Number Properties HELP!!

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Number Properties HELP!!

by confused13 » Sun May 11, 2014 11:11 pm
Hi,

I have serious trouble with number properties. I already worked through the MGMAT guide and it did resolve some questions but not all.
I don't know what I can do and what I can't do with all these tools ( e. g. prime facorization). I think what I need are strategys.

Can you guys recommend anything ( from websites to books to whatever)?
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by [email protected] » Sun May 11, 2014 11:22 pm
Hi confused13,

Number Properties are the "little rules" behind how math "works" and show up on the GMAT in a variety of questions (but most often in DS questions). You should be on the lookout for any question that uses these types of vocabulary words (e.g. odd, even, positive, negative, prime, etc.); while you can solve these questions in a variety of ways (traditional math, TESTing VALUES), you can also use Number Property knowledge to get to the correct answer.

It sounds like you're asking for specific resources, but you might have some useful resources already. What books/Courses are you currently using?

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by confused13 » Mon May 12, 2014 2:43 am
I have the MGMAT Number Properties book, OG, Verbal/Quant Review, Magoosh access (same as GMATprep now).
I tried to solve the Problem sets within the MGMAT book, and I have to say there were chapters that I got totally wrong.

I think my problem is, that I am used to a) have one or two rules which I use for everything even though they are not fast or even appropriate b) I don't know when to apply what.

For example, I understand how prime factorization works or how to calculate the GCF/LCM but no GMAT question asks you to calculate the GCF no they ask some weird questions, that completely alienate that. So I think it comes all down to, I don't understand the basic principles or which strategy to apply. Or both.


What got me thinking is, that I worked through the MGMAT Geometry book and I found it to be very comprehensive, complete and I feel like I can solve every GMAT-Geometry Question I encounter. So I deduced, that the NP book must be equivalently good but applying the rules and principles is ... well, up to me. But I simply don't get it. (Or at least I don't know when to apply which tool)

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by [email protected] » Mon May 12, 2014 11:01 am
Hi confused13,

It sounds like some review of actual questions is in order. You should pick some Number Property questions from the material that you have and post them (either here or in the Math Forum); I'll be happy to walk you through the Number Properties involved in each.

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