GMATPill PS Formulas+Questions

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Questions and Video Explanations
+ Formula Sheets

Algebra

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Geometry

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4
Number Properties

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Number Properties

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6
Number Properties

Sequences

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Algebra

Geometry

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10

Sequences

Exponents

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11

Hypothetical Formulas

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12

Algebra

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13

14

Roots

Geometry

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15

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16

Inequalities

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Number Properties

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17

18

Algebra

Factorials

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19

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20

Geometry

Geometry

r 2
r 2 10
1
4
2
r (40 2r ) 2
1
r 2 (10 r ) 2
2

r 2 2 r 2

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21

22

Algebra

Wordy Word Problems

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23

Fractional Exponents

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24

Exponents

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25

26

Wordy Word Problems

Functions

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27

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28

Functions

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Roots

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29

30

Exponents

Geometry

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31

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32

Geometry

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Geometry

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33

34

Geometry

Geometry

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35

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36

Geometry

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Geometry

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37

38

Number Properties

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39

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40

Number Properties

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Combo/Permutations

Combo/Permutations

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41

42

Combo/Permutations

Combo/Permutations

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43

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44

Algebra

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Exponents

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45

46
Mixture Problems

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Mixture Problems

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

200
280
300
320
400

5
10
15
20
25

See Video Explanation

47

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48
Mixture Problems

Mixture Problems

In what ratio must rice at $9.30/kg be mixed with rice at $10.80/kg


So that the mixture is worth $10/kg?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

1:3
9:4
9:7
11:9
11:7

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
See Video Explanation

25/7
20/7
2
3
17/13

See Video Explanation

49

50

Tables

Of the 50 high school students, 40 percent will be assigned to


team A and remaining 60 percent to team B.However 70% of the
researchers prefer team A and 30 % prefer team B.
What is the lowest number of high school students who will not be assigned
to the team they prefer?
A) 10
B) 15
C) 20
D) 25
E) 30

Rates

Of the 50 high school students, 40 percent will be assigned to


math class and remaining 60 percent to reading class.However 70% of the
researchers prefer team A and 30 % prefer team B.
What is the highest number of high school students who will not be assigned
to the team they prefer?
A) 30
B) 35
C) 40
D) 45
E) 50

See Video Explanation

See Video Explanation


51

52

Rates

Rates

A taxi leaves the Point A 5 hours after a bus left the same spot. The bus
is traveling 30 mph slower than the taxi. Find the speed of the
taxi, if it overtakes the bus in three hours.
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

36
38
40
42
44

Two cars start at the same time from opposite ends of a


highway that is 45 miles long. One car is riding at 14 mph
and the second cyclist is riding at 16 mph. How long after
they begin will they meet?
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

See Video Explanation

1
1.2
1.25
1.35
1.5

See Video Explanation

53

54
Exponents

Venn Diagram

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Answer Key:
1) E
2) A
3) C
4) A
5) E

6) E
7) E
8) C
9) B
10) D

11) D
12) E
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Isosceles
Isosceles

IfIf angle
angle aa == c,
c, then
then
side
side length
length D
D == E
E
When
When this
this condition
condition is
is met,
met, the
the triangle
triangle
is
is called
called an
an isosceles
isosceles

Triangle
Triangle Area
Area ==

1
base * height
2
90

30

60

2 miles

Right
Right Isosceles
Isosceles

45

90

x 2

45

Right
Right Isosceles
Isosceles

hy
po
ten
us
e

1 mile

A
A right
right isosceles
isosceles is
is aa specific
specific type
type of
of
isosceles
isosceles triangle
triangle where
where the
the angles
angles
are
are 45-45-90
45-45-90 as
as shown.
shown.
Hypotenuse
Hypotenuse == ??

a2 b2 c2

Circle
Circle

Hypotenuse
Hypotenuse ==

a b

Know these triangle


ratios!

