Basic Concepts
In a nutshell: Mastering arithmetic is crucial for accurate and quick calculations on the GRE.
## Understanding Numbers and Operations
Arithmetic is the backbone of quantitative reasoning. You'll use it to manipulate numbers, compare values, and make quick calculations.
### Key Concepts
- Types of numbers: integers, fractions, decimals, and percents.
- Order of operations (PEMDAS): Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction.
- Absolute value and basic number properties.
### Real-World Relevance
Whether splitting a bill, converting currencies, or tracking discounts, arithmetic skills are essential for daily life.
### Quick Tips
- Always follow the order of operations.
- Convert fractions to decimals for easier comparisons.
- Percent changes often appear in GRE questions—practice converting between decimals and percents.
### Practice Problems
Try calculating the sale price of an item after a 20% discount or add up a grocery list to stay within budget.
Examples
- Calculate \( 25\% \) of 160.
- If \( 3x + 7 = 16 \), what is \( x \)?
Key terms
- Integer
- A whole number, positive, negative, or zero, without fractions or decimals.
- Percent
- A way of expressing a number as a fraction of 100.