All GRE Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : How To Subtract Negative Numbers
Quantity A:
Quantity B:
The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Quantity B is greater
Quantity A is greater
The two quantities are equal
Quantity A is greater
Since both quantities have an , you can ignore this variable, which will give you and for quantities A and B, respectively. Since and are both negative numbers, must be bigger than , which means that no matter what numbers they are, Quantity A must be bigger.
Example Question #2 : How To Subtract Negative Numbers
If and are integers such that and , what is the smallest possible value of ?
To make as small as possible, let be as small as possible , and subtract the largest value of possible :
Example Question #2 : Negative Numbers
Quantity A:
Quantity B:
Which of the following is true?
The two quantities are equal in size.
Quantity A is larger.
The relationship between the quantities cannot be determined.
Quantity B is larger.
Quantity B is larger.
A problem like this one is very easy. All you need to do is manage your arithmetic well. Remember that when you subtract a negative number, this is the same as adding the positive of that number. Therefore, you can rewrite each of your quantities:
Quantity A:
Using a calculator, this comes out to be:
Quantity B:
Using a calculator, this comes out to be:
Therefore, quantity B is larger.