Constraints - 1

1 The question statement may present information about the constraints imposed on the scenario. Be sure to make a note of these constraints.

For example:
How many 3-letter passwords can be made from the letters a, b, c, x, y, and z
if each letter is unique, and the third letter can only be a vowel?

In this question, the constraint is that the third letter can only be a vowel.
2 Upon identifying the constraints, incorporate the constraint first before moving to the spaces that do not have any constraint.

For example:
How many 3-letter passwords can be made from the letters a, b, c, x, y, and z
if each letter is unique, and the third letter can only be a vowel?

In this question, we first note that there is only 1 way in which the last space
can be filled up. And then we proceed to infer that the first space can be
filled in 5 ways and then accordingly the second space can be filled in 4 ways.
Answer = 5 x 4 x 1

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Constraints - 2

3 At times, the constraints are not explicitly stated.

Example 1:
How many 5-digit numbers can be formed from the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 if each digit is unique?
In this question, the fact that a 5-digit number cannot have 0 in the ten-thousands place is a constraint that we need to infer based on our conceptual
understanding.
Example 2:
How many 5-digit even numbers can be formed from the digits 1, 2, 3, and 4?
In this question, the fact that an even number has an even number at the unit's place is a constraint that we need to infer based on our conceptual
understanding.

3 Be very careful while drawing inferences pertaining to the constraints.

Example 1:
How many 3-letter passwords can be made from the letters a, b, c, d, e, and f if the third letter can only be a vowel?
Per this question – the constraint is that only a vowel can be placed in the third space. It does not imply at all that a vowel cannot be placed in any other
space.
Example 2:
How many 3-letter passwords containing one vowel only placed in the middle can be formed using the letters a, b, c, d, e, and f?
Per this question – the constraint is that the vowel can only be placed in the middle. There is no other place where this vowel can be placed.
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Skills to Master GMAT Quant
Apply Constraints

Consider
Visualize All Cases

Process
Infer Translate

Skills

Manipulate
Simplify

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