x 2x x 3
Right Triangle

13

5
12

Cylinder/Sphere
Cylinder/Sphere

Area
Area == r
r22
Circumference
Circumference == *diameter
*diameter (Rhymes:
(Rhymes: pi
pi di)
di)
Volume
Volume of
of cylinder
cylinder == Area
Area of
of circle
circle ** how
how far
far that
that circle
circle extends
extends
2
Volume
height
Volume of
of cylinder
cylinder == r
r2 ** height
Volume
Volume sphere
sphere ==

4 3
r
3

See Video Explanation

Sum of Sequences
Sequences:
Sequences: Sum,
Sum, Average,
Average, ## of
of terms
terms

Step
Step 1:
1: Find
Find ## of
of termsStart
termsStart small,
small, think:
think:
st
33 is
is the
the 11st term
term
30
30 is
is the
the 10
10thth term
term
th
90 is
is the
the 30
30th term
term
Average:
Average: What
What is
is the
the average
average of
of all
all these
these 90
rd
rd
99
99 is
is the
the 33
33 term
term so
so there
there are
are 33
33 terms
terms
multiples
multiples of
of 3?
3?

Sum:
Sum: What
What is
is sum
sum of
of all
all multiples
multiples of
of 33
from
from 11 to
to 100?
100?

## of
of Terms:
Terms: How
How many
many numbers
numbers are
are
multiples
multiples of
of 33 between
between 11 and
and 100?
100?

RULE: avg value of each


term = average (1st term
and last term)

See Video Explanation

Step
Step 2:
2: The
The easiest
easiest way
way to
to find
find the
the sum
sum is
is to
to
multiply
multiply the
the ## of
of terms
terms by
by the
the average
average value
value of
of
each
each term.
term. So
So we
we need
need to
to find
find the
the average
average
value!
value!
So
So in
in this
this case,
case, avg(3
avg(3 and
and 99)
99) == (3+99)/2
(3+99)/2 == 102/2
102/2
== 51
51 == average
average term
term
Step
Step 3:
3: Sum
Sum == ## terms
terms ** avg
avg value
value
== (#
(# from
from Step
Step 1)
1) ** (#
(# from
from step
step 2)
2)
== 33
33 terms
terms ** 51
51 == 1683
1683

Sum of Sequences
Sequences:
Sequences: Sum,
Sum, Average,
Average, ## of
of terms
terms
Sum:
Sum: What
What is
is sum
sum of
of all
all even
even numbers
numbers
from
from 11 to
to 100?
100?
Average:
Average: What
What is
is the
the average
average of
of all
all these
these
multiples
multiples of
of 2?
2?
## of
of Terms:
Terms: How
How many
many numbers
numbers are
are
multiples
multiples of
of 22 between
between 11 and
and 100?
100?

Step
Step 1:
1: Find
Find ## of
of terms:
terms:
st
22 is
is the
the 11st term
term
100
100 is
is the
the 50
50thth term
term so
so there
there are
are 50
50 terms
terms
Step
Step 2:
2: The
The easiest
easiest way
way to
to find
find the
the sum
sum is
is to
to
multiply
multiply the
the ## of
of terms
terms by
by the
the average
average value
value of
of
each
each term.
term. So
So we
we need
need to
to find
find the
the average
average
value!
value!
RULE:
RULE: avg
avg value
value of
of each
each term
term == average
average (1
(1stst
term
term and
and last
last term)
term)
So
So in
in this
this case,
case, avg(2
avg(2 and
and 100)
100) == (2+100)/2
(2+100)/2 ==
102/2
102/2 == 51
51 == average
average term
term

See Video Explanation

Step
Step 3:
3: Sum
Sum == ## terms
terms ** avg
avg value
value
== (#
(# from
from Step
Step 1)
1) ** (#
(# from
from step
step 2)
2)
== 50
50 terms
terms ** 51
51 == 2550
2550

Angles
Lines
Lines
wo

p
o

yo

qo

ko

mo

You
You should
should know
know
x=y
x=y
p=q
p=q
(x+q)=(q+y)=(p+x)=(p+y)=180
(x+q)=(q+y)=(p+x)=(p+y)=180
(y+w+k)=(m+k)=180
(y+w+k)=(m+k)=180
m=y+w
m=y+w (This
(This one
one is
is common!)
common!)

