4.

4 Math Review Word Problems

8. Geometry Problems
The following is an example of a word problem involving geometry.

Example:

200 meters
200 meters

The figure above shows an aerial view of a piece of land. If all angles shown are right angles, what is the
perimeter of the piece of land?

Solution: For reference, label the figure as

Q R

S T
U V

P W

If all the angles are right angles, then QR + ST + UV = PW, and RS + TU + VW = PQ. Hence, the
perimeter of the land is 2PW + 2PQ = 2 × 200 + 2 × 200 = 800 meters.

9. Measurement Problems
Some questions on the GMAT involve metric units of measure, whereas others involve English units of
measure. However, except for units of time, if a question requires conversion from one unit of measure
to another, the relationship between those units will be given.

Example: A train travels at a constant rate of 25 meters per second. How many kilometers does it travel
in 5 minutes? (1 kilometer = 1,000 meters)

Solution: In 1 minute the train travels (25)(60) = 1,500 meters, so in 5 minutes it travels 7,500 meters.
7, 500
Since 1 kilometer = 1,000 meters, it follows that 7,500 meters equals , or 7.5 kilometers.
1, 000

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10. Data Interpretation

Occasionally a question or set of questions will be based on data provided in a table or graph. Some
examples of tables and graphs are given below.

Example 1:

Population by Age Group

(in thousands)
Age Population
17 years and under 63,376
18−44 years 86,738
45−64 years 43,845
65 years and over 24,054

How many people are 44 years old or younger?

Solution: The figures in the table are given in thousands. The answer in thousands can be obtained by
adding 63,376 thousand and 86,738 thousand. The result is 150,114 thousand, which is 150,114,000.

Example 2:

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE AND

PRECIPITATION IN CITY X
Precipitation
(right-hand scale)
30 12
25 10
Degrees Celsius

Precipitation in
Temperature in

Centimeters

20 8
15 6
10 Temperature 4
5 (left-hand scale) 2
0 0
January April July October

What are the average temperature and precipitation in City X during April?

Solution: Note that the scale on the left applies to the temperature line graph and the one on the right
applies to the precipitation line graph. According to the graph, during April the average temperature is
approximately 14° Celsius and the average precipitation is approximately 8 centimeters.

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 4.4 Math Review Word Problems

Example 3:

DISTRIBUTION OF AL’S WEEKLY NET SALARY

Fuel and Food

Insurance 15%
for Automobile Rent and
10% Utilities
30%
Savings
25%
Other
20%

Al’s weekly net salary is $350. To how many of the categories listed was at least $80 of Al’s weekly net
salary allocated?

Solution: In the circle graph, the relative sizes of the sectors are proportional to their corresponding
values and the sum of the percents given is 100%. Note that 80 is approximately 23%, so at least $80
350
was allocated to each of 2 categories—Rent and Utilities, and Savings—since their allocations are each
greater than 23%.

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 5.0 Problem Solving

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 5.0 Problem Solving

5.0 Problem Solving

The Quantitative section of the GMAT® exam uses problem solving and data sufficiency questions to
gauge your skill level. This chapter focuses on problem solving questions. Remember that quantitative
questions require knowledge of the following:

• Arithmetic
• Elementary algebra
• Commonly known concepts of geometry

Problem solving questions are designed to test your basic mathematical skills and understanding of
elementary mathematical concepts, as well as your ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative
problems, and interpret graphic data. The mathematics knowledge required to answer the questions
is no more advanced than what is generally taught in secondary school (or high school) mathematics
classes.

In these questions, you are asked to solve each problem and select the best of the five answer choices
given. Begin by reading the question thoroughly to determine exactly what information is given and
to make sure you understand what is being asked. Scan the answer choices to understand your options.
If the problem seems simple, take a few moments to see whether you can determine the answer. Then,
check your answer against the choices provided.

If you do not see your answer among the choices, or if the problem is complicated, take a closer look at
the answer choices and think again about what the problem is asking. See whether you can eliminate
some of the answer choices and narrow down your options. If you are still unable to narrow the answer
down to a single choice, reread the question. Keep in mind that the answer will be based solely on the
information provided in the question—don’t allow your own experience and assumptions to interfere
with your ability to find the correct answer to the question.

