Understanding GMAT data sufficiency question

The next set of blogs will be focusing on Data sufficiency(DS). Many students feel that they make more errors in DS than problem solving. Let us understand this question type in depth.

Sample question:

What is the value of a?

(1)      3a + 2b = 15

(2)      b = (-3/2) (a – 5)

The Directions:

Each data sufficiency problem consists of a question and two statements, labeled (1) and (2), that give data. You have to decide whether the data given in the statements are sufficient for answering the question.

Use the data given in the questions plus your knowledge of mathematics and everyday fact, you must indicate whether the data given in the statements are sufficient for answering the questions and then indicate one of the following answer choices:

(A) Statement (i) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked;

(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked;

 (C) BOTH statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient;

(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked;

(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data are needed.

NOTE: In data sufficiency problems that ask for the value of a quantity, the data given in the statements are sufficient only when it is possible to determine exactly one numerical value for the quantity.

Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.

Figures: A figure accompanying a data sufficiency problem will conform to the information given in the question but will not necessarily conform to the additional information given in statements (1) and (2).

Lines shown as straight can be assumed to be straight and lines that appear jagged can also be assumed to be straight. You may assume that the positions of points, angles, regions, and so forth exist in the order shown and that angle measures are greater than zero degrees. All figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated.

These questions require knowledge of the following topics: • Arithmetic • Elementary algebra • Commonly known concepts of geometry

DS problem – Approach flow chart

Next post: Strategies to tackle data sufficiency questions

5 Tips to crack the sentence correction section of the GMAT.

Here are some of the GMAT sentence corrections tips i compiled.  I have added examples for each tip.

1.Check pronouns:their,his,her…..

Wrong sentence: The instructor asked everyone of the trainees to remain in their respective seat.

Correct sentence: The instructor asked everyone of the trainees to remain in his respective seat.

2. Check for pronoun omission:

Wrong sentence: In Japan elderly people are treated with far greater respect than most Western countries.

Elderly people in japan vs western countries?????

Correct sentence: In Japan elderly people are treated with far greater respect than those in most Western countries.

3. Check subject verb

Wrong sentence: A slowdown becomes useful only when the opportunity to both reorient as well as innovate are used for further growth.

Slowdown …………………………..are???

Correct sentence: A slowdown becomes useful only when the opportunity to both reorient as well as innovate is used for further growth.

4. Watch for incomplete comparisions

Wrong sentences: California’s child-support payments are as high or higher than other states.

As high…..as…..

Correct sentences: California’s child-support payments are as high as or higher than other states.

5.Watch for descriptions in the beginning

Wrong sentences: Disturbed by the media’s relentless criticism, it was decided by Gupta to resign as the chairman of TERI.

What does it refer to…….medias criticism or the disturbances

Correct sentences: Disturbed by the media’s relentless criticism, Gupta designed to resign as the chairman of TERI.

These are some of the three dozen tips..read this space for more… email us your feedback urmentor@semanticslearning.com or visit www.semanticslearning.com

GMAT sentence correction error types

To ace the verbal section in the GMAT, you need to master these 25 sentence correction concepts. These concepts are tested every time in the GMAT. Some sentences will have two or more error types.

To know more about GMAT preparation, attend a counselling session. Email me at urmentor@semanticslearning.com.

GMAT math - digits in decimal places

Digits in decimal places:
Note: 1234.567

1 - THOUSANDS
2 - HUNDREDS
3 - TENS
4 - UNITS
. - decimal point
5 - TENTHS
6 - HUNDREDTHS
7 - THOUSANDTHS

What is critical reading....

Critical reading is the process of reading that goes beyond just understanding a text.

Critical reading involves:

• carefully considering and evaluating the reading
• identifying the reading's strengths and implications
• identifying the reading's weaknesses and flaws

Read this article to know more about critical reading..

Critical reasoning jargon and its meaning

10minute math speed test 26.11.2015 - permutation and combination

Do attempt this challenging speed test on permutation and combination.
Email us your answers..

Answers will be posted here 

10 minute speed test math - 28.10.2015

Crack this challenging math speed test in less than 10 minutes...

