Error list Flashcards
QUANT: Read questions carefully - why?
Because there may be little changes that go against what you expect to solve
e.g., Which of the following numbers is the THIRD LARGEST –> not asking about the largest number…
Don’t RUSH too much –> focus on understanding Q and approach first
RC: Read questions carefully - why?
Because CONTEXT is everything
e.g., A question about the author’s tone will be DIRECTED TOWARDS specific subject matter (so you can FOCUS on the right part of the passage)
Pay attention to what you are comparing and what the QUESTION STEM says is the FOCUS
QUANT: when you see decimals in a division format…
e.g., what is 0.4545/45?
DON’T PANIC
> express numerator as a whole number
e.g., (4545 * 10^-4)/45
> then simplify as if it were a FRACTION
e.g., cancel out the 5s first, then 9s,
OR remember that you can SPLIT decimals into a sum to make division easier:
(0.45 + 0.0045)/45
= 0.0101
QUANT: |2 - 6| = ?
Don’t mistake ABSOLUTE SIGNS for 1
|2 - 6| = |-4| = 4
1 has a little tip
QUANT: What is the greatest prime factor of …
(11! * 10! + 10! * 9!) / 111
Don’t panic –> you know the question is testing FACTORING and FACTORIALS
> Also know that the term MUST simplify into an integration, and 111 must be cancelled out somehow
> start by factoring as much as possible, end up with [10! * (11! + 9!)] / 111
> ** KEEP SIMPLIFYING (you can factor out multiple terms!); Factor out 9!
[10! * 9! (11*10 + 1)] / 111
[10! * 9! (111)] / 111 —> 111 crosses out, so greatest prime factor must be 7
When asked about factors, need a PRODUCT
RC: Make you understand the option sets and their meaning carefully –> avoid DISTORTION trap
Focus on the WORDS used and their relationship to each other
BE WARE OF DISTORTED ANSWERS (sound similar but are NOT right)
e.g., “The second paragraph presents a convincing challenge of the validity of evidence discussed in the first paragraph”
> In reality, the second paragraph is not challenging “Validity of evidence” (i.e., evidence that Neanderthals produced pitch for making tools) –> instead, the second paragraph is challenging the CONCLUSION from this evidence
SOMETIMES the difference between two option sets comes down to ONE WORD (e.g., once vs before)
QUANT: Data sufficiency
What should you remember to do after you’ve “solved” each statement?
E.g., If x and y are integers, what is the value of x + y?
(1) x(x^2y) = 1
(2) y(y^2x) = 1
Treat the answer to each statement as a CONDITION (esp. in algebra-related Qs that require you to determine the value of something)
> when you evaluate answer C, FIRST think about the ANSWER TO the statements individually (if you’ve managed to narrow down the option set)
Example: (1) tells me that x = y = +/- 1
(2) also tells me than x = y = +/- 1
(3) statement 1 and 2 give me the SAME INFO, so E
> if you set the two equations equal to each other, you might incorrectly conclude that x and y can = 0, but you have to think about the statements as CONDITIONS (cannot equal 0)
QUANT: dividing unknowns, what should be triggered?
Make sure that the variable DOES NOT EQUAL 0
> do not assume that the variable =/ 0
> if it COULD = 0, move over to one side of the equation instead of dividing out
> applies also to unknown expressions e.g., x-1
QUANT: Data sufficiency
What is the value of r?
(1) rs = 42
(2) r - s = 1
Concept: HIDDEN Quadratic equations –> which can have UP TO 2 SOLUTIONS
> don’t just blindly follow the common saying that if you have 2 variables, you can solve with 2 unique equations
In this case, putting both statements together, we get a quadratic equation
(s-6)(s+7) = 0, so both s and r have two values
E
QUANT: When you see in a question, “… is approximately what percent of …”, what should you think of?
Percent = /100
What percent = x/100
QUANT: If n =/ 6 and (n+2)/(n-6) = n, what is the value of n^2 -7n - 1?
CONCEPT: Quadratic equations trap answer (look for COMBOs)
> if you are UNABLE to factor a quadratic equation easily, look for COMBOS
In this question, you end up with n^2 - 7n = 2 —> can sub into the question stem to get 2 - 1 = 1
QUANT: Be careful with your work
Make sure you write clearly and be careful of:
> signs during algebra and when interpreting ROOTS of quadratic equations
> unclear variables
QUANT: If (x+9) is a factor of the expression x^2 - nx - 36, where n is a constant, what is the value of n?
Concept: Quadratic equations and solving for coefficients
> if given a FACTOR or ROOT of a quadratic expression, you can solve for coefficients if you set the expression equal to 0
> be ware of signs on the coefficients
In this case, if x+9 is a factor, then x=-9 is a ROOT –> sub into quadratic expression and set = 0
(-9)^2 - n(-9) - 36 = 0
81 + 9n - 36 = 0
9n = -45
n = -5 (NOT 5)
QUANT: Recognize different forms of exponents (powers)
e.g., x^y^2
Recall power rules:
(ab)^c = a^c * b^c ——> and VICE VERSA (sprinkle effect)
If you have the SAME BASE, then you can ADD or SUBTRACT exponents if multiplication or division
a^x * a^y = a^(x+y)
(a^x)/(a^y) = a^(x-y)
QUANT: Recognize that you can SPLIT fractions if base is one term and numerator has +/-
e.g., (x-y)/(xy)
e.g., (x-6)/x
Concept: We split fractions if the base is one term to help with simplificaiton
e.g., (x-y)/(xy) = x/xy - y/xy = 1/y - 1/x
e.g., (x-6)/x = x/x - 6/x = 1 - 6/x
RC: What should you think of when you read qualifiers like “some”
“Some” is extremely vague and just means “more than one”
So answer choice could just indicate that were were “some” exceptions to what the passage implies, but the conclusion of the passage could still remain TRUE
QUANT: If 5a - 3b = c and 2a - b = d, what is the value of a - b?
1) 2a - b = 5
2) 2d = c - 3
4 variables, given 2 equations, asked for COMBO
> whenever you are asked to solve for an EXPRESSION –> alert to combo
> so when you are solving the linear equations by elimination, rearrange in a way that you get to a COMBO
> generally with 4 variables, you need at least 4 different equations, UNLESS you are solving for combo or variables cancel out
Ex:
5a - 3b = c
2a - b = d —> 4a - 2b = 2d
————————————-
subtract: a - b = c - 2d
(1) No way for you to isolate for 2a - b –> NS
(2) you know that c - 2d = 3 = a - b –> S (ans B)
QUANT: What are arithmetic sequences?
Sequence / pattern that always has a CONSTANT positive or negative difference between any two consecutive terms
> alternatively named as “equally spaced sequences”
Arithmetic sequences ALWAYS START AT “a1”
n >= 1
Term:
An = a1 + (n - 1)*d
where d is the constant difference (+ or -) between any two consecutive terms
Sum:
Sum from a1 to an = (average * # of terms) —> equally spaced sequences
= (a1 + an)/2 * n
> Average = median = first + last divide by 2
LINEAR growth problems can also be solved as an arithmetic sequence
> e.g., monthly info +/- constant amount
> e.g., height
QUANT: If x and y are positive integers such that 1 < x < y AND y / x is an integer, what does this mean for the relationship between x and y?
1) y is a multiple of x (x is a factor of y)
2) y must be BIGGER THAN x
3) y must contain ALL the prime factors of x, AND at least one additional prime factor
> therefore, y cannot have the same number of prime factors as x
QUANT: DS, what should you get into the habit of doing
COVERING the other statement (so you don’t accidentally use info from the other statement)
QUANT: If A is a positive integer, what is the remainder when A is divided by 6?
(1) A + 4 is divisible by 7
(2) A is divisible by 5
Concept: Remainders / divisibility
Layout the prompt: A/6 = Q + R/6
Trying to find R = ?
(1) A + 4 = 7k
A = 7k - 4
A/6 = (7k - 4)/6
Depending on the value of k, remainder changes
e.g., k = 1, R = 3
But if k = 4, R = 0
NS
(2) A = 5m
A/6 = 5m/6
Depending on the value of m, remainder changes
e.g., m = 1, R = 5
But if m = 6, R = 0
(3) Create COMBINED algebraic equation for A so that you can come up with potential values of A
Recall to create a combined equation = LCM of divisors + smallest possible value
LCM of divisors = 35
Smallest possible value of A = 10
A = 35Q + 10
Possible values of A = 10, 45, 80 etc.
We can see that remainder still changes depending on the value of Q:
If A = 10, R = 4
But if A = 45, R = 3
NS
QUANT: If n is a whole number, what is the units digit of n! (i.e., n factorial)?
(1) n < 6
(2) n > 4
Remember: Any factorial >= 5! will have a zero in its units digit (because there’s at least one 2*5 pair, creating a trailing 0)
Once a factorial number ends with 0, then all the factorial numbers larger than it will end with 0 also
(1) n could equal 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Testing will reveal NS
(2) n! >= 5! –> units digit is always 0
QUANT:
What is the greatest common factor of the positive integers x and y?
(1) x = y^20
(2) y = (243)^(1/5)
Concept: GCF of a number and its factor will equal the factor
> if y divides evenly into x, then LCM is x and GCF is y
> HOWEVER since this is a data sufficiency question, you need to FIX THE NUMBER (not just fix the relationship)
> Lesson: Don’t get too excited by the answer –> always see for value question WHAT IS THE VALUE? (and equivalently for y/n question what is the the answer, always y or always n)
(1) x is a multiple of y
so GCF = y, but WE DON’T KNOW THE VALUE OF Y
(2) y = 3
NS because we don’t know the value of x
(3) Sufficient since we know y = 3
QUANT: Is the positive integer x a perfect square?
(1) x = t^n, where t is a positive integer and n is odd
(2) x^0.5 = k, where k is a positive integer
CONCEPT: perfect squares, however be aware of special numbers 0 and 1
(1) x = t^n
If t = 1 and n = 1, then x = 1 —> 1 is a perfect square!! so is 0 (Yes)
If t = 2 and n = 3, then x = 8 –> 8 is not a perfect square (No)
NS
(2) x^0.5 = k (squaring both sides)
x = k^2 —> perfect square