The 3 Most Common GRE Trick Questions (in the GMAT and many other tests too!)
Summary
TLDRThis video tutorial addresses common trick questions that frequently appear on standardized tests like the GRE and GMAT. The instructor highlights three key traps to avoid: the importance of 'distinct' in integer problems, the potential for decimals when 'numbers' are mentioned instead of 'integers', and the assumption of positive integers without explicit statement. Each trick is illustrated with a sample question, emphasizing the need for careful reading and logical deduction. The video encourages viewers to practice these concepts to improve their test scores.
Takeaways
- π The video discusses common trick questions that appear on the GRE and GMAT exams.
- π Students often fall for these tricks due to overlooking specific wording in the questions.
- β The first trick involves the word 'distinct' which implies that x and y cannot be the same number.
- π€ The second trick highlights the difference between the words 'numbers' and 'integers', where 'numbers' can include decimals.
- π§ The third trick points out that without the word 'distinct', x, y, and z could all be the same integer.
- π The importance of understanding the question's wording is emphasized to avoid common mistakes.
- π Practice is crucial to recognize and avoid these trick questions under exam conditions.
- π‘ The video encourages viewers to pause and try the questions themselves to test their understanding.
- π Positive feedback and comments are encouraged to support the channel and potentially lead to more videos on similar topics.
- π« The script warns against assuming that variables are positive without explicit mention in the question.
- π― The video concludes by stressing the necessity of practice to handle such trick questions effectively during the actual exam.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the video mentioned in the transcript?
-The main purpose of the video is to cover the trick questions that are most likely to come up in the GRE, and potentially in the GMAT, to help students avoid common mistakes.
Why is the word 'distinct' important in the first trick question about integers x and y?
-The word 'distinct' is important because it means the integers are different. Without it, x and y could be the same number, which changes the outcome of the comparison between quantity a and quantity b.
What is a common mistake students make when dealing with the first trick question?
-A common mistake is assuming that x and y are distinct integers without the question explicitly stating so, leading to incorrect conclusions about the comparison of quantities a and b.
In the second trick question, why is the word 'numbers' instead of 'integers' a red flag?
-The word 'numbers' instead of 'integers' is a red flag because it implies that the values can be decimals, not just whole numbers, which changes the possible range of the greatest numbers that can be chosen.
What is the trick in the second question regarding Nicole choosing three distinct numbers between one and five?
-The trick is that the question allows for decimal numbers, not just integers, which means Nicole can choose numbers very close to five, making the product much larger than 64.
Why is it a mistake to assume that x, y, and z in the final question are positive integers?
-It's a mistake because the question does not specify that x, y, and z are positive. They could be negative integers, which would significantly change the sum in quantity a.
What is the correct sum of x, y, and z in the final question if they are all positive integers?
-If x is 23, y is 1, and z is 19, the correct sum of x, y, and z is 43, which is greater than quantity b.
What is the potential error in the final question if x, y, and z are considered to be negative integers?
-If x, y, and z are negative, their sum could be much less than 42, making quantity a smaller than quantity b.
What does the video suggest about the importance of practice for GRE and GMAT test takers?
-The video suggests that practice is essential for test takers to be aware of and avoid falling for trick questions, even under exam pressure.
What can viewers do if they enjoyed the video and want to see more content like it?
-Viewers can leave a like and a comment to show their appreciation and provide feedback, which may encourage the creator to make more videos on similar topics.
Outlines
π GRE Quantitative Reasoning Trickery
This paragraph introduces the video's focus on common trick questions encountered in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section. The tutor emphasizes the importance of being aware of these tricks, especially when they might also appear in the GMAT. The audience is encouraged to pause and attempt the questions before the tutor reveals the answers. The first trick involves a quantity comparison question where integers x and y between zero and five are compared in absolute value to 0.99. The common mistake is assuming x and y are distinct without the question specifying so, leading to incorrect assumptions about the comparison.
