GMAT Quant Practice For Class of 2016 MBA Applicants

In the past, several people have asked me to publish advice and help on the dreaded GMAT exam. When I was applying, I had zero time to offer this kind of help.

Now, I am able to provide some occasional practice questions and solutions based on having slightly more time than I did before and some generous friends of mine who have offered to pony up free questions and answers.

Here’s your first batch; I hope that it helps!

For more GMAT help, inquire here.

PRACTICE PROBLEM 1A

Which of the following is equivalent to $\frac{{{a}^{100}}-{{b}^{100}}}{{{a}^{50}}-{{b}^{50}}}$ for all values of a and b for which the expression is defined?

(A) a²+b² (B) a²-b² (C) a⁵⁰+b⁵⁰ (D) a⁵⁰-b⁵⁰ (E) (ab)²

Solution:

Notice that is in the form of a difference of squares because a¹⁰⁰ is the square of a⁵⁰ and b¹⁰⁰ is the square of b⁵⁰. Thus ${{a}^{100}}-{{b}^{100}}={{\left( {{a}^{50}} \right)}^{2}}-{{\left( {{b}^{50}} \right)}^{2}}=\left( {{a}^{50}}-{{b}^{50}} \right)\left( {{a}^{50}}+{{b}^{50}} \right)$ .

$\Rightarrow \frac{{{a}^{100}}-{{b}^{100}}}{{{a}^{50}}-{{b}^{50}}}=\frac{{{\left( {{a}^{50}} \right)}^{2}}-{{\left( {{b}^{50}} \right)}^{2}}}{{{a}^{50}}-{{b}^{50}}}$

$=\frac{\left( {{a}^{50}}-{{b}^{50}} \right)\left( {{a}^{50}}+{{b}^{50}} \right)}{{{a}^{50}}-{{b}^{50}}}$

$={{a}^{50}}+{{b}^{50}}$

Answer: C

PRACTICE PROBLEM 1B

If p and q are integers greater than zero, what is the value of pq?

1) The least common multiple of p and q is 240.

2) The greatest common factor of p and q is 8.

Solution:

Question Stem Analysis:

We need to determine the value of pq.

Statement One Alone:

Þ The least common multiple of p and q is 240.

This tells us the smallest number that both p and q will divide into is 240. This is not enough information to determine the value of pq because there are multiple values of p and q that have an LCM of 240. For example, 15 and 16 have an LCM of 240, and 60 and 80 have an LCM of 240. Statement one alone is not sufficient.

Eliminate answer choices A and D.

Statement Two Alone:

Þ The greatest common factor of p and q is 8.

This tells us the largest number that will divide into p and q is 8. That is, 8 is the largest factor that p and q share. This is not enough information to determine the value of pq because there are multiple values of p and q with a GCF of 8. For example, the GCF of 16 and 24 is 8, and so is the GCF of 24 and 32. Statement two alone is not sufficient.

Eliminate answer choice B.

Statements One and Two Together:

It must be true that LCM(p, q) x GCF(p, q) = pq. Thus, pq = 240 ´ 8 = 1,920. Both statements together are sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: C

MBAOver30 offers the perspective of a 30-something, California-based entrepreneur who is applied to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Chicago, and MIT Sloan. He has been offered admission into Class of 2015 from Wharton, Chicago and MIT Sloan. He blogs at MBAOver30.com. Previous posts on Poets&Quants:

How I Totally Overestimated The MBA Admissions Process

Musings on MBA Failophobia

Letting Go Of An MBA Safety School

When A Campus Visit Turns Off An MBA Applicant

Yale, Tuck and Booth: The Next Leg of My Pre- MBA Research

My Countdown: Less Than 30 Days To The GMAT

From Suits To Startups: Why MBA Programs Are Changing

Why I’m Not Getting Either A Part-Time MBA or An Executive MBA

Preparing To Sit For The GMAT Exam

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A 2012-2013 MBA Application Strategy

Celebrating A 35th Birthday & Still Wanting A Full-Time MBA