See Video Explanation

Combinations/Permutations (n Choose r)
Strategy
Strategy #1:
#1: Count
Count them
them
How
How many
many triplets
triplets (teams
(teams of
of 3)
3) can
can you
you make
make in
in aa group
group of
of 55 people?
people?
1

10 possible triplets
n!
5!
5!
1* 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 4 * 5

10
c!(n c)! 3!(5 3)1! 3!2! (1* 2 * 3)(1* 2)
2

Strategy
Strategy #2:
#2: Use
Use Formula
Formula
Q1)
Q1) How
How many
many triplets
triplets (teams
(teams of
of 3)
3) can
can you
you make
make in
in aa group
group of
of 55 people?
people?
n=total
n=total ## (5)
(5)
r=size
r=size of
of selected
selected group
group (3)
(3)

n!

5!
5!
1* 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 4 * 5
n!

10
2
r!(n r )! 3!(5 3)1! 3!2! (1* 2 * 3)(1* 2)
5!

5!

1* 2 * 3 * 4 * 5

4*5

2) 10
Q2)
Q2)
How
(teams
of2 2) can
can you
you form
form with
with 66 people?
people?
c!(n How
c)! 3!many
(many
5 3)1! pairs
3pairs
!2! (1*(teams
2 * 3)(1* 2) of
n=6
n=6
r=2
r=2
n!
6!
6!
1* 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 5 * 6

r!(n r )!

2!(6 2)1!

2!4!

(1* 2)(1* 2 * 3 * 4)

15

See Video Explanation

Math Equations/Relationships
Averages
Averages (you
(you should
should already
already know
know this)
this)
Arithmetic
Mean
=
add
them
all
up,
divide
Arithmetic Mean = add them all up, divide by
by the
the ##
of
of items
items
Median
Median == the
the middle
middle number
number of
of aa set
set of
of numbers
numbers
In
In aa set
set of
of 55 (odd
(odd #)
#) ascending
ascending numbers,
numbers, the
the
rd
rd number.
median
is
the
3
median is the 3 number.
In
In aa set
set of
of 66 (even
(even #)
#) ascending
ascending numbers,
numbers, the
the
rd
rd
median
and 44thth terms
terms
median is
is the
the average
average of
of 33 and
{3,
{3, 4,
4, 7,
7, 9}:
9}:
mean
mean == (3+4+7+9)/4
(3+4+7+9)/4 == 23/4
23/4
median
=
(4+7)/2
=
5.5
median = 7(4+7)/2
! 2 * 3=
* 45.5
*5*6*7 *

6 * 7 42
5!
2 * 3* 4 *5

Ratios
Ratios

a c

b d

a:c
a:c == b:d
b:d
Cross
Cross products
products are
are equivalent
equivalent
a*d
a*d == b*c
b*c
Exponent
Exponent Operations
Operations
Subtraction:
Subtraction: 2244 2222 == 16-12
16-12 =12
=12
4
2
6
Multiplication:
Multiplication: 224 (2
(22)) == 226 [Keep
[Keep the
the base,
base, add
add the
the
exponents!]
exponents!]

Addition:
Addition: 2244 ++ 2222 == 16
16 ++ 44 == 20
20
4
2
4-2
2
Division:
Division: 224/2
/22 == 224-2 == 222 [Keep
[Keep the
the base,
base, subtract
subtract
the
the exponents!]
exponents!]

Factorials
Factorials
0!
0! == 11
4!
4! == 4*3*2*1
4*3*2*1 =24
=24
4!
4! == 4*
4* 3!
3! == 24
24
5!
5! == 120
120

1
1
1
( ) 3 ( ) 2 ( ) 1 ?
16
8
2
1 3
3 2
(2 ) (2 ) (2 4 ) 1
23 6 4 213
If all the answer choices are in base 1/2
instead of 2, then convert
1
( ) 13
2

See Video Explanation

#8: Geometry Formulas


Given diagonal is 13, what is the circumference of the
rectangle?

