Help, struggling in Permutation Combination & Probabilit

Question

Hi Guys,

I have been preparing for GMAT for quite sometime now. But since I have been working and my studies has been spreading so its a bit of a problem.

Anyways, I spent a few weeks doing topic permutation combination & probability. Even though I have got a basic hang of this topic but still I am struggling in most of questions. I am able to answer only the easy ones.

Moreover it is not easy to find too many ques on this topic as well.

Can anyone suggest me book or resource so that I can go thru this topic again and get loads of questions to practice. 

Please that would be very nice. 

Thanks,
JG

sandipan.mondal · Answer

Yeah I have trouble with the same. I'm just working on the Challenges and hoping that with practice I'll improve. But hopefully, someone here can offer other resources.

kidderek · Answer

I'm not 100% sure which mgmat book, but I think mgmat's word problems covers this topic. They do a pretty good job. 

Just remember that you will see at most 3 combinatorics/prob questions. SO don't waste an entire week preparing for this type of question.

Also, try to familiarize yourself with the types of questions they use to test your combo/prob knowledge, they're quite limited.

jbs · Answer

i too used to have the same problem....i do not know if this will help...but what i brought down all p & c problems to was multiplying the number of options available for each position...if it's a permutation problem,thats ur answer..if its a combination problem,divide your product with factorial of r....these are just the definitions of the two actually....but when i made a conscious effort to follow this method, my accuracy in p & c increased greatly....good luck...

freestyla86 · Answer

I made a post here with a link to a site...hope it's whatcha need: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/t54681

emoryhopeful · Answer

I'm going with kidderek on this one. Its not worth stressing over for weeks at a time, or even days. Learn the basics. If you know how to do easy ones, you should be fine. I only had one in my entire test, and, since I spent maybe 2 hours studying them, I didn't know it, so I guessed and moved on after 10 seconds. If you're to the point where you know everything else, then I guess you could spend time on this, but I wouldn't make it the number one priority for your studies.

greatchap · Answer

thanks guys for your feedback. I guess you are right. I shouldnt spend too much time on this topic. I have already spend couple of weeks on this. Though i have got a basic hang of the ques but I still make mistakes.

I will just understand the basics and move on. There is a lot that I need to cover in gmat. :idea:

schaganti · Answer

Last night I once again reviewed MGMAT ( word problems) to cover combinatorics. Thankfully it made much sense this time. I am beceoming confident.

I too do not want to spend disproportionate amount of time. But what if such questions come as first couple of questions. Not only will it throw you off guard, but can be quite detrimental for overall score if we get those wrong.

Thats why I want to make sure I am comfortable in solving atleast the moderataly difficult problems in this area

kidderek · Answer

I can almost guarantee you that you will NOT get a combinatorics problem as your first question. It probably won't appear until  at the earliest  after the DS arrives which is around question #6 or 7.

leftysidewinder · Answer

I know it's not the quickest way, but actually writing out all the possibilities, or enough so that you see a pattern will get you the actual answer for combos and permuts.

As for probability, an ability to approximate helps.

Darden2010 · Answer

I bought the book 'Project GMAT' by Veritas Prep which focuses on the topics of statistics, permutations/combinations, and probability. 
I really sucked at this field of mathematics (I didn't even know the basics) so I bought the book. I think it does a good job explaining both the basic and the complicated problems. I think it is a good book to have not only for GMAT prep but also for grad school.

	Manhattan Prep: $99 Bonus Score Higher on Your GMAT Exam. Guaranteed.
	Target Test Prep - Save up to $599 $400 Discount + $99 Bonus GMAT Club Tests
	e-GMAT: 60% Off on GMAT Focus Get to 735+ from any starting point
	Magoosh increases your score, guaranteed - 15% off ALL Magoosh GMAT plans with code GMATCLUB15 + Free GMAT Club Tests.
	Experts' Global - ~~$1720~~ $960 End-to-End GMAT Prep + App Support: 150+ Videos, 2000+ Questions, 15 FLTs +
	GMATWhiz - $299 ~~$499~~ Experience the course through a free trial.
	GMAT Club Tests - Free Included with every course purchase of $149+ View all deals

Help, struggling in Permutation Combination & Probabilit

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards