Quantitative Comparisons for GRE/ CAT (Toughest Possible Questions)

By Satyadhar JoshiOnline Class Feb 2011

http://www.freegregmatclass.com/

Content IntroductionQuestions of Quantitative ComparisonsConclusion References

About this ClassTough questions of Quantitative

Comparisons for CAT/GRE with some strategies to solve them will be discussed. Modified question of some books will be solved so that you can benefit and hone(sharpen) your skills.

This session will help you to understand how to pick up and visualize, fine tune and strategically work for QS. The class is expected to be highly interactive so that I can solve your difficulties and remove your fears about the subject.http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/quantitative_reasoning/

comparison

IntroductionSession about Quantitative ComparisonsStrategy more important than knowledge about

the subjectYou don’t have to solve the questionsWe have to just conclude if it can be / or cannot

be solved with the given dataThe questions are mathematical or logicalTricks and shortcuts exploredPractice SessionConfidence building measure taken up

Comparing Quantities The Quantitative Section contains about 14 Quantitative Comparison

questions. These questions have a very specific format, and they test your ability to evaluate information given and compare two figures mathematically.

The comparison questions will always have a ‘column A’ and ‘column B’, each column containing numbers of variables. Often, you’ll get additional information about the variables. You will then have to choose one of the following 4 answers:

1. The quantity in column A is greater2. The quantity in column B is greater3. The two quantities are equal4. The relationship cannot be determined from the information given This might sound a bit confusing, but it’s pretty straightforward- all you have

to do is figure out whether column A or B contains a larger quantity. Sometimes you won’t be able to figure it out using the given info, in which case D is appropriate, and sometimes they’re equal, so you’ll answer C. Here are a couple of exams to help you understand.

http://gre.jumbotests.com/info/gre-quantitative-comparison

StrategiesMemorize the form and order of the answer choicesSimplify the comparison by doing the same (allowable)

operations to both columns. You might be able to simplify one or both expressions by multiplying or dividing both by the same term

Read the information centered between the two columns if there is any

Restriction on the values that a variable can take, consider what happens if you choose positive versus negative values, odd versus even values, and integer versus fractional values

GRE tests your knowledge of algebra, geometry, data interpretation, arithmetic, and properties of numbers in these questions

http://www.ehow.com/how_4599392_ace-gre-quantitative-comparisons.html

Be carefulIf you plug in numbers into expressions with

variables and you get different results, than DGeometric figures on the GRE are not always

drawn to scaleAvoid doing needless calculations. Do only as

much work as you need to do to make the comparison

Consider all the possibilities when it comes to unknowns

http://www.ehow.com/how_4599392_ace-gre-quantitative-comparisons.html

Strategies Read headingDon’t confuse percent and numbersEstimate Use of scratch paper in the best wayUse hintsReasonable answersTry to visualize the answer

Unwarranted AssumptionsHow our wrong assumption can cause

disaster in the exam

Checking Extreme Values Boundary condition helps us a lot

Questions Set AQuestions similar

with change data and words from GRE Nova Math Bible

Questions Set BQuestions similar

with change data and words from GRE Nova

Conclusion Tuff questions dealt in Data SufficiencyTricks and shortcuts exploredPractice SessionConfidence building measure taken up

References & Recommended ReadingsGRE Nova Math bible GRE Novahttp://majortests.com/gre/

quantitative_comparisons.phphttp://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/

gre/quant/quantcomp5.tdf?0