GMAT Math : Understanding sets

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 :Sets

一个fair coin is flipped successively until heads are observed on 2 successive flips. Letxdenote the number of coin flips required. What is the sample space ofx?

Possible Answers:

{x:x= 2, 3, 4 . . .}

{x:x= 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

{x:x= 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 . . .}

not enough information

{x:xis a real number}

Correct answer:

{x:x= 2, 3, 4 . . .}

Explanation:

We need to flip a coin until we get two heads in a row. The smallest number of possible flips is 2, which would occur if our first two flips are both heads. This eliminates three of our answer choices, because we know the sample space must start at 2.

This leaves us with {x:x= 2, 3, 4 . . .} and {x:x= 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. Let's think about {x:x= 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. What if I flip a coin 6 times and get 6 tails? Then I have to keep flipping beyond 6 flips until I get two heads in a row; therefore the answer must be {x:x= 2, 3, 4 . . .}, because we don't have an upper limit on the number of flips it will take to produce two successive heads.

Example Question #2 :Gmat Quantitative Reasoning

Which of these Venn diagrams represents the set?

Possible Answers:

Venn_4

Venn_5

Venn_2

Venn_1

Venn_3

Correct answer:

Venn_1

Explanation:

is the set of elements that fall either inor the complement of, or both - that is, either in, outside of, or both. This union is intersected with the complement of, meaning that only the elements of the union that also fall outside ofare considered.

"Color" in all ofandeverything outside of- but then,uncoloreverything inside. That makes the correct choice:

Venn_1

Example Question #3 :Problem Solving Questions

Venn

The above represents a Venn diagram. The universal setis the set of all positive integers.

Letbe the set of all multiples of 3; letbe the set of all multiples of 5; letbe the set of all multiples of 7. Which of the five marked regions would include the number 525?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

525is a multiple of all three of the integers 3, 5, and 7:

Therefore, 525 is an element of each of sets, and, subsequently, falls into region, which represents.

Example Question #1 :Gmat Quantitative Reasoning

Mark will hire 5 of the 8 job applicants he interviews. In how many different ways can he do this?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since order doesn't matter here, set this up as a combination:

Example Question #1 :Sets

Venn

Refer to the Venn diagram. Let universal setbe the set of all natural numbers,.

Letbe the set of all multiples of; letbe the set of all perfect squares; letbe the set of all perfect cubes. Which region of the Venn diagram contains the number?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, making 1,728 a multiple of 3, and thus, an element of.

1,728 is not a perfect square;. Thus, 1,728 isnotan element of.

1,728 is a perfect cube:. Thus, 1,728 is an element of.

, which is represented by the region inside circlesandand outside. This is region.

Example Question #2 :Sets

What is the median of the following number set?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the median, the set needs to be written in numerical order:

Sinceandare both the middle numbers, taking their average will give the median of the set.

Example Question #7 :Problem Solving Questions

In a group of 30 freshman students, 10 are taking Pre-calculus, 15 are taking Biology, and 10 students are taking Algebra. 5 Students are taking both Algebra and Biology, and 7 students are taking both Biology and Pre-calculus. There is no student taking both Algebra and Pre-Calculus. If none of the students take the three classes together, how many of the students don't take any of the three classes?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Venn

Letbe the number of students who don't take any of the three classes.

Example Question #2 :Gmat Quantitative Reasoning

Set B contains all prime numbers. Set C contains all even numbers. How many numbers are common to both sets?

Possible Answers:

Impossible to determine from the information provided

一个ll real numbers

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Prime numbers are numbers with no other factors than themselves and one. Two is the first prime number and the only even prime number. Other examples are 5, 7, 11, etc.

Even numbers are numbers divisible by 2. Set C includes all numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.

Thus, there is one number common to both sets: 2.

Example Question #3 :Gmat Quantitative Reasoning

Venn_1

If universal setrefers to the set of seniors at Washington High School,is the set of seniors enrolled in physics,is the set of seniors enrolled in calculus, andis the set of seniors enrolled in French IV, then the above Venn diagram reflects all of the followingexcept:

Possible Answers:

Every senior enrolled in physics is also enrolled in calculus.

Every senior not enrolled in physics is also not enrolled in calculus.

Every senior enrolled in calculus is also enrolled in physics.

No senior is enrolled in both French IV and physics.

No senior is enrolled in both French IV and calculus.

Correct answer:

Every senior enrolled in physics is also enrolled in calculus.

Explanation:

The setsanddo not intersect, so no senior is enrolled in both French IV and physics; the setsanddo not intersect, so no senior is enrolled in both French IV and calculus.

, so every senior enrolled in calculus is also enrolled in physics; contrapositively, every senior not enrolled in physics is also not enrolled in calculus.

The correct choice is the remaining statement - every senior enrolled in physics is also enrolled in calculus - sinceis not a subset of.

Example Question #2 :Word Problems

Choose the statement that is the logical opposite of:

"John is a Toastmaster but not an Elk."

Possible Answers:

If John is not an Elk, then he is not a Toastmaster.

如果约翰不是一个主持人,他是一个麋鹿。

John is a Toastmaster and an Elk.

John is an Elk but not a Toastmaster.

John is neither a Toastmaster nor an Elk.

Correct answer:

If John is not an Elk, then he is not a Toastmaster.

Explanation:

Letandbe the set of all Toastmasters and Elks, respectively, and letbe the set of all people.and, so the set to which John belongs is the shaded set in this Venn diagram:

Venn_1

the logical opposite of this is that John belongs to the shaded set in the diagram:

Venn_1

一个way of saying this isor, or, equivalently, if, then.

In plain English, if John is not an Elk, then John is not a Toastmaster.

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