GRE Quantitative Reasoning: Numeric Entry Questions

Numeric Entry questions test the same math skills as both types of Multiple Choice questions. However, your answer is entered as an integer or a decimal into a single box or as a fraction into two separate boxes. Note: 4.6 is equivalent to 4.60 and fractions do not need to be reduced to their simplest forms. Also, enter the exact answer that you’ve calculated unless the question says otherwise. Numeric Entry questions are great in that there’s only one possible answer; your brain need not be burdened by answers that seem suspiciously alike. Of course, other students may find it more challenging. But as long as you have a solid foundation in the math being tested, there’s no need to stress!

Tips and Tricks for Numeric Entry:

1. Because no answers are provided, make sure that your answer follows what the question requires. Pay close attention to units such as millions or billions, feet or miles, or percentages compared with decimals.
2. If the question asks you to round your answer, remember to do so at the end of your calculations. For example, if the question asks for an integer, round 5.24 to 5. Keep decimal places throughout your calculations but round only your final answer.
3. If you are not confident with your answer, try plugging in another type of the same number (i.e. another even number). Subsequently, reevaluate your original answer.
4. Do not waste time in reducing a fraction to its simplest form e.g. if you get the answer as 12/24, remember that 6/12,2/4 or 1/2 are all valid responses.

Examples:

Q1. What is two-thirds times sixth-eights?

Answer: 12/24, 2/4, or1/2. 

Solution:

The question requires translation of English to Math:
⇒ two-thirds = 2/3
⇒ sixth-eighths = 6/8
The word "times" translates to multiplication. Therefore: 
⇒ two-thirds times sixth-eighths = 2/3×6/8=12/24

We can enter the answer as any of the equivalent fractions i.e. 12/24, 6/12, 2/4 or 1/2

Q2. Triangles A and B shown above are similar. If the area of Triangle A is 20, what is the area of Triangle B?

Answer: 80

Solution:

The simplest way to solve this question is to use the properties of similar triangles. From the figure we see that the base of ΔB is twice the base of ΔA, therefore it implies that the height of ΔB will also be twice the height of ΔA.

Since the area of a triangle is proportional to the product of its base and height. We can infer that the area of ΔB will be 2 × 2 = 4 times that of ΔA

Area of ΔB = 4 × Area of ΔA = 4×20=80