π’ Decoding GRE and GMAT Quantitative Traps
The second paragraph delves into a specific trick question where Nicole picks three distinct numbers between one and five, and the challenge is to compare the product of the three greatest numbers to 64. The common mistake is assuming the numbers are integers, missing the fact that the question allows for decimal numbers, which can significantly alter the outcome. The tutor highlights the importance of reading the question carefully and not being misled by the typical range of integers. The audience is also encouraged to like and comment on the video for more content on similar topics.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘GRE
π‘Tricky Questions
π‘Quantity Comparison
π‘Absolute Value
π‘Distinct
π‘Integers
π‘Product
π‘Decimals
π‘Prime Numbers
π‘Negative Numbers
Highlights
The video discusses common trick questions that appear on the GRE and GMAT exams.
The presenter advises pausing the video to attempt the trick questions before the answers are revealed.
The first trick involves understanding the importance of the word 'distinct' in a quantity comparison question.
Students often miss the nuance that 'x' and 'y' could be the same number, leading to a wrong answer.
The second trick question involves choosing three distinct numbers between one and five, with a twist on the word 'numbers' versus 'integers'.
Decimals can be considered as the greatest numbers, which is a common oversight.
The third trick question involves prime numbers and the assumption that variables are positive integers.
The importance of recognizing that variables could be negative integers is highlighted.
The video emphasizes the need to practice under pressure to avoid common mistakes.
The presenter shares a personal anecdote about making a mistake due to overlooking negative integers.
The video encourages viewers to be 'paranoid' about the tricks that standardized tests may use.
The presenter suggests that even if viewers recognize the tricks, practice is essential for exam success.
The video concludes by congratulating those who got the trick questions right and encouraging continued practice.
The importance of understanding the wording of questions in standardized tests is a recurring theme.
The video provides a detailed explanation of how to approach and solve trick questions effectively.
The presenter's teaching style is engaging, aiming to help students avoid falling for common test traps.
Transcripts
almost every week while tutoring i see
my students
fall for one of these three tricks so i
thought i'd do a video
where i just cover the trick questions
that are most likely to come up
in the gre of course there are many
other types of trick questions
and these particular tricks might also
be tested in the gmat
but i just wanted to cover these three
ones quite quickly in this video
an obvious recommendation for this video
would be for you to pause the video
and give your honest answer i know
obviously you're expecting a trick
question
but i might have tricked you and there
might not be a trick so either way
try yourself and see what you would have
honestly picked before i tell you what's
what
and if you can see through these three
trick question types
and get them right you're a big step
towards
a good score okay let's do this one
x and y are integers between zero and
five
what's bigger quantity a x minus y in
absolute values
or quantity b 0.99
and this is a quantity comparison
question which
is in the gre where you need to say
which one's bigger a
or b or they're the same or d you don't
know
now obviously if this came up in the
gmat or a different exam it wouldn't be
phrased as a quantity comparison
but the same core concept would be
tested
so what's your answer what a lot of
people would do
is try out numbers and they would try
out
five and zero and then notice that five
minus zero
is five and the absolute value of five
is just five
so quantity a is bigger by the way the
absolute values which i've covered in a
different video just
turn what's inside into a positive if it
wasn't before
so to do another example if x was 3 and
y was 5
3 minus 5 is minus two but the absolute
values turn the minus two into a two
so again quantity a is bigger and after
a while people would
see that the numbers they're picking
always give quantity a as being bigger
and then pick one to a the mistake of
course
is that the question never used the word
distinct
and that's an important word that they
missed out they didn't say x and y
are distinct integers and the word
distinct means different
they're different integers because they
didn't use that word distinct
we don't know if x and y are just the
same number
it could be that x is three and y is
three
in which case three minus three is
and the absolute value of 0 is 0 making
quantity b
bigger so the answer would be d because
they didn't use that word distinct
we don't know if they're not just the
same number twice
so watch out for the word distinct they
sometimes might use the word different
which is a simpler word but either way
those words are needed
for us to know that they're different
integers not just the same integer twice
right that's the first trick feel free
to pat yourself on the back if you got
that right
if not brilliant because you just
learned something from this video
so let's move on to the next trick
question
nicole will choose three distinct
numbers between one and five
inclusive quantity a is the product
of the three greatest numbers she can
choose and quantity b
is 64. so here in this question we can
see that they have used the word
distinct
which means that the numbers she's going
to pick can't all be the same
quantity a is the three greatest numbers
she can choose
so that would be three four and five
inclusive means including one and five
including the bottom end of the range
and top end of the range so most
students will go
3 times 4 times 5 is 60
and that's smaller than quantity b which
is 64.
