Arithmetic Operations — GMAT Focus Questions

31 GMAT Focus practice questions on Arithmetic Operations, part of Quantitative Reasoning. Below are 12 of them in full, each with the answer and a written explanation.

Questions & explanations

1. If \(a\) and \(b\) are positive integers such that \(\frac{a}{b} < \frac{3}{4}\), which of the following must be true?

  1. \(\frac{a+1}{b+1} < \frac{3}{4}\)
  2. \(\frac{a+1}{b+1} > \frac{3}{4}\)
  3. \(\frac{a+1}{b+1} = \frac{3}{4}\)
  4. \(\frac{a}{b} < \frac{a+1}{b+1}\)
  5. \(\frac{a}{b} > \frac{a+1}{b+1}\)

Answer: \(\frac{a}{b} < \frac{a+1}{b+1}\)

Given \(\frac{a}{b} < \frac{3}{4}\), cross-multiply: \(4a < 3b\). Compare \(\frac{a}{b}\) and \(\frac{a+1}{b+1}\). Cross-multiply: \(a(b+1) < b(a+1) \Rightarrow ab + a < ab + b \Rightarrow a < b\). Since \(\frac{a}{b} < \frac{3}{4}\), it's possible that \(a < b\)? For positive integers, if \(a/b < 3/4\), then \(a < b\)? Not necessarily: e.g., \(a=3, b=4\) gives equality, but strict inequality requires \(a=2, b=3\) gives 2/3<3/4, and 2<3. if \(a/b < 1\), then \(a < b\). Since 3/4<1, \(a/b < 3/4 < 1\), so \(a < b\). Thus \(a < b\) holds, so \(\frac{a}{b} < \frac{a+1}{b+1}\). Option d is correct. Option e is false. Options a,b,c are not necessarily true; e.g., \(a=1,b=2\) gives \(\frac{2}{3} > \frac{3}{4}\)? 1/2=0.5, (1+1)/(2+1)=2/3≈0.666, still <3/4, so a holds? But must be true? For \(a=2,b=3\), (3/4)=0.75, (3/4)=0.75? (2+1)/(3+1)=3/4=0.75, so equality, not <. So a is not always true. b is false. c is not always true. d is always true because a<b.

2. Which of the following lists the fractions and decimals in order from least to greatest? 0.45, \(\frac{5}{11}\), 0.4545..., \(\frac{9}{20}\)

  1. \(\frac{9}{20}\), 0.45, \(\frac{5}{11}\), 0.4545...
  2. 0.45, \(\frac{9}{20}\), \(\frac{5}{11}\), 0.4545...
  3. \(\frac{5}{11}\), 0.45, \(\frac{9}{20}\), 0.4545...
  4. 0.45, \(\frac{5}{11}\), \(\frac{9}{20}\), 0.4545...
  5. \(\frac{9}{20}\), 0.45, 0.4545..., \(\frac{5}{11}\)

Answer: \(\frac{9}{20}\), 0.45, \(\frac{5}{11}\), 0.4545...

Convert each to decimal: 0.45 = 0.45; 5/11 ≈ 0.4545...; 0.4545... = 0.4545...; 9/20 = 0.45. So 9/20 = 0.45, then 5/11 = 0.4545..., and 0.4545... is the same as 5/11. 5/11 = 0.454545..., so 0.4545... (if terminating at 4 digits) is slightly less? But typically 0.4545... means repeating. So order: 0.45 (9/20) = 0.45, then 0.4545... (5/11) = 0.4545..., so least to greatest: 9/20, 0.45, 5/11, 0.4545... but 0.45 equals 9/20, so they are equal. However, the problem likely expects 9/20 = 0.45 exactly, and 5/11 = 0.4545..., so order: 9/20 and 0.45 are equal, then 5/11 and 0.4545... are equal. But options treat them as distinct. Option a: 9/20, 0.45, 5/11, 0.4545... is correct because 9/20 = 0.45, and 5/11 = 0.4545..., so they are in order.

3. If \(x\) and \(y\) are positive integers, is \(\frac{x}{y}\) a terminating decimal? (1) \(x\) is a multiple of 2. (2) \(y\) is a multiple of 3.

  1. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
  2. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
  3. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
  4. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
  5. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Answer: Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

A fraction in simplest form terminates if denominator has only prime factors 2 and 5. Statement (1): x being even doesn't guarantee denominator's factors. Statement (2): y multiple of 3 introduces factor 3, but fraction may simplify if x also multiple of 3. Together, if x is multiple of 2 and y multiple of 3, still unknown if fraction simplifies to remove factor 3. Example: x=2, y=3 gives 2/3 repeating; x=6, y=3 gives 2 terminating. Not sufficient.

4. Which of the following fractions has a decimal representation that terminates?

  1. \(\frac{7}{12}\)
  2. \(\frac{5}{14}\)
  3. \(\frac{3}{22}\)
  4. \(\frac{9}{30}\)
  5. \(\frac{11}{18}\)

Answer: \(\frac{9}{30}\)

A fraction in simplest form terminates if and only if the denominator has only prime factors 2 and 5. Simplify each: (a) 7/12, denominator 12=2^2*3, includes 3 → repeating. (b) 5/14, denominator 14=2*7, includes 7 → repeating. (c) 3/22, denominator 22=2*11, includes 11 → repeating. (d) 9/30 = 3/10 after simplifying (divide by 3), denominator 10=2*5 → terminates. (e) 11/18, denominator 18=2*3^2, includes 3 → repeating.