If you find yourself stuck on a question or unable to select the single correct answer, keep in mind that
you have about two minutes to answer each quantitative question. You may run out of time if you take
too long to answer any one question; you may simply need to pick the answer that seems to make the
most sense. Although guessing is generally not the best way to achieve a high GMAT score, making
an educated guess is a good strategy for answering questions you are unsure of. Even if your answer to
a particular question is incorrect, your answers to other questions will allow the test to accurately gauge
your ability level.

The following pages include test‐taking strategies, directions that will apply to questions of this type,
sample questions, an answer key, and explanations for all the problems. These explanations present
problem solving strategies that could be helpful in answering the questions.

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5.1 Test-Taking Strategies

1. Pace yourself.
Consult the on‐screen timer periodically. Work as carefully as possible, but do not spend
valuable time checking answers or pondering problems that you find difficult.

2. Use the erasable notepad provided at the test center.

Working a problem out may help you avoid errors in solving the problem. If diagrams or figures
are not presented, it may help to draw your own.

3. Read each question carefully to determine what is being asked.

For word problems, take one step at a time, reading each sentence carefully and translating the
information into equations or other useful mathematical representations.

4. Scan the answer choices before attempting to answer a question.

Scanning the answers can prevent you from putting answers in a form that is not given
(e.g., finding the answer in decimal form, such as 0.25, when the choices are given in fractional
1
form, such as ). Also, if the question requires approximations, a shortcut could serve well
4
(e.g., you may be able to approximate 48 percent of a number by using half ).

5. Don’t waste time trying to solve a problem that is too difficult for you.
Make your best guess and then move on to the next question.

5.2 The Directions

These directions are very similar to those you will see for problem solving questions when you take the
GMAT exam. If you read them carefully and understand them clearly before sitting for the GMAT
exam, you will not need to spend too much time reviewing them once the test begins.

Solve the problem and indicate the best of the answer choices given.

Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.

Figures: A figure accompanying a problem solving question is intended to provide information useful
in solving the problem. Figures are drawn as accurately as possible. Exceptions will be clearly noted.
Lines shown as straight are straight, and lines that appear jagged are also straight. The positions of
points, angles, regions, etc., exist in the order shown, and angle measures are greater than zero. All
figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated.

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 5.2 Problem Solving The Directions

To register for the GMAT exam go to www.mba.com

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5.3 Practice Questions

Solve the problem and indicate the best of the answer choices given.
Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.
Figures: A figure accompanying a problem solving question is intended to provide information useful
in solving the problem. Figures are drawn as accurately as possible. Exceptions will be clearly
noted. Lines shown as straight are straight, and lines that appear jagged are also straight. The
positions of points, angles, regions, etc., exist in the order shown, and angle measures are
greater than zero. All figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated.

1. The price of a coat in a certain store is $500. If the 1 1 5 1 1 9

price of the coat is to be reduced by $150, by what 4. + − + + − =
3 2 6 5 4 20
percent is the price to be reduced?
(A) 0
(A) 10% 2
(B)
(B) 15% 15

(C) 20% 2
(C)
5
(D) 25%
9
(E) 30% (D)
20
5
2. On a vacation, Rose exchanged $500.00 for euros (E)
6
at an exchange rate of 0.80 euro per dollar and
3 5. Bouquets are to be made using white tulips and red
spent of the euros she received. If she exchanged
4 tulips, and the ratio of the number of white tulips to
the remaining euros for dollars at an exchange rate
of $1.20 per euro, what was the dollar amount she the number of red tulips is to be the same in each
received? bouquet. If there are 15 white tulips and 85 red tulips
available for the bouquets, what is the greatest number
(A) $60.00 of bouquets that can be made using all the tulips
(B) $80.00 available?

