GRE Math : Negative Numbers

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Example Questions

Example Question #122 : Arithmetic

0>x>y>z

Quantity A: x-z

Quantity B: x+y

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is greater

The two quantities are equal

Quantity B is greater

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater

Explanation:

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.

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Example Question #123 : Arithmetic

If and are integers such that $-9\leq a\leq 4$ and -2 < b < 10 , what is the smallest possible value of b-a ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To make b-a as small as possible, let be as small as possible (b=-1) , and subtract the largest value of possible (a=4) :

-1-4=-5

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Example Question #2 : Negative Numbers

Quantity A:

7-4-(-3)-8

Quantity B:

8-(-8)-1+2

Which of the following is true?

Possible Answers:

Quantity B is larger.

The two quantities are equal in size.

Quantity A is larger.

The relationship between the quantities cannot be determined.

Correct answer:

Quantity B is larger.

Explanation:

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:

7-4-(-3)-8=7-4+3-8

Using a calculator, this comes out to be:

Quantity B:

8-(-8)-1+2=8+8-1+2

Using a calculator, this comes out to be:

Therefore, quantity B is larger.

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Example Question #1 : How To Add Negative Numbers

Simplify $(7+x+3x^{4})-(x^{4}+x-2)$

Possible Answers:

$2x^{4}+5$

$2x^{4}+2x+5$

$4x^{4}+2x+5$

$2x^{4}+9$

$2x^{4}+2x+9$

Correct answer:

$2x^{4}+9$

Explanation:

The answer is $2x^{4}+9$

Make sure to distribute negatives throughout the second half of the equation.

$(7+x+3x^{4})-(x^{4}+x-2)$

$(3x^{4}+x+7)+(-x^{4}-x+2)$

$2x^{4}+9$

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Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers

Solve for :

2x + 47 = -47

Possible Answers:

x = -94

x = -57

x = 47

x = -47

x = -37

Correct answer:

x = -47

Explanation:

To solve this problem, you need to get your variable isolated on one side of the equation:

2x + 47 = -47

2x + 47 + (- 47) = -47 + (-47)

Taking this step will elminate the on the side with :

2x = -94

Now divide by to solve for :

$x = -\frac{94}{2}$

x = -47

The important step here is to be able to add the negative numbers. When you add negative numbers, they create lower negative numbers (if you prefer to think about it another way, you can think of adding negative numbers as subtracting one of the negative numbers from the other).

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Example Question #6 : Negative Numbers

Solve for :

2x + 52 = -30

Possible Answers:

x = 31

x = -31

x = 41

x = 51

x = -41

Correct answer:

x = -41

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first you must add to both sides of the problem. This will yield a result on the right side of the equation of , because a negative number added to a negative number will create a lower number (i.e. further away from zero, and still negative). Then you divide both sides by two, and you are left with x = -41 .

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Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers

Find the value of .

$-2x= -\frac{1}{3}$

Possible Answers:

$-\frac{1}{6}$

$\frac{1}{6}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{1}{6}$

Explanation:

To solve for , divide each side of the equation by -2.

$\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right) \div-2$ is the same as

$-\frac{1}{3} \cdot -\frac{1}{2}$ which is POSITIVE $\frac{1}{6}$

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Example Question #1 : How To Divide Negative Numbers

What is $\frac{-36}{-9}$ ?

Possible Answers:

-(+4)

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A negative number divided by a negative number always results in a positive number. divided by equals . Since the answer is positive, the answer cannot be or any other negative number.

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Example Question #1 : Negative Numbers

Solve for :

16-4x=x+6

Possible Answers:

$\frac{1}{2}$

$-\frac{1}{2}$

$-\frac{18}{5}$

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by isolating your variable.

Subtract from both sides:

16-4x-x=6 , or 16-5x=6

Next, subtract from both sides:

-5x=6-16 , or -5x=-10

Then, divide both sides by :

$x=\frac{-10}{-5}$

Recall that division of a negative by a negative gives you a positive, therefore:

$x=\frac{10}{5}$ or x=2

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Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers

Solve for :

-3y = -45

Possible Answers:

y = -5

y = -15

y = 12

y = 5

y = 15

Correct answer:

y = 15

Explanation:

To solve this equation, you need to isolate the variable on one side. We can accomplish this by dividing by on both sides:

-3y = -45

$y = \frac{-45}{-3}$

Anytime you divide, if the signs are the same (i.e. two positive, or two negative), you'll get a positive result. If the signs are opposites (i.e. one positive, one negative) then you get a negative.

Both of the numbers here are negative, so we will have a positive result:

y = 15

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GRE Math : Negative Numbers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

All GRE Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #122 : Arithmetic

Example Question #123 : Arithmetic

Example Question #2 : Negative Numbers

Example Question #1 : How To Add Negative Numbers

Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers

Example Question #6 : Negative Numbers

Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Negative Numbers

Example Question #1 : Negative Numbers

Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers

All GRE Math Resources

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