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math problem solving skills – 11

The quantitative reasoning section tests your logical skills as well as your knowledge of math concepts.  To score high, you need to remember various formulas, theorems. Also you need to master critical problem-solving skills.

Today I am going to  take you through one problem -solving skill – counting

 

Lets take this math problem

Observe the problem solving process…  

GRE GMAT math tips

Method 1: Conventional approach

GMAT GRE math

2x + y = 12 

 x= (12 – y)/2 

x= 6 – (y/2)

Y is an integer. So you need to list numbers which satisfy |y|<=12. The range of y values are from -12 to 12.

So lets list the pairs

The ordered pairs of (x, y)would be:

  • (12, -12)
  • (11, -10)
  • (10, -8)
  • (9, -6)
  • (8, -4)
  • (7, -2)
  • (6, 0)
  • (5, 2)
  • (4, 4)
  • (3, 6)
  • (2, 8)
  • (1, 10)
  • (0, 12) 

13 pairs. 

 

Tip:

When listing numbers start from highest to lowest.  or lowest to highest. Don’t substitute numbers randomly

Method 2: Visualization

GMAT GRE math

2x + y = 12
y=12-2x

|y|<=12

Hence
|12-2x|<=12
-12 <=12-2x <=12

Dividing by 2
-6 <=6-x <=6

Lets break the inequality into 2 parts
-6 <=6-x ……………….. -12<=-x
6-x <=6……………….. -x<=0

Hence
-12<=-x<= 0

 

TIP :

When you are multiplying -1 to lesser than symbol.. change it to greater than symbol and vice versa

Or 12 >= x >=0
There are 13 possible values of x.
Hence there will 13 pairs

The second method takes less time 

Feel free to contact me if you want to ace the math section by using simple strategies like this. 

My contact link is here:

LinkedIn profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/

What next?

Try another sum

GMAT math, GRE math

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