GRE Math : Even / Odd Numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 :Even / Odd Numbers

The sum of seven consecutive even integers is 0.

Column A: The product of the seven integers

Column B: 2

Possible Answers:

Column A is greater.

Column B is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

The relationship cannot be determined from the given information.

Correct answer:

Column B is greater.

Explanation:

For the sum of 7 consecutive even integers to be zero, the only sequence possible is –6, –4, –2, 0, 2, 4, 6. This can be determined algebraically by assigning the lowest number in the sequence to be “y” and adding 2 for each consecutive even integer, and then setting this equal to zero.

y, y + 2, y + 4, y + 6 . . .

The product of any number and 0 is 0.

Therefore, column B must be greater.

Example Question #142 :Arithmetic

andare both even whole numbers.

What is a possible solution for?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Ifandare both even whole numbers, then their addition must be an even whole number as well. Althoughis an even number, it is not a whole number and could therefore not be a solution. This means the only possible solution would be.

Example Question #1 :Even / Odd Numbers

If John buys twenty-two apples on Monday, and thirty-four bananas on Tuesday, how many pieces of fruit does John have?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Plugging in the values given we arrive at the total fruit John has:

A good note about adding even numbers--any even numbers--is that if you add two even numbers, their sum will ALWAYS be an even number.

Example Question #2 :Even / Odd Numbers

Choose the answer below which best solves the following problem:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To deal with a problem with this many digits, often the best strategy is to line up one number over the other, then add the places one at a time. Don't forget to carry a one every time the addition goes over ten. Also, note that any time you add two even numbers, their sum will ALWAYS be an even number.

Example Question #82 :Integers

Assumeandare both even whole numbers and.

What is a possible solution for?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since,must result in a positive whole number. The only answer that fits these requirements of being both positive and whole number is.

Example Question #141 :Arithmetic

A bus has sixteen passengers at its first stop. It drops off three at the second stop, and three at the third stop. At the fourth stop, eveyone else gets off the bus. How many people got off at the fourth stop?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, add the total number of passengers that got off BEFORE the fourth stop. Three plus three is six, so you know that you've lost six total passengers before the fourth stop., so there are ten passengers remaining at the fourth stop, and that's how many get off there.

Example Question #84 :Integers

Choose the answer below which best solves the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If it's simpler for you, you can split this problem into two parts: First, takeaway from, and you're left with. Then, take awayfrom(you can even count backwards if necessary), and you'll be left with the final answer,.

Example Question #1 :How To Add Odd Numbers

If m, n and p are odd integers, which of the following must be an odd integer?

Possible Answers:

m * (n + p)

m * p * (n -1)

(m + 1) * n

(m - 2 )* n * p

m + n + p + 1

Correct answer:

(m - 2 )* n * p

Explanation:

When multiplying odd/even numbers, we know that odd * odd = odd, and odd * even = even. We also know that odd + odd = even. We will proceed to evaluate each answer choice, knowing that m, n and p are odd.

(m + 1) * n

m + 1 becomes even. This gives us even * odd = even.

m + n + p + 1

Odd + odd + odd + odd = even + odd + odd = even + even = even.

(m - 2 )* n * p

m - 2还是很奇怪。This gives us odd * odd * odd = odd * odd = odd.

m * (n + p)

Odd + odd is even, so here we have odd * even = even.

m * p * (n -1)

n - 1 becomes even so we have odd * odd * even = odd * even = even.

The correct answer is thereforem * p * (n -1).

Example Question #151 :Arithmetic

The operation ¤ is defined for all integers x and y as: x ¤ y = 4x-y2.

If x and y are positive integers, which of the followingcannotproduce an odd value?

Possible Answers:

x ¤ y

y ¤ x

x ¤ 2y

x ¤ (y+1)

x ¤ y2

Correct answer:

x ¤ 2y

Explanation:

For this problem, we must recognize under what arithmetic conditions an even or odd number is produced. We do not know what the values for x and y are, but we do know for example that any two numbers added can be either even or odd, and and any number multiplied by two must be even (e.g. 2 * 2 = 4; 3 * 2 = 6), or an odd number multiplied by another odd is always even.

In this situation, we have to ensure that an arithmetic operation (subtraction) must result only in an even number, by further ensuring that the variables themselves are fixed to either odd or even values.

In this situation, we know that due to the "*2 (= 2 * 2)" principle, the 4x component always being an even value. The only situation in which the operation "4x – y2" will be even is if the "y2”项is also even, since an even minus an odd would be odd. The only situation in which the "y2”项is even is if the y itself is even, since an odd number squared always results in an odd value (e.g. 32= 9; 72= 25). To ensure that the y itself is even, we must also double it to"2y"(2).

We cannot add 1 to a random variable y as it may still result in an odd y-value. Similarly, since we already stated that a squared value may still be odd, we cannot be sure that squaring the y will also result in an even number.

Example Question #1 :Even / Odd Numbers

What is the 65th odd number?

Possible Answers:

133

125

127

129

131

Correct answer:

129

Explanation:

Doing this by counting the odd numbers will take way too long for the GRE. And if you look at the answer choices, you see five consecutive odd numbers, so one little mistake in counting will give you the wrong answer! Instead, we should use the formula for finding odd numbers: thenthodd number is 2n– 1. (Thentheven number is 2n.) So the 65thodd number is 2 * 65 – 1 = 129.

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