(C) $100.00 (A) 3

(D) $120.00 (B) 5
(E) $140.00 (C) 8
(D) 10
x x x y y v
(E) 13

v x x y w w
6. 125% of 5 =
3. Each of the 12 squares shown is labeled x, y, v, or w. (A) 5.125
What is the ratio of the number of these squares labeled
(B) 5.25
x or y to the number of these squares labeled v or w ?
(C) 6
(A) 1:2 (D) 6.125
(B) 2:3 (E) 6.25
(C) 4:3
(D) 3:2
(E) 2:1
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 5.3 Problem Solving Practice Questions

7. Today Rebecca, who is 34 years old, and her daughter, 11. Raffle tickets numbered consecutively from 101
who is 8 years old, celebrate their birthdays. How through 350 are placed in a box. What is the
many years will pass before Rebecca’s age is twice her probability that a ticket selected at random will have a
daughter’s age? number with a hundreds digit of 2 ?

(A) 10 2
(A)
(B) 14 5
(C) 18 2
(B)
(D) 22 7

(E) 26 33
(C)
88
8. When traveling at a constant speed of 32 miles per hour, 99
(D)
a certain motorboat consumes 24 gallons of fuel 250
per hour. What is the fuel consumption of this boat at 100
this speed measured in miles traveled per gallon of fuel? (E)
249
2
(A)
3 12. When Leo imported a certain item, he paid a 7 percent
3 import tax on the portion of the total value of the item
(B)
4 in excess of $1,000. If the amount of the import tax
4 that Leo paid was $87.50, what was the total value of
(C)
5 the item?
4
(D) (A) $1,600
3
3 (B) $1,850
(E)
2 (C) $2,250
(D) $2,400
9. A case contains c cartons. Each carton contains
b boxes, and each box contains 100 paper clips. (E) $2,750
How many paper clips are contained in 2 cases?
13. A collection of 16 coins, each with a face value of
(A) 100bc
either 10 cents or 25 cents, has a total face value of
100b $2.35. How many of the coins have a face value of
(B)
c 25 cents?
(C) 200bc
(A) 3
200b
(D) (B) 5
c
200 (C) 7
(E)
bc (D) 9
(E) 11
10. A technician makes a round‐trip to and from a certain
service center by the same route. If the technician
completes the drive to the center and then completes
10 percent of the drive from the center, what percent
of the round‐trip has the technician completed?

(A) 5%
(B) 10%
(C) 25%
(D) 40%
(E) 55%
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14. The numbers of cars sold at a certain dealership on 18. A rectangular floor that measures 8 meters by
six of the last seven business days were 4, 7, 2, 8, 3, 10 meters is to be covered with carpet squares that
and 6, respectively. If the number of cars sold on the each measure 2 meters by 2 meters. If the carpet
seventh business day was either 2, 4, or 5, for which squares cost $12 apiece, what is the total cost for the
of the three values does the average (arithmetic mean) number of carpet squares needed to cover the floor?
number of cars sold per business day for the seven
business days equal the median number of cars sold (A) $200
per day for the seven days? (B) $240
(C) $480
I. 2
(D) $960
II. 4
(E) $1,920
III. 5

(A) II only 19. If 893 × 78 = p, which of the following is equal to

(B) III only 893 × 79 ?
(C) I and II only
(A) p+1
(D) II and III only
(B) p + 78
(E) I, II, and III
(C) p + 79

15. If it is assumed that 60 percent of those who receive (D) p + 893

a questionnaire by mail will respond and 300 responses (E) p + 894
are needed, what is the minimum number of
questionnaires that should be mailed? 20. Thabo owns exactly 140 books, and each book is
either paperback fiction, paperback nonfiction, or
(A) 400 hardcover nonfiction. If he owns 20 more paperback
(B) 420 nonfiction books than hardcover nonfiction books, and
(C) 480 twice as many paperback fiction books as paperback
(D) 500 nonfiction books, how many hardcover nonfiction
books does Thabo own?
(E) 600
(A) 10
16. If 1 < x < y < z, which of the following has the greatest (B) 20
value?
(C) 30
(A) z(x + 1) (D) 40
(B) z(y + 1) (E) 50
(C) x(y + z)
(D) y(x + z) 21. If the average (arithmetic mean) of the four numbers
3, 15, 32, and (N + 1) is 18, then N =
(E) z(x + y)
(A) 19
17. A rectangular garden is to be twice as long as it is
(B) 20
wide. If 360 yards of fencing, including the gate, will
completely enclose the garden, what will be the length (C) 21
of the garden, in yards? (D) 22
(E) 29
(A) 120
(B) 140
(C) 160
(D) 180
(E) 200

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