GMAT Math : DSQ: Calculating the perimeter of a square

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square

Gene is building a fence. He is using square fence posts and needs to know the total distance around one pole. Help him find the distance,

I) The fence will be  feet tall and  feet long.

II) The diagonal distance from one corner of a fence post to its other corner is   inches.

 

Possible Answers:

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question. 

Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements are needed to answer the question.

Either statement is sufficient to answer the question.

Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.  

Correct answer:

Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question. 

Explanation:

We are asked to find the perimeter of a square. To do that we need a side length.

I) Is irrelevant and is trying to distract you with other aspects of the question.

II) Gives you the diagonal of the square. The diagonal of a square creates two 45/45/90 triangles.

Use this knowledge to find the other side lengths and then the perimeter.

 

 

 

Example Question #2 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square

Find the perimeter of the square.

  1. The length of the diagonal of the square is .
  2. The area of the square is .
Possible Answers:

Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Statement 1: The length of the diagonal of a square is found by multiplying the length of one side by the square root of . In this case, it is easy to see the length of the side is .

Knowing the length of the side, we can find the perimeter of the square:

 

Statement 2: We can use the given area to solve for the length of the side

where  represents the side's length

We can now find the perimeter in the same manner: 

       

Therefore, each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

 

Example Question #175 : Data Sufficiency Questions

The ratio of square A to square B is 3:1. Find the perimeter of square B

  1. The area of square is .
  2. The length of the diagonal of square B is .
Possible Answers:

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Statement 1: We can use the area to find the length of square A's side.

  Keep in mind that the ratio of square A to square is 3:1.

   Now that we know the length of the side, we can find the perimeter of square B.

 

Statement 2: We can use the diagonal to find the length of the side.

We can easily see the side measures  so we can now find the perimeter.

Example Question #176 : Data Sufficiency Questions

What is the perimeter of the square? 

  1. A side measures .
  2. The area of the square is .
Possible Answers:

Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Correct answer:

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Explanation:

Recall the formula for perimeter of a square:

 

where  represents the length of a side. 

Statement 1: We're given  so we can find the perimeter: 

Statement 2: We're given the area  so we can solve for .

With , we can calculate the perimeter: 

 

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Example Question #5 : Dsq: Calculating The Perimeter Of A Square

Find the perimeter of the square.

  1. The diagonal measures  inches.
  2. The diagonal is found by  where  represents a square's side length.
Possible Answers:

Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.

Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

 

Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

 

Explanation:

Statement 1: We can find the length of the square's side using the information given. 

 

so 

We can now find the perimeter of the square:  inches

Statement 2: In order to find the length of the square's side using the information provided in Statement 1, we need to use this equation. 

Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

 

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