Preparing for the GRE
c
General Test - Math Review - MyGRETutor.com
Integers
Positive and Negative whole num-
bers, including zero. For example,
−3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, are integers.
Rational Numbers
Any number that can be expressed as a
ratio. For example, 3.5 or 22
6 .
Order of Operations
In an expression, always perform the
calculations inside the parentheses first,
then exponents, then multiplication, di-
vision, addition, and finally subtraction.
Thus, (2 × (3 + 1)) + 2 × 3 = 14
Factorization
The factors of a number are all of the in-
tegers that divide evenly into that num-
ber. For example, the factors of 27 are
1, 3, 9 and 27.
Multiples
The multiples of a number x are all of
those numbers that can be divided by x
without a remainder. For example, the
multiples of 14 are 14, 28, 42, ...
Odd, Even, and Primes
Odd numbers are not divisible by 2.
Even numbers are multiples of 2. Prime
numbers have only two factors, 1 and
themselves. Example odd are 3,5,7; ex-
ample even numbers are 2,4,6; example
prime numbers are 2,3,5,7,11, ...
Percentages
“Percent” means “out of 100”. For ex-
ample, 25 percent means 14 , so 25% of
12 apples is 3 because 12 × 14 = 3.
Average
Average is the sum of all terms divided
by the number of terms. For 3, 4, and
8, the average is 15
3 = 5.
Median and Mode
The median is the middle value of a
list of numbers ordered by size. The
mode is the number in a list that ap-
pears most often. For a set of numbers
{3, 4, 6, 6, 6, 8, 9}, the mean is 6, because
the sum is 42 and so 42 7 = 6, and the
mode is 6.
Counting and Probability
If an event x occurs with probability p,
and event y occurs with a probability q,
then the probability of events x and y
happening together is p × q, or pq.
Bases and Exponents
The base of an expression is the num-
ber that is being manipulated, and the
exponent is the value to which a num-
ber is raised. In xa , x is the base and a
is the exponent.
−y
Zero Power and x
Any number raised to the zero power is
1. A number with a negative exponent is
equivalent to 1 divided by that number;
so x−y = x1y
Exponents & Multiplication
If two numbers of the same base but dif-
ferent exponents are multiplied, you add
the exponents. So na × nb = na+b .
Exponents & Division
If dividing two numbers of the same
base, subtract the exponent of the de-
nominator from the exponent of the nu-
a
merator. So nnb = na−b .
Exponents, Powers
An exponent raised to some power is the
same as the product of the power and
the raise: (na )b = nab .
Exponents, Products
The product of two numbers raised
to some exponent can be rewritten as
the product of the individual numbers:
(nm)a = na × ma
Variables, equations
A variable is a symbolic representation
used to denote a quantity or expression.
In 4x = 12, the variable is x, and in this
case x is equal to 3. In order to solve for
n variables, you need n equations.
Substitution
Substitution is used to solve equations.
If there are two equations with two vari-
ables between them, then solve for one
of the variables, and then use the result
to solve for the second variable.
Factoring
Rules for factoring equations:
a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b)(a + b)
a2 − 2ab + b2 = (a − b)(a − b)
a2 − b2 = (a − b)(a + b)
Intersecting Lines
Opposite angles of intersecting lines are
equal.
Triangles
The area of a triangle is one-half base
times the height: A = 12 bh. The three
angles of a triangle sum to 180 degrees.
Equilateral, Isosceles
An equilateral triangle has 3 equal sides
and 3 equal angles. The angles of a equi-
lateral triangle are each 60 degrees. An
isosceles triangle has 2 equal sides and
2 equal angles. For an isosceles triangle,
the sides opposite the two equal angles
have equal lengths.
Rectangles
The area of a rectangle is length times
width: A = lw. The perimeter of a rect-
angle is 2l + 2w. A square is a rectangle
where all of the sides are of equal length.
Each angle in a rectangle is 90 degrees.
Parallelograms
The area of a parallelogram is length
times height: A = lh.
Area, Radius, Diameter,
Perimeter of a Circle
The radius, r, of a circle is the distance
from the center of the circle to its edge.
It’s area is π times radius squared: A =
πr2 . The diameter is twice the radius:
D = 2r, and the circumference C = 2πr.
Arcs
An arc of a circle is a segment of the
perimeter. The length of an arc is 2πr
times the intersecting angle, x.
Solid Geometry
The volume of a rectangular solid is
length times width times height: V =
lwh. The volume of a right cylinder is
base times height, where the base is a
circle, and so V = πr2 h.