Gre verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning With Explanations

Quantitative Comparison Questions
 
Description 
Questions of this type ask you to compare two quantities — Quantity A and Quantity B — and then 
determine which of the following statements describes the comparison. 
•
Quantity A is greater.
•
Quantity B is greater.
•
The two quantities are equal.
•
The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Tips for Answering 
1.
Become familiar with the answer choices
. Quantitative Comparison questions always
have the same answer choices, so get to know them, especially the last choice, "The
relationship cannot be determined from the information given." Never select this last
choice if it is clear that the values of the two quantities can be determined by computation.
Also, if you determine that one quantity is greater than the other, make sure you carefully
select the corresponding choice so as not to reverse the first two choices.
2.
Avoid unnecessary computations
. Don't waste time performing needless computations in
order to compare the two quantities. Simplify, transform or estimate one or both of the
given quantities only as much as is necessary to compare them.
3.
Remember that geometric figures are not necessarily drawn to scale
. If any aspect of a
given geometric figure is not fully determined, try to redraw the figure, keeping those
aspects that are completely determined by the given information fixed but changing the
aspects of the figure that are not determined. Examine the results. What variations are
possible in the relative lengths of line segments or measures of angles?
4.
Plug in numbers
. If one or both of the quantities are algebraic expressions, you can
substitute easy numbers for the variables and compare the resulting quantities in your
analysis. Consider all kinds of appropriate numbers before you give an answer: e.g., zero,
positive and negative numbers, small and large numbers, fractions and decimals. If you see
that Quantity A is greater than Quantity B in one case and Quantity B is greater than
Quantity A in another case, choose "The relationship cannot be determined from the
information given."
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