < 1/9
Discussed
HEREIf \(M=\sqrt{4}+\sqrt[3]{4}+\sqrt[4]{4}\), then the value of M is: A. Less than 3
B. Equal to 3
C. Between 3 and 4
D. Equal to 4
E. Greater than 4
Discussed
HEREThe product of all the prime numbers less than 20 is closest to which of the following powers of 10 ?(A) 10^9
(B) 10^8
(C) 10^7
(D) 10^6
(E) 10^5
Discussed
HEREIf S is the sum of reciprocals of a list of consecutive integers from 45 to 54, inclusive, S is approximately equal toA. 0.1
B. 0.2
C. 0.3
D. 0.4
E. 0.5
Discussed
HEREThe value of (10^8-10^2)/(10^7-10^3) is closest to which of the following?A. 1
B. 10
C. 10^2
D. 10^3
E. 10^4
Discussed
HERE Arithmetic: ConversionsSome arithmetic questions deal with conversions, such as to convert miles into meters, miles per hour into meters per second, liters into cubic meters, etc. Note that you don't need to know how many meters are in 1 mile, or how many cubic meters are in 1 liter, such kind of info will be provided in the question.
If 1 kilometer is approximately 0.6 mile, which of the following best approximates the number of kilometers in 2 miles?(A) 10/3
(B) 3
(C) 6/5
(D) 1/3
(E) 3/10
Discussed
HEREA car traveling at a certain constant speed takes 2 seconds longer to travel 1 kilometer than it would take to travel 1 kilometer at 75 kilometers per hour. At what speed, in kilometers per hour, is the car traveling?A. 71.5
B. 72
C. 72.5
D. 73
E. 73.5
Discussed
HEREThe rear wheels of a car crossed a certain line 0.5 second after the front wheels crossed the same line. If the centers of the front and rear wheels are 20 feet apart and the car traveled in a straight line at a constant speed, which of the following gives the speed of the car in miles per hour? (5280 feet = 1 mile)A. \((\frac{20}{5280})(\frac{60^2}{0.5})\)
B. \((\frac{20}{5280})(\frac{60}{0.5})\)
C. \((\frac{20}{5280})(\frac{0.5}{60^2})\)
D. \(\frac{(20)(5280)}{(60^2)(0.5)}\)
E. \(\frac{(20)(5280)}{(60)(0.5)}\)
Discussed
HEREA welder received an order to make a 1 million liter cube-shaped tank. If he has only 4x2 meter sheets of metal that can be cut, how many metal sheets will be required for this order? (1 cubic meter = 1,000 liters)A. 92
B. 90
C. 82
D. 78
E. 75
Discussed
HERE Theory on arthemtic is
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All OG13 questions with solutions are
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PS questions on arithmetic are
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DS questions on arithmetic are
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