so quantity b is the bigger one
the trick here very common trick by the
way in the gre
and the gmat is they use the word
numbers
not the word integers that's a big red
flag
the question said that nicole will
choose three distinct
numbers not three distinct integers
so don't be fooled by the whole it has
to be between one and five that doesn't
mean
the numbers in that range are all going
to be integers so what are the three
greatest numbers
that she can choose well 5 4.999
recurring
and 4.998 for example
they can be decimals because the
question
didn't say integers it said numbers
so the three greatest numbers she can
choose are all essentially five now i
know it says distinct
but you could call one of them five one
of them four point nine recurring
one of them four point nine nine nine
nine nine eight so essentially in terms
of the mathematics
they're almost all five just under five
times five times five
which would be 125 that's five times
five times five five cubed
so given that they have to be distinct
they can't all quite be
five then it's going to be a shade under
125 but either way that's much bigger
than quantity b
which is 64. so quantity a would be
bigger again the trick here that many
people miss
is when the gre uses the word numbers
instead of using the word integers or if
they don't use any word at all
just be aware that decimals are a
possibility
by the way if you're enjoying these
tricks or you've learned something so
far
please do leave a like and a comment it
really does help the channel out
and if i get enough feedback from this
video i'll do future videos on other
common tricks that they can ask you in
the wording of questions
here is the final question the final
trick question
x y equals 23 and y z
equals 19. x y and z are
integers quantity a x
plus y plus z the sum quantity b
42. now even though they didn't use the
word distinct
we can know a few things here right 23
and 19 are primes that's always good to
spot
and because 23 and 19 are primes there's
only one way to get to them
it can't be five times six or anything
like that to get to 23 it would only be
1 and 23. now we wouldn't know
necessarily which way round it was 1 and
23 or 23 on one but we would know it's
that combination
same thing for y times z 1 and 19 gets
us 19 or
19 and 1 but we wouldn't know which way
around but then the more observant
students
would say themselves ah it must be y
that's one
because y appears in both products so it
must be that x is 23
and y is one and again y is one and z is
19.
otherwise if y was 23 for example in the
first equation
then that wouldn't make sense for the
second equation so
there we have it there we have the three
numbers and with those three numbers
we can add them up 23 plus one plus 19
is 43 i believe making quantity a bigger
a trick and i know some of you are now
screaming at the video
telling me what the trick is is that it
never said
that x y and z are positive
a very classic mistake i remember in my
final practice test before the real
thing
i got one of the questions wrong based
on forgetting that they could all be
negative
so i don't want you to make that same
mistake it could be
i was kind of tricking you in the way i
was saying it but it could be that x
is negative 23 and y is negative one
negative 23 times negative 1 does get
you positive 23.
likewise y would be negative 1 and z
would be negative 19
and they multiply to get positive 19.
notice
the question never said that they're
positive integers they just said
integers
and so if all of them are negative x
plus y plus z
is way lower than it's like negative 43
which is a lot smaller than positive 42
making the answer d now finally to those
people who got all of them right
congratulations but i would say can you
get them right
in the exam under that pressure and
that's why this kind of practice is
essential
even if you spotted these tricks and the
trick questions
it's still important to practice and be
almost paranoid
about the kind of tricks the gre gmat
and other tests can throw at you
don't be like me getting questions wrong
even though you know the topic
and for those of you who learned
something i'm really glad you watched
the video
either way to all of you see you in the
next video
Browse More Related Video
Numbers 1 || Number Systems || CAT Preparation 2024 || Quantitative Aptitude
OPERATIONS ON INTEGERS
Number System Session 01 || Numbers tree || CAT Preparation 2024 || Quantitative Aptitude #cat2024
AP Language Multiple Choice Strategies and Tips | Coach Hall Writes
IELTS BAND 9.0 VOCABULARY | 54 words YOU NEED TO KNOW to pass the IELTS exam
CONVERTING FRACTIONS TO DECIMAL AND PERCENT FORM | GRADE 7 MATHEMATICS Q1
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)