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  • Official Guide – Tricky Data Sufficiency from Student

    | Questions & Strategies For GMAT Prep.

    Here’s a random customer question I’d like you to take a look at regarding Data Sufficiency.

    She’s asking about some Official Guide questions. Here’s her question:
    Question 132: If n is greater than 1, is n equal to 2?
    1) n has exactly 2 positive factors
    2) the difference of any two distinct positive factors of n is odd.

    The answer is B, but I don’t understand how they came to that conclusion, without statement 1 I wouldn’t have known that the number is prime so I could essentially plug in 10 for n and if i subtracted 5-2 ( which are factors of 10) I would get an odd number as well. The answer I selected was C,Can you explain why the answer is B?

    Question 144: If n is a positive integer, is (1/10)^n<0.01?
    1) n >2
    2) (1/10)^n-1<0.1
    The answer is D, but I have a hard time understanding why since statement 2 doesnt work if n is less than 3, so it technically wouldnt be sufficient alone.

    ——————————————————————————

    Question 132: If n is greater than 1, is n equal to 2?
    1) n has exactly 2 positive factors
    2) the difference of any two distinct positive factors of n is odd.

    Let’s look at (1):
    What numbers have exactly 2 positive factors? Well, we know 2 has factors: 1 and 2.
    Are there any other numbers?
    What about 3? 3 has factors: 1 and 3.
    So here we have two different possibilities to the question: is n equal to 2?
    Because of this ambiguity, we know (1) is no good, so the answer is either (B), (C), or (E).

    Now, let’s take a look at (2):
    —the keyword in Statement #2 is “ANY”–always be careful when you see absolute words like this.
    Say you pick 10 as you did. Factors of 10: 1, 2, 5, 10
    The difference between ANY positive factor of n must be odd to satisfy requirement #2.
    Well, 10-1= 9 = odd
    And yes, 5-2 = 3 = odd
    And yes, 2-1 = 1 = odd
    and yes, 10 – 5 = 5 = odd

    BUT

    5-1 = 4 = even
    10 – 2 = 8 = even

    The keyword ANY makes it extremely difficult to find a number that satisfies statement #2. And the more factors a number has, the more difficult it is. Only with a super small number that only has 2 factors (like the number 2) might this work. Let’s look:
    #2: 1, 2
    2-1 = 1 = odd

    what about 3?
    #3: 1, 3
    3-1 = 2 = even..

    The number must be 2 using statement #2 alone so answer is B. Be wary of words like “any.”

    ———————


    Question 144: If n is a positive integer, is (1/10)^n<0.01?
    1) n >2
    2) (1/10)^(n-1) <0.1

    First you should rephrase the question as I do in Framework #1.

    Let’s look at statement #1. What happens when n=2? You should recognize that
    if n=2, then the inequality is equal on both sides.
    (1/10)^2 = .01 —— so then you get “Is .01< .01?"
    You should recognize two points:

    1) And you should recognize that as n gets bigger, then we have
    a true statement.

    2) If n gets smaller, then we get a false statement.

    In other words, you can “translate” the ORIGINAL question to asking:
    “Is n >2?”

    Statement (1) tells us, YES! — [ n > 2 ] —so we know (1) alone is good.

    With statement #2, see if you can simplify what statement #2 is saying.
    Try values for n: 1, 2, and 3

    Try n=1
    (1/10) ^ 0 = 1 [anything to the zero power=1]
    Continue looking at statement #2 (not the original question yet):
    Is 1<.1? No. That means n cannot = 1. Keep that in mind.

    Try n=2
    (1/10) ^ (1) <.1
    Continue looking at statement #2 (not the original question yet):
    Is .1<.1? No, they're the same so we're right at the border. That means n cannot = 2

    Try n=3
    (1/10) ^ 2 < .1
    Is .01 < .1? Yes! That means n can = 3

    And the higher n is the more this will be true.
    So in other words, statement (2) is saying n >2–which is
    exactly what statement (1) is saying.

    They’re saying the same thing! And we already know (1)
    is good–I’m assuming you got 1 as good?
    So that means (1) is good, (2) is good –> answer is (D).

    So as you say if n is less than 3, then statement (2) is not satisfied so
    we can’t pick n less than 3.
    Remember you must pick values of n so that the requirements
    are satisfied. Once you do that, THEN you answer the question which we
    translated before as: “Is n>2?”

    To A Higher GMAT Score,

    Zeke
    The GMAT Pill Study Method

    http://www.gmatpill.com

    Table of Contents | See Pricing

    Verbal Videos: Sentence Correction | Critical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension
    Quant Videos: Problem Solving | Data Sufficiency

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  • Tuesday Tips – Stanford GSB Essay Questions

    | Questions & Strategies For GMAT Prep.

