Do I draw geometry figures on the GMAT?

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aman88: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 142; Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2012 3:31 amFollowed by: 3 members; Location: New Delhi; Thanked: 20 times

by aman88 » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:42 am

Hi,

I have a general question regarding geometry PS questions. Whenever I see a geometry question that has quite a complex figure (for example a circle inscribed in a right triangle and the radius of the circle is forming another right triangle in the circle and we are required to find the circumference) or any such sorts, I always draw the figure and then work out on my question.

I need to know whether this is a right move when I writing the actual GMAT.

Please let me know.
Thanks.

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:42 am

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Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:10 am

For complex figures, I typically draw the figure.
I think it's worth doing.

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

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ceilidh.erickson: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2095; Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:22 pmFollowed by: 247 members; Thanked: 1443 times

by ceilidh.erickson » Sat Dec 22, 2012 2:40 pm

I think it's pretty much essential to redraw the picture when you're working on geometry problems. Often, you can't immediately see which identities will be the crucial ones to solving the problem, so it's best to fill in everything you know. Drawing only takes a few extra seconds (if you're not worried about drawing it perfectly), so don't worry about it taking too much time.

Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education

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