5. If \(x\) is a positive integer, is \(\frac{3}{x}\) greater than \(40\%\)? (1) \(x < 7\) (2) \(x > 5\)

  1. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
  2. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
  3. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
  4. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
  5. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Answer: Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

We need to check if 3/x > 0.4, i.e., 3/x > 2/5 → cross-multiplying (since x>0) gives 15 > 2x → x < 7.5. Since x is an integer, this is equivalent to x ≤ 7. Statement (1): x < 7 → x ≤ 6, so x ≤ 7 holds, thus 3/x > 0.4 is always true. Sufficient. Statement (2): x > 5 → x could be 6 (3/6=0.5>0.4) or 7 (3/7≈0.428>0.4) or 8 (3/8=0.375<0.4), so not always true. Insufficient. Hence statement (1) alone is sufficient.

6. Round 0.004987 to the nearest ten-thousandth.

  1. 0.0050
  2. 0.0049
  3. 0.005
  4. 0.00499
  5. 0.00500

Answer: 0.0050

The ten-thousandth place is the fourth decimal digit. 0.004987: digits: 0. 0 0 4 9 8 7. The ten-thousandth digit is 9 (fourth decimal). The next digit is 8 ≥ 5, so round up: 9 becomes 10, carry over: 0.0049 + 0.0001 = 0.0050. Express as 0.0050 to show rounding to ten-thousandth.

7. Which of the following fractions, when expressed in simplest form, yields a terminating decimal?

  1. \(\frac{2}{15}\)
  2. \(\frac{3}{20}\)
  3. \(\frac{5}{12}\)
  4. \(\frac{7}{18}\)
  5. \(\frac{1}{6}\)

Answer: \(\frac{3}{20}\)

A fraction in simplest form yields a terminating decimal if its denominator has only prime factors 2 and/or 5. \(\frac{3}{20}\) simplifies to \(\frac{3}{20}\) (already simplest), denominator 20 = 2^2 × 5, so it terminates.

8. Convert 5/11 to a percent. Which of the following is the correct percent representation?

  1. 45.45%
  2. 45.5%
  3. 45.4545%
  4. 45.45% (with a bar over the 45)
  5. 45%

Answer: 45.45% (with a bar over the 45)

5/11 = 0.454545..., a repeating decimal. To convert to percent, multiply by 100: 45.4545...% = 45.45% with a bar over the 45 to indicate repetition. Option d correctly shows the repeating decimal notation.

9. A company's revenue increased by 25% from Year 1 to Year 2, then decreased by 20% from Year 2 to Year 3. If the revenue in Year 1 was $240,000, what is the revenue in Year 3?

  1. $240,000
  2. $250,000
  3. $230,000
  4. $245,000
  5. $235,000

Answer: $240,000

Year 2 revenue = $240,000 × 1.25 = $300,000. Year 3 revenue = $300,000 × 0.80 = $240,000. The net change is 0% because a 25% increase followed by a 20% decrease results in a factor of 1.25 × 0.80 = 1.00.

10. Simplify: \(\frac{\frac{2x}{3y}}{\frac{4x^2}{9y^2}}\)

  1. \(\frac{3y}{2x}\)
  2. \(\frac{2x}{3y}\)
  3. \(\frac{3}{2}\)
  4. \(\frac{3y^2}{2x}\)
  5. \(\frac{2x^2}{3y^2}\)

Answer: \(\frac{3y}{2x}\)

Rewrite as division: \(\frac{2x}{3y} \div \frac{4x^2}{9y^2} = \frac{2x}{3y} \times \frac{9y^2}{4x^2} = \frac{2x \cdot 9y^2}{3y \cdot 4x^2} = \frac{18xy^2}{12x^2y} = \frac{3y}{2x}\) after canceling 6xy.

11. The decimal expansion of a certain fraction in simplest form is 0.181818... Which of the following is that fraction?

  1. \(\frac{2}{11}\)
  2. \(\frac{9}{50}\)
  3. \(\frac{18}{99}\)
  4. \(\frac{6}{33}\)
  5. \(\frac{3}{16}\)

Answer: \(\frac{2}{11}\)

0.181818... is a repeating decimal with repeating block '18'. Let x = 0.181818..., then 100x = 18.181818..., subtract: 99x = 18, so x = 18/99 = 2/11 in simplest form. Check: 2/11 = 0.181818...

12. What is the result of \( 2\frac{3}{4} + 1\frac{2}{3} \)?

  1. \( 3\frac{5}{7} \)
  2. \( 4\frac{5}{12} \)
  3. \( 4\frac{1}{4} \)
  4. \( 3\frac{5}{12} \)
  5. \( 4\frac{1}{3} \)

Answer: \( 4\frac{5}{12} \)

Convert to improper fractions: \( 2\frac{3}{4} = \frac{11}{4} \), \( 1\frac{2}{3} = \frac{5}{3} \). Common denominator 12: \( \frac{33}{12} + \frac{20}{12} = \frac{53}{12} = 4\frac{5}{12} \).

More Quantitative Reasoning topics

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