    Nowhere is the mandate to be yourself more emphasized than with the Stanford application essays. As stated on the website: “We want to hear your genuine voice throughout the essays that you write and this is the time to think carefully about your values, your passions, your hopes and dreams.”

    While manufactured answers meant to impress will not achieve the desired result, focus is important with this set of essays. Take the time to do a bit of soul searching and brainstorming to delve deep into your own dreams, achievements and personal attributes.

    * Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why?

    This is the keystone of the Stanford application and your chance to demonstrate who you are and what motivates you. Topics can range from personal history to grand visions of the future. While this topic does not need to be explicitly career related (and the strongest essays may not be career oriented at all) a truly cohesive life path will likely bring some of the aspects of what matters most into the topic of Essay 2.

    Though the essay question may seem open-ended, answering the question with vivid and specific examples will provide solid evidence that you have demonstrated or experienced “what matters most” throughout your life.

    * Essay 2: What are your career aspirations? How will your education at Stanford help you achieve them?

    Unlike many career goals essays, Stanford does not ask for specific short- and long-term goals. Aspirational goals are likely a bit further into the future, so think about where you want your career to ultimately be, in the best possible scenario. What do you need to get there? How will Stanford contribute to achieving this aspiration?

    Researching Stanford’s academic program, community and students will be essential to demonstrating your knowledge and fit with the program.

    • Essay 3: Answer two of the four questions below. Tell us not only what you did but also how you did it. What was the outcome? How did people respond? Only describe experiences that have occurred during the last three years.

    Choose strategically here. What aspects of your background or career progress have not be highlighted in the previous two essays? Is there a community service involvement you would like to demonstrate? All examples must be from the past three years, and it is important to clearly describe your process and results.

    o Option A: Tell us about a time when you built or developed a team whose performance exceeded expectations.

    While last year’s question focused on your team building skills, this question ups the ante a bit by requesting a time that you built or developed a high performing team. This example can be from work or other leadership experiences outside of work. In addition to clear description, explain what the expectations were for the team and how your team exceeded them.

    o Option B: Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization.

    Making a lasting impact through a discrete project or achievement is possible, yet less likely than creating impact through your relationships with others and the overall operations of the organization. Did you create a new initiative that involves many others? Have you impacted the culture or operations of your organization through an idea or by developing your team? Think about actions you have taken that may have lead to a fundamental shift in the way things are done or perceived.

    o Option C: Tell us about a time when you motivated others to support your vision or initiative.

    This question seeks to understand your leadership skills and ability to build support. When answering the question it is far more important to describe your specific actions and results than to have an impressive vision or initiative. Explain clearly how you (uniquely) were able to motivate your team or build support.

    o Option D: Tell us about a time when you went beyond what was defined, established, or expected.

    The topic of this essay can be from almost any area of your life. Defining what was established and expected is important to clearly demonstrate how you went beyond. Why and how did you achieve results beyond expectations? This topic could be similar to Option A in scope, yet is focused on your individual achievement rather than directing a team’s actions.

    As you put together your Stanford application it will be helpful to read all of the essays together (and have others read them) to see the overall impression. It should be clear what your underlying motivations are, what you hope do you with your career, and how you operate as an individual and in a team within an organization. As Stanford clearly requests, the best essays will illuminate your individual voice clear and strong.

    Tuesday Tips – Stanford GSB Essay Questions

    Table of Contents | See Pricing

    Verbal Videos: Sentence Correction | Critical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension
    Quant Videos: Problem Solving | Data Sufficiency


  • 84 GMAT Scores Thrown Out

    | Questions & Strategies For GMAT Prep.

    The GMAT scores of 84 wannabe business school students who have been accused of using a website to cheat on the test have been thrown out, the publisher of the entrance exam announced today. ScoreTop.com, which gave users access to unauthorized "live" test questions and answers, was shut down by the Graduate Management Admission Council after it won $2.35 million in a copyright-infringement lawsuit in June.

    The council investigated 6,000 scores from 2004 to 2007 and has decided to bar 12 people who posted questions from retaking the exam for three years. The other 72 who posted messages saying they had seen questions from the site on their test will be allowed to retake the exam. GMAC also sent letters to more than 100 schools, notifying them of the students who have had their scores canceled.

    Table of Contents | See Pricing

    Verbal Videos: Sentence Correction | Critical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension
    Quant Videos: Problem Solving | Data Sufficiency


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About Zeke Lee
Zeke Lee is the "98th %ile in 2 weeks" guy from Stanford who teaches MBA candidates how to think efficiently on the GMAT and how to study less, but score more... [more]
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