Overview
The quantitative section measures your basic mathematical
skills, your understanding of elementary
mathematical concepts, and your ability to reason
quantitatively and solve problems in a quantitative
setting. There is a balance of questions requiring
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.
These are content areas usually studied in high
school.
Arithmetic
Questions may involve arithmetic operations, powers,
operations on radical expressions, estimation, percent,
absolute value, properties of integers (e.g.,
divisibility, factoring, prime numbers, odd and even
integers), and the number line.
Algebra
Questions may involve rules of exponents, factoring
and simplifying algebraic xpressions, understanding
concepts of relations and functions, equations and
inequalities, solving linear and quadratic equations
and inequalities, solving simultaneous equations,
setting up equations to solve word problems, coordinate
geometry, including slope, intercepts, and graphs
of equations and inequalities, and applying basic
algebra skills to solve problems.
Geometry
Questions may involve parallel lines, circles, triangles
(including isosceles, equilateral, and 30°–60°–90°
triangles), rectangles, other polygons, area, perimeter,
volume, the Pythagorean Theorem, and angle
measure in degrees. The ability to construct proofs is not measured.
Data Analysis
Questions may involve elementary probability, basic
descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, range,
standard deviation, percentiles), and interpretation of
data in graphs and tables (line graphs, bar graphs,
circle graphs, frequency distributions).
Math Symbols and Other Information
The following information applies to all questions in
the quantitative sections.
– the positions of points, angles, regions, etc.,
can be assumed to be in the order shown;
angle measures are positive
– a line shown as straight can be assumed to be
straight
– figures lie in a plane unless otherwise
indicated
– do not assume figures are drawn to scale
unless stated
It is important to familiarize yourself with the basic
mathematical concepts in the GRE General Test.
The publication Math Review is available for free
download on the GRE Web site at www.gre.org/pracmats.html and provides detailed information on
the content of the quantitative section.
The quantitative section contains the following
question types:
• Quantitative Comparison Questions
• Problem Solving – Discrete Quantitative
Questions
• Problem Solving – Data Interpretation
Questions
Questions emphasize understanding basic principles
and reasoning within the context of given
information.