Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Dec 1410:00 AM EST
-12:00 PM EST
Think a 100% GMAT Verbal score is out of your reach? Target Test Prep will make you think again! Our course uses techniques such as topical study and spaced repetition to maximize knowledge retention and make studying simple and fun.
Dec 1411:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this session to learn how to Deconstruct arguments, Pre-Think Author’s Assumptions, and apply Negation Test.
Dec 1310:00 AM EST
-12:00 PM EST
Have you ever wondered how to score a PERFECT 805 on the GMAT? Meet Julia, a banking professional who used the Target Test Prep course to achieve this incredible feat. Julia's story is nothing short of an inspiration.- Dec 15
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease. 
Dec 1608:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
GMAT Club 12 Days of Christmas is a 4th Annual GMAT Club Winter Competition based on solving questions. This is the Winter GMAT competition on GMAT Club with an amazing opportunity to win over $40,000 worth of prizes!- Dec 17
09:00 AM PST
-10:00 AM PST
Join Manhattan Prep instructor Whitney Garner for a fun—and thorough—review of logic-based (non-math) problems, with a particular emphasis on Data Sufficiency and Two-Parts. - Dec 18
10:00 AM PST
-11:00 AM PST
Here is the essential guide to securing scholarships as an MBA student! In this video, we explore the various types of scholarships available, including need-based and merit-based options.
22 Sep 2016, 13:14
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi All,
I've heard a lot about mastering questions. I've noticed gmat questions often repeat themselves just using different numbers. Can anyone explain to me how you can tell if you've mastered a problem? I have the problem of remembering the questions and not actually mastering them.
Thanks,
Joanna
I've heard a lot about mastering questions. I've noticed gmat questions often repeat themselves just using different numbers. Can anyone explain to me how you can tell if you've mastered a problem? I have the problem of remembering the questions and not actually mastering them.
Thanks,
Joanna
22 Sep 2016, 14:55
Kudos
Bookmarks
joannaecohen
Hi All,
I've heard a lot about mastering questions. I've noticed gmat questions often repeat themselves just using different numbers. Can anyone explain to me how you can tell if you've mastered a problem? I have the problem of remembering the questions and not actually mastering them.
Thanks,
Joanna
Dear Joanna,I've heard a lot about mastering questions. I've noticed gmat questions often repeat themselves just using different numbers. Can anyone explain to me how you can tell if you've mastered a problem? I have the problem of remembering the questions and not actually mastering them.
Thanks,
Joanna
That's an excellent question. I'm happy to respond.
Here's a blog article I wrote about what I call the "six stages of understanding."
“Understanding” the GMAT: Practice vs. Exam Performance
Certainly levels 5 & 6 in that article can be called "mastery," and some might even argue that level 4 constitutes "mastery," but that's debatable.
That article might give you a little more of a sense of how you can judge, in very practical ways, where your understanding is.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mike
23 Sep 2016, 10:21
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi joannaecohen,
One way you will know that you have mastered (or are at least on the road to mastering) a concept is if, upon seeing a GMAT question, you have an immediate (and sound) plan of attack for that problem. Let me illustrate this idea with an example:
20^2 + 21^2+ 22^2+ 23^2+ 24^2+ 25^2 = ?
A) 3,055
B) 2,060
C) 3,066
D) 3,704
E) 3,077
Upon seeing this question, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Do you want to grab a calculator and add up the values in the expression? Are you spending 20 to 30 seconds thinking about how this question should be solved? Or do you quickly recognize that you are likely being tested simply on patterns in units digits?
If you were able to recognize that you are being tested on patterns units digits, it’s a good sign that you have mastered (or are at least on the road to mastering) some concepts related to units digits.
Solution:
Because each answer choice has a different units digit, instead of finding the actual sum, we can just find the units digit of the sum. Let’s use the units digits of each square to determine the units digit of the sum.
- The units digit of 20^2 must be 0, since 0^2 = 0
- The units digit of 21^2 must be 1, since 1^2 = 1
- The units digit of 22^2 must be 4, since 2^2 = 4
- The units digit of 23^2 must be 9, since 3^2 = 9
- The units digit of 24^2 must be 6, since 4^2 = 16
- The units digit of 25^2 must be 5, since 5^2 = 25
With this, we can sum the units digits: 0 + 1 + 4 + 9 + 6 + 5 = 25. Thus, the units digit of the correct answer is 5.
Answer: A
Although this is just one example (of many), you see that you must have the tools in your toolbox to efficiently attack each GMAT quant and verbal question that comes your way.
If you would like to practice more questions similar to one the above, I welcome you to take my free 37-question quant diagnostic. After completing the diagnostic, you will be provided with a detailed analysis of your proficiency level of all GMAT quant topics, as well as an opportunity to discuss your diagnostic results with me or another TTP instructor/coach.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me directly.
One way you will know that you have mastered (or are at least on the road to mastering) a concept is if, upon seeing a GMAT question, you have an immediate (and sound) plan of attack for that problem. Let me illustrate this idea with an example:
20^2 + 21^2+ 22^2+ 23^2+ 24^2+ 25^2 = ?
A) 3,055
B) 2,060
C) 3,066
D) 3,704
E) 3,077
Upon seeing this question, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Do you want to grab a calculator and add up the values in the expression? Are you spending 20 to 30 seconds thinking about how this question should be solved? Or do you quickly recognize that you are likely being tested simply on patterns in units digits?
If you were able to recognize that you are being tested on patterns units digits, it’s a good sign that you have mastered (or are at least on the road to mastering) some concepts related to units digits.
Solution:
Because each answer choice has a different units digit, instead of finding the actual sum, we can just find the units digit of the sum. Let’s use the units digits of each square to determine the units digit of the sum.
- The units digit of 20^2 must be 0, since 0^2 = 0
- The units digit of 21^2 must be 1, since 1^2 = 1
- The units digit of 22^2 must be 4, since 2^2 = 4
- The units digit of 23^2 must be 9, since 3^2 = 9
- The units digit of 24^2 must be 6, since 4^2 = 16
- The units digit of 25^2 must be 5, since 5^2 = 25
With this, we can sum the units digits: 0 + 1 + 4 + 9 + 6 + 5 = 25. Thus, the units digit of the correct answer is 5.
Answer: A
Although this is just one example (of many), you see that you must have the tools in your toolbox to efficiently attack each GMAT quant and verbal question that comes your way.
If you would like to practice more questions similar to one the above, I welcome you to take my free 37-question quant diagnostic. After completing the diagnostic, you will be provided with a detailed analysis of your proficiency level of all GMAT quant topics, as well as an opportunity to discuss your diagnostic results with me or another TTP instructor/coach.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me directly.