13

Do you have enough info?


Generally, no. You need to at least know the ratio of the
width/length OR be told that the width and length MUST
be integers.
Note: Diagrams on GMAT are NEVER drawn to scale!!

If 2 sides are same length,


then those angles opposite are equal
[if a=c D=E]

b
D

c
F

Likewise
If 2 angles are equal,
then the edges opposite of those
angles are of equal length

d=b+c

a + d = 180 [straight line]


a + b + c = 180 [triangle]
c

r
CIRCLE/Arcs
Circumference = pi * di [They rhyme!]
Note: Diameter (di) = 2r
2
Area of circle = pi * r

3D: Volume of Sphere = 4/3 pi * r3

Expressions You Should Know Without Thinking


Expression
Expression
2233
2244
2255
322
3
3333
3344
4422
4433
5522
533

5
5544
6622
7722
8822
9922
10
1022
11
1122
12
1222
xx00

Exponentials
Exponentials You
You
Should
Should Know
Know
Quickly
Quickly

0!
0! == 11
D=R
D=R ** TT

88
16
16
32
32
99
27
27
81
81
16
16
64
64
25
25
125
125
625
625
36
36
49
49
64
64
81
81
100
100
121
121
144
144
11 (always)
(always)

Distance
Distance == Rate
Rate **
Time
Time

(Total
(Total #)
#)** (%)
(%) ==(Actual
(Actual #)
#)

3+x
Ex:
Ex: 5533** 55xx == 553+x

11
55-3-3 == ------------(5
(533))

(-2)
(-2)322 == 44
(-2)
(-2)43 == -8
-8
(-2)
16
(-2)54 == 16
(-2)
(-2)5 == -32
-32

Odd
Odd exponents
exponents
keep
keep sign
sign of
of
base
base

Pos/Neg Fractional Exponents


81/ 2 8
81/ 3 3 8
80 1
845 (23 ) 45 2135
83 / 7 7 83
1
1
1
3
8 3 3 3 9
8
(2 )
2
1
1
1
1 / 3
8 1/ 3 3
8
8 2

Make sure you are familiar with all


formats and switching between them
back and forth!

See Video Explanation

Rates
D=R
D=R ## TT

Distance
Distance == Rate
Rate ## Time
Time

EVERYBODY
EVERYBODY Knows
Knows this
this
formula.
formula. Obviously
Obviously
knowing
knowing this
this formula
formula is
is
not
going
to
be
enough.
not going to be enough.
The
The GMAT
GMAT will
will test
test you
you
on
variations
of
this
on variations of this
formula
formula

What
What do
do you
you do
do when
when there
there are
are multiple
multiple rates
rates involved??
involved??

Rates
Rates Must
Must Add
Add Up!
Up!
R
R11 ++ R
R22 == R
RTotal
Total

The
The Inverse
Inverse of
of Times
Times Must
Must Add
Add Up!
Up!
11
11
11
--------- ++ ------- == --------TT11 TT22
TTTotal
Total

See Video Explanation

Additional Rules You should know


See Video Explanation

even

x 0

Rule:
Rule:

x x
2

2
When
When we
we see
see y x

then:
then:

y x

So
So

81=3
=3 only,
only, not
not +3
+3 and
and -3.
-3.

Even
Even roots
roots have
have only
only aa positive
positive value
value on
on the
the
GMAT.
GMAT. (well
(well ifif x=0
x=0 then
then itit will
will obviously
obviously be
be 0).
0).