"To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe."- Marilyn vos Savant

Answers will be posted in 2 days..

10 minute test with G 26.9.2015

An interesting 10 minute speed test- Try it out...... answers by Thursday....

10 min test with G 22.9.2015

Try these questions in 10 minutes. Email us your answers.
Have fun..

10 min test with G 15.9.2015 with solution

Try these questions in 10 minutes. Email us your answers. Please check answers here
Have fun..

Data sufficiency - factors

Data sufficiency

If N = 3^x x 5^y, where x and y are positive integers, and N has 12 positive factors, what is the value of N?

(1) 9 is NOT a factor of N

(2) 125 is a factor of N

The number of factors  is given by formula (x+1)(y+1) where x,y are the powers of the prime numbers after prime factorization.

12 = (x+1)(y+1)

The product of (6,2) (4,3) give 12.

Hence the pair combinations of x and y can be (5,1)(11,0),(3,2) { x =5 and y=1 or x=1 and y=5)

Hence N = 3^x x 5^y

As per statement 1. If 9 is not a factor of N. It means the values of x and y should be (1,5) 

sufficient.

As per statement 2. if 125 is a factor of N, it means the values of x and y can be any combination.

Hence A

GMAT sentence correction... The rule pertaining to none , all, most

All, most, none can be singular or plural depending on the countability of the nouns that follow.
They are singular when followed by non- countable nouns.
They are plural when followed by countable nouns.

Countable nouns
None of the invites have come.
None of the equipment has been shifted
None of our resources go to our consultants.
None of my friends have been eating food.

Non-Countable nouns
None of the money is spent

GMAT reading comprehension? Just do it

Keep your fears away
One fear most test takers feel is ‘ what if the passages are totally unfamiliar’. This is highly unlikely if you have spent a good amount of time reading quality passages and have taken good number of comprehension tests.

Imagine yourself succeeding
Be optimistic about your preparation and success in the GRE test.  Start your preparation early so that you do not take the test till you are ready.

For god’s sake do not procrastinate
The day you wake up to think, oh I have plenty of time left for prep, you are on the road to procrastination. You have semester work, events to participate in, personal issues; none of these should come in the way of your reaching your goal.

All strategies need not work for you
We all vary in our styles of learning. Some of us would require longer preparation time, others less. It’s more rewarding to compare our performance today with our own past performance than with that of others.

Do not expect overnight results
Efficient reading involves building an array of skills. It takes time. Perseverance is the key. Lot of hard work is required to excel, give up not.

Do research, learn those tiny tips from friends who are preparing for verbal tests, what worked for them, what did not, they are invaluable sources of test info.

Meditate; with your learning your own reflections and insights can throw up new ideas that work best for you.

Do not panic; 
instead make a panic plan. Put together a remedial plan with the help of a mentor- a senior or trainer; there is always a way out.

Invest intelligently in buying good reading material: 
books, CDs, general reading material. And invest time wisely.

Selfishness is a virtue 
If Ayn Rand did feel that way, so can you. Do not spare your reading time playing agony aunt/uncle for those hapless souls; nevertheless when you need reassurance ask and get! Howzzat.

Ten ways to score poorly in the GMAT

Ten ways to score poorly in GMAT! If you are rich enough for retakes, that is

1. I know math, so no need to go thru the same old arithmetic, algebra, geometry stuff

2.  Tones of free downloads on your pc..what is relevant, what is not, even God may not know..

3. Just official guide, what else, nothing official about it…

4. I will join for the costliest, longest duration course in town…let them get me the score, no need to  study at  home..

5. I wont do the essays while practicing, only math and verbal mock exams  will do

6. I speak and write good English, so verbal is going to be a cake walk, no less

7.  I need just one month for preparation, after all I had high grades in college.

8.  Do as many tests as possible, in fact 90 percent of my preparation time should be spent on tests. concepts? What concepts?

9. My friend said GMAT was easy for him, no tough qns ( hey, what was your friend’s score?)

10. Out of five tests  I  did, one test I scores above 650. So I will give the test as planned.  I believe in luck!

PS Good luck