Critical Reasoning 1

Main Point Question

In order to improve their finances, numerous urban
transit systems are reducing the number of personnel
assigned to a single shift. In some cases, entire subway
stations are now operated by a single employee. While
these reductions save on payroll costs, they encourage
theft of services by non-paying riders and increase repair
costs due to vandalism and track fires caused by
uncollected garbage.

The author is arguing that ____________________.

Financial gains made by reducing transit personnel are

accompanied by financial losses in other areas of transit
operations.
The costs incurred by vandalism and track fires outweigh
the costs incurred by non-paying riders.
The dangers posed to rider safety by the personnel
reductions make the reductions unwise.
Urban transit systems would be better off increasing
personnel in order to reduce fare evasion by non-paying
riders.
Although reducing transit system personnel is a good
idea, the wrong types of personnel are being targeted for
reduction.
Critical Reasoning 1

Assumption Question
Over the next ten years, nearly every book
currently in print will become available for
purchase in one digital format or another. As this
availability of digital books increases, the market
demand for printed books will correspondingly
diminish and eventually disappear.

The argument above relies on which of the

following assumptions?

Books in digital format are more useful than

printed books.
Consumers prefer digital editions of books to
print editions.
In the future, digital technology will be the only
technology of any importance.
People adopt digital technology if they are
convinced that it is more convenient.
Nearly every consumer is interested in reading
at least some books.
Critical Reasoning 1

Assumption Question
Children who learn to play a musical instrument
will be more likely to excel in school than children
in the same demographic who don't learn to play
an instrument, since playing a musical instrument
has been shown to improve spatial reasoning and
self-confidence.

Which of the following is assumed by the argument

above?

The average number of years of schooling completed

is higher for students who learn to play an
instrument than for students who do not.
A student who has a natural talent for music must
also have naturally high self-confidence and a
natural aptitude for spatial reasoning.
Playing a musical instrument is the best way for a
child to improve his or her spatial reasoning and self-
confidence.
Most children who excel in school have learned to
play a musical instrument.
Spatial reasoning and self-confidence are factors
that can affect a student's academic performance.
Critical Reasoning 1

Critical Reasoning

In recent years, many authors of personal online journals have received acclaim as
journalists. But online journals do not usually undergo editorial review and so need
not meet the standards enforced for magazines and newspapers. Therefore,
personal online journals are not works of journalism.

Which of the following is an assumption made by the author of the passage above?

Online journals written by professional journalists tend to be less

popular than those written by amateurs.
Only writing created for print publications qualifies as journalism.
Authors of online journals should pay more attention to the
journalistic integrity of their writing.
Professional journalists are primarily concerned with writing
articles that meet predetermined editorial standards.
Written works have to undergo editorial review and conform to a
set of standards in order to be considered journalism.
Critical Reasoning 1

The Structure of Arguments

Most arguments on the GMAT have the following structure:

Premises

Evidence + Assumption(s)  Conclusion

A premise is a stated or unstated idea that

supports a conclusion.
Critical Reasoning 1

Identifying Evidence and Conclusions

How to identify a conclusion:

It sounds like the most important idea in the argument.

It sounds like an opinion or judgment.

It is preceded by a conclusion keyword(s).

Thus It follows that

So Therefore

It must be true that

Critical Reasoning 1

Identifying Evidence and Conclusions

How to identify evidence:

It sounds like factual information rather than an opinion.

It makes you more likely to believe an idea in the passage.

It is preceded by an evidence keyword(s).

Because

Since

Due to
Critical Reasoning 1

Assumptions

In recent years, many authors of personal online journals have

received acclaim as journalists. But online journals do not usually
undergo editorial review and so need not meet the standards
enforced for magazines and newspapers. Therefore, personal online
journals are not works of journalism.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the passage above?
Online journals written by professional journalists tend to be less
popular than those written by amateurs.
Only writing created for print publications qualifies as journalism.
Authors of online journals should pay more attention to the
journalistic integrity of their writing.
Professional journalists are primarily concerned with writing
articles that meet predetermined editorial standards.
Written works have to undergo editorial review and conform to a
set of standards in order to be considered journalism.
Critical Reasoning 1

Assumptions

How to identify assumptions:

It fills a gap or builds a bridge between the evidence and conclusion.

If the author didn’t believe it, the argument would be invalid.