When
When the
the GMAT
GMAT provides
provides the
the square
square root
root sign
sign
for
for an
an even
even root,
root, such
such as
as aa square
square root,
root,
then
then the
the only
only accepted
accepted answer
answer is
is the
the
positive
positive root.
root.
This
This means
means yy cannot
cannot be
be negative,
negative,
but
but xx can
can be
be negative
negative

x2 x

Odd
Odd roots
roots will
will have
have the
the same
same
sign
sign as
as the
the base
base of
of the
the root
root

On
On the
the exam
exam

64 4

27 3

Translating fancy word problems

There are twice as many Computers as there are printers.


C=2p (NOT 2c = p !!!!!)
There are 10 more grapes than apples,and one fourth as many appples as
pears. Assume g= grape,a = apple ,p = pears
G=10+a
A= (1/4)p

See Video Explanation

Translating fancy word problems


If Jack bought a computer for $1000 more than a generic
model, then the price of that computer would have been 8
times the value of the accompanying bonus wireless router,
which is 1/4th the price of the generic model. What is the
price of the computer?

Step 1: Assign letters c = computer, g = generic, b = bonus


Step 2: Reread the paragraph and substitute variables in:
c = $1000 + g
c = 8b
b = (1/4) g
Step 3: Identify that there are 3 variables but also 3 unknowns,
so it is solvable!

See Video Explanation

Tricky wordings

Three Friends sit down to eat 14 slices of Pizza. If two of the Friends eat the same
number of slices,and the third eats two more slices than each of the other two, how
many slices are eaten by the third friend?
Step #1: Assign letter variables:
f1 = friend #1
f2 = friend #2
f3 = friend #3
F1 + f2 + f3 = 14 Three Friends sit down to eat 14 slices of Pizza.
F1 = f2
If two of the Friends eat the same number of slices
F3 = 2 + f1
The third eats two more slices than each of the other two
F3 = 2 + f2
The third eats two more slices than each of the other two
F3 = ?
How many slices are eaten third friend?
Recognize that you have 3 unknowns, but also more than the necessary 3 equations
to solve for everything! So this is solvable!
Lets do it:
2f2 + f3 = 14
2 (f3 2) + f3 = 14
3f3 4 = 14
See Video Explanation
F3 = 18/3 = 6

Inequalities (Absolute Value)


Example:
Example: |x-2|
|x-2| << 44
Whenever you have absolute values on one side, then
There are two possibilities:
1)

easy
easy
1) x-2
x-2 << 44
2)
2) xx -2
-2 >> -4
-4

1)
1) negate
negate the
the other
other side
side AND
AND
2)
2) flip
flip the
the sign
sign so
so itit faces
faces the
the
other
other way
way

Which of the following inequalities is equivalent to 2 < x < 4 ?


(A) | x 2 | < 4
x<4
x<4 ++ 22
A)
(B) | x 1 | < 3
A)
x>
x<6
x> -2
-2
x<6
(C) | x + 1 | < 3
xx 11 << 33
xx >> -3+1
-3+1
B)
B)
(D) | x + 2 | < 4
xx <4
x>
<4
x> -2
-2
(E) None of the above
Same as: -2 <x < 4
Same as: -2 <x < 4

See Video Explanation

Divisibility
Divisor

Divisibility Condition

Examples

Automatic.

Any integer is divisible by 1.

The last digit is even (0, 2, 4, 6,


or 8).

1,294: 4 is even.

The sum of the digits is divisible


by 3. For large numbers, digits
may be summed iteratively.

405 => 4+0+5=9 and 636 => 6+3+6=15 which both are clearly
divisible by 3.
16,499,205,854,376 => 1+6+4+9+9+2+0+5+8+5+4+3+7+6 sums
to 69 => 6 + 9 = 15 => 1 + 5 = 6, which is clearly divisible by 3.

The last two digits divisible by 4.

54632: 32 is divisible by 4.

The last digit is 0 or 5.

495: the last digit is 5.

It is divisible by 2 and by 3.

1,458: 1 + 4 + 5 + 8 = 18, so it is divisible by 3 and the last digit


is even, hence the number is divisible 6.

See Video Explanation

See Video Explanation

See Video Explanation

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