Number Properties: Testing Cases

Question 1

What are the signals for testing cases?

Answer 1

Signals: GMAT asks:

what must be true?
could be true?
which of the following could equal 5? must be even?

Question 2

What is the process for testing cases?

Answer 2

1. Ask what possible cases are allowed with the information given in the question?
2. choose numbers that work for the statement you are testing
3. Try to prove the statement insufficient. when possible, use the same numbers you tested in the first statement

do practice prob pg 52
NPSG45

Question 3

what should you test when they ask:

Is X odd?

Answer 3

odd: test even and odd

Question 4

what should you test when they say:

X is an absolute value of Y.

Answer 4

absolute value: test negatives

Question 5

What should you test when they ask about exponents?

Answer 5

exponents: try 0, 1 and fractions between 0 and 1