Often a general rule that explicitly ties the premises to the conclusion.
Critical Reasoning 1

Lesson Review

Logic of Arguments

Evidence + Assumption  Conclusion

Prephrase your answer

Write out your work

Questions?
Office Hours
LESSON 2: Math 101

GMAT LESSON 2
MATH 101
LESSON 2: Math 101

Lesson Summary

Digits, Place Value, and Rounding

Decimals

Percentages and Percentage Change

Fractions

Ratios and Proportions

Converting between Decimals, Fractions, and Percentages

LESSON 2: Math 101

Digits

What is the ones digit of (12)5(13)4(14)3?

0
1
2
6
8
LESSON 2: Math 101

Rounding

Which of the following is equivalent to 1,000 – 100 + 10 –

1 + 0.1 – 0.01, rounded to the nearest tenths digit?

909.09
909.1
909.9
910.09
910.1
LESSON 2: Math 101

Using Simpler Numbers

Of the following which is the closest approximation of

201.8 × 0.39
118.9 ÷ .511 ?

1
3
2
5
1
2
4
3
10
3
LESSON 2: Math 101

Data Sufficiency: Question Structure

Question Prompt
A: 1 only
1. Statement 1
B: 2 only

C: Together Sufficient

D: Either
2. Statement 2
E: Together Insufficient
LESSON 2: Math 101

Multiplying and Dividing Decimals

If p and q are positive, what is 2p?

1. q = 2.4

2. p = 1.25q
LESSON 2: Math 101

Multiplying and Dividing Decimals

(0.06)(0.098)
0.42 =

0.0014
0.007
0.014
0.036
0.14
LESSON 2: Math 101

Percentages

A weakening exchange rate has increased the price of

cars imported from Country X by 12 percent. What is the
new price of a car that had previously sold for $28,000?

$ 3,360
$ 24,640
$ 28,336
$ 31,360
$ 33,600
LESSON 2: Math 101

Multiple Percentage Increases and Decreases

When a question calls for more than one percentage change:

1. Calculate the first change.

2. Use this result as the base value for the next calculation.

When 90 is increased by 20%, then decreased by 10%, what is

the result?

Do NOT combine the changes to a single increase of 10%

1. 90 × 1.2 = 108
2. 108 × 0.9 = 108 – 10.8 = 97.2
LESSON 2: Math 101

Multiple Percentage Increases and Decreases

Two years ago, 1,350 people lived in Pleasantville. Last

year, the population increased by 10 percent. This year,
the population again increased, this time by 20 percent.
How many people now live in Pleasantville?

405
432
1,485
1,755
1,782
LESSON 2: Math 101

Multiple Percentage Increases and Decreases

A waitress works at a restaurant that charges 12.5% tax on

all food and drink. If a particular customer includes a tip of
between 16% and 24% on the after-tax bill, then the total
taxes and tip paid by the customer must be between

118% and 126%

34.5% and 42.5%
30.5% and 39.5%
28.5% and 36.5%
18% and 26.5%
LESSON 2: Math 101

Fractions

If n is equal to either 2 ,
5 5
3 , or 3 , what does n equal?
4
1 2
1. n is no less than 3 and no greater than 3 .

2. The reciprocal of n is no less than 1 and

no greater than 2.
LESSON 2: Math 101

Reducing Fractions

To simplify a fraction, divide the numerator and denominator

by a common factor.

180 = 180 ÷ 3 = 60 = 60 ÷ 4 = 15 = 15
12 12 ÷ 3 4 4÷4 1
LESSON 2: Math 101

Fractions

Which of the following is equivalent to

( 3 4 3)
4π 11 – 2
+ 2?
π 9
0
7
9

π
9
5π
9
LESSON 2: Math 101

Comparing Fractions

To compare fractions with different Is 5

9 greater than 4?
7
denominators, convert both to
equivalent fractions that share a
common denominator 5 = 35 4 = 36
9 63 7 63

Shortcut: cross-multiply, 5 vs. 4

9 7
write each product on the side of
the numerator, then compare
7 × 5 = 35 4 × 9 = 36
LESSON 2: Math 101

Operations with Fractions

Which of the following quantities is GREATEST?

