Gre verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning With Explanations

Simplify the comparison
. If both quantities are algebraic or arithmetic expressions and
you cannot easily see a relationship between them, you can try to simplify the comparison.
Try a step-by-step simplification that is similar to the steps involved when you solve the
equation 
for 
x
, or similar to the steps involved when you determine that the
inequality 
is equivalent to the simpler inequality 
Begin by setting up a
comparison involving the two quantities, as follows:
where is a "placeholder" that could represent the relationship 
greater than
(>), 
less than
(<), 
or 
equal to
(=) or could represent the fact that the relationship cannot be determined from the 
information given. Then try to simplify the comparison, step-by-step, until you can determine a 
relationship between simplified quantities. For example, you may conclude after the last step 
that represents equal to (=). Based on this conclusion, you may be able to compare Quantities A 
and B. To understand this strategy more fully, see sample questions 6 to 9. 
Quantitative Comparison Sample Questions
 
Compare Quantity A and Quantity B, using additional information centered above the two 
quantities if such information is given, and select one of the following four answer choices: 
A. Quantity A is greater.
B. Quantity B is greater.
C. The two quantities are equal.
D. The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
A symbol that appears more than once in a question has the same meaning throughout the 
question. 
1.
Quantity A
Quantity B 
The least prime number greater than 24 The greatest prime number less than 28 
A. Quantity A is greater.
B. Quantity B is greater.
C. The two quantities are equal.
D. The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
14

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Explanation
For the integers greater than 24, note that 25, 26, 27 and 28 are not prime numbers, but 29 
is a prime number, as are 31 and many other greater integers. Thus, 29 is the least prime 
number greater than 24, and Quantity A is 29. For the integers less than 28, note that 27, 
26, 25, and 24 are not prime numbers, but 23 is a prime number, as are 19 and several 
other lesser integers. Thus, 23 is the greatest prime number less than 28, and Quantity B is 
23.