Simplification Questions for GMAT

Being a crucial exam for getting admitted to your dream business school, the GMAT examines analytical, verbal, quantitative skills and integrated reasoning skills. The quantitative aptitude section demands accuracy and fast problem-solving abilities. It is also considered the toughest part of the exam. Simplification questions are asked in one way or the other in the exam, thus, it is important for you to know the ways of solving them. This blog will take you on a comprehensive journey of how you can solve simplification questions and score better in the hard-hitting sections of quantitative reasoning.

GMAT Exam Pattern

The BODMAS Rule

BODMAS is a basic rule that students are taught about during their early exposure to mathematics. In simplification questions, the BODMAS rule efficiently assists in minimizing the compound nature of an equation to find a quicker answer. In a given mathematical equation, BODMAS is used as the right sequence to solve it in a simplistic manner. It can be elaborated as bracket, order, division, multiplication, addition and subtraction. To start with a mathematical problem, The BODMAS rule says that:

• Solve the brackets first.
• Assess exponents.
• Beginning from left to right, go for division and multiplication.
• Then add or/and subtract from left to right.

Example: 18+33÷11×(21÷3)^2-8

Solving the equation with BODMAS

Start with solving the brackets
18+33÷11×(21÷3)^2-8 = 18+33÷11×7^2-8

Focus on exponents
18+33÷11×7^2-8 = 18+33÷11×49-8

Next, divisions and multiplications
18+33÷11×49-8= 18+3×49-8
=18+147-8

Finally, addition and subtraction
18+147-8= 236-8
=228

Simplification Questions: Concept of The Modulus

The modulus is described as a function in which the output of any real number will be either positive or zero. It is never a negative value. Taking any real number, for instance, if we take, the modulus of any real number ‘a’ or the absolute value of ‘a’ will be: 

|a|= a {if a ≤ 0} and -a {if a >0}

Hence, for example, calculating the modulus of |5|, let’s take a look at how you can solve it.
|5| = |-5| = 5

Just like simplification questions, we have a blog on Arithmetic Questions for the GMAT Quant section!

Simplification Questions: Expressions

Mathematical expressions can be confusing to understand but with tricks like factoring and simplifying, you can learn a quicker way to get to the correct answer.

Factoring: Using this technique, you can cancel out the majorly common terms in divisional problems.

For example, (220+440)÷770
Here you can find a common link, i.e. 11

(2*110+4*110)÷7*110
= 110 (2+4)÷7*110
= (2+4)÷7
= 6÷7
= 0.857 approx.

Simplifying: For complex multiplication problems, simplifying works similarly to factoring as you can locate a common factor in the expression. Afterwards, the factor can then be taken out, and the rest of the multiplication will become comparatively easier.

For example, 
60x + 54y + 144z + 24 = 1200
12(5x+7y+11z+4) = 12*100
5x+7y+11z+4= 100

Using factoring and simplifying, you can not only do easy division and multiplication but also addition and subtraction. Although we have given a simple set of examples, it’s the trick of factoring and simplifying that will aid you while solving longer equations by looking out for a common factor or a way to simplify an expression. Thus, this technique will be incredibly useful in questions involving algebraic expressions or other kinds of longer mathematical expressions that can take more time to solve.

Practice Questions

Now that you are familiar with the different kinds of simplification questions, you are all set to begin the practice session. The only way to get a hold of this concept is by regular practice. Thus, try solving the following simplification questions: 

• b – [b -(a+b) – {b – (b – a+b)} + 2a]
• 100 + 50 * 2 = ?
• 0.003 * ? * 0.0003 = 0.00000027
• (3080 + 6160) / 28
• 7500 + (1250 / 50)
• [(7 * 9) + (2 * 12) + 3]/[(12 * 3) + (81/9)] = ?
• 5004 / 139 – 6
• 60 + 5 * 12 / (180/3) = ?
• [(7 * 9) + (2 * 12) + 3]/[(12 * 3) + (81/9)] = ?
• 9000 + 16 2/3 % of ? = 10500
• 333.44 + 33.4444 + 3.444 + 3333.4 = ?
• (3469.24 + 1209.53 – 2046.27) = ?^2 + 2551.5
• 6156 ÷ √? × 53 = 4028
• 98643 – 21748 = 51212 + ?
• 62% of 16850 + 32% of 7345 = 52% of 645 + ?
• 1454 + 2365 + 9710 + 3020 = ?

FAQs

Hence, the above-mentioned essentials for cracking simplification questions for GMAT will surely assist you in acing the quantitative reasoning questions thus boosting your ability. Let the experts at Leverage Edu help you in acing your exams and finding a place in the hallways of your dream college.