1+5
2 8
1– 1
1 8 16
4÷6
3 5
5×8
4 9
1+1
16 8
LESSON 2: Math 101

Simplifying Fractions

42 × 84 × 52 × 64 × 25 = ?
48 75 21 60 91
32
45
36
49
24
35
45
64
50
81
LESSON 2: Math 101

Numerator/Denominator Relationships

Constant denominator:

– 5 < – 4 < –3 < –2 < – 1 < 0 < 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Constant numerator:

– 1 < – 1 < –1 < –1 < – 1 < 0 < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1
1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1
LESSON 2: Math 101

Numerator/Denominator Relationships

Fractions between –1 and 1

– 5 < – 4 < –3 < –2 < – 1 < 0 < 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < 5
6 5 4 3 2 2 3 4 5 6

Fractions > 1 and fractions < –1

– 2 < – 3 < –4 < –5 < – 6 < 0 < 6 < 5 < 4 < 3 < 2
1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1
LESSON 2: Math 101

Numerator/Denominator Relationships

Which of the following quantities is LEAST?

9
11
11
13
13
15
15
17
17
19
LESSON 2: Math 101

Ratios

At the end of 2004, a certain farm had 24 hens, 12 cows,

30 sheep, and 14 pigs. By the end of 2005, 22 new
animals—each either a hen, cow, sheep or pig—were
brought to the farm. No animals left the farm. How many
pigs were there on the farm at the end of 2005?

1. The ratio of cows to pigs and the ratio of hens to

sheep were the same at the end of 2004 and 2005.

2. The number of sheep increased by 1

6
from the end
of 2004 to the end of 2005.
LESSON 2: Math 101

Proportions

Gavin and Sheryl were each given d dollars to spend during a vacation.
Though they left on the same day, Sheryl decided to return 4 days sooner
than Gavin, and Gavin spent 14 days on vacation. If Sheryl gave Gavin k
dollars of her allowance so that they would have had the same total amount
to spend per day of vacation, what was the dollar amount, in terms of k, that
Sheryl was given in advance?

6k
8k
9k
10k
12k
LESSON 2: Math 101

Common Decimal-Fraction-Percent Equivalences

Memorize These! - Mandatory
1 = 0.5 = 50% 1 = 0.25 = 25% 1 = 0.125 = 12.5%
2 4 8
1 = 0.33 = 33.3% 2 2
3 4 = 0.5 = 50% 8 = 0.25 = 25%
2 = 0.66 = 66.6%
3 3 3
4 = 0.75 = 75% 8 = 0.375 = 37.5%
1 = 0.16 = 16.6%
6 1 4
2 = 0.33 = 33.3% 5 = 0.2 = 20% 8 = 0.5 = 50%
6
2 5 = 0.625 = 62.5%
3 = 0.5 = 50% 5 = 0.4 = 40% 8
6
4 = 0.66 = 66.6% 3 6
6 5 = 0.6 = 60% 8 = 0.75 = 75%

5 = 0.83 = 83.3% 4 7 = 0.875 = 87.5%

6 5 = 0.8 = 80% 8
LESSON 2: Math 101

Common Decimal-Fraction-Percent Equivalences

Memorize These! - Advanced
1 ≈ 0.14 = 14% 1 = 0.11 = 11.1%
7 9
2 = 0.22 = 22.2%
2 ≈ 0.29 = 29% 9
7
3
9 = 0.33 = 33.3%
3 ≈ 0.43 = 43%
7 4 = 0.44 = 44.4%
9
5
4 ≈ 0.57 = 57% 9 = 0.55 = 55.5%
7
6 = 0.66 = 66.6%
9
5 ≈ 0.71 = 71%
7 7
9 = 0.77 = 77.7%
6 ≈ 0.86 = 86% 8 = 0.88 = 88.8%
7 9
LESSON 2: Math 101

Common Powers and Roots

Memorize These! - Mandatory

12 = 1 62 = 36 112 = 121 162 = 256

22 = 4 72 = 49 122 = 144 172 = 289

32 = 9 82 = 64 132 = 169 182 = 324

42 = 16 92 = 81 142 = 196 192 = 361

52 = 25 102 = 100 152 = 225 202 = 400

LESSON 2: Math 101

Common Powers and Roots

Memorize These! - Mandatory

21 = 2 26 = 64 31 = 3 41 = 4 51 = 5

22 = 4 27 = 128 32 = 9 42 = 16 52 = 25

23 = 8 28 = 256 33 = 27 43 = 64 53 = 125

24 = 16 29 = 512 34 = 81 44 = 256 54 = 625

25 = 32 210 = 1024