GMAT ALGEBRA NOTES

GMAT Algebra
1. Linear Equations
2. Quadratic Equations
3. Functions
4. Inequalities
5. Absolute Values

1. Linear Equations
An equation is a statement of equality between two algebraic expressions.

Any equation has two important traits. They are:

● Degree of the equation
● Root(s) of the equation
Degree of an equation:
The degree of an equation is the highest power of the variable/s present in the
equation.
Note: Degree of an equation should always be a positive integer.

Root(s) of an equation:
● The root of an equation is the value of the variable that satisfies the equation.
● In other words, it’s that value of the variable that makes the LHS = RHS.
● How are these two traits of an equation connected?
○ Number of roots of an equation = Degree of the equation
This is the reason why a Linear equation has ONE solution, a quadratic equation
has TWO, a cubic equation has THREE and so on.
However, GMAT basically tests only linear equations with one and two
unknowns, and quadratic equations with one unknown, making life so much
easier!

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

Solving an Equation:
Solving an equation is the process of finding the values of the variable that satisfy
the equation i.e. finding the roots of the equation.

To solve an equation, maintain all the variables(unknowns) on one side (typically the
LHS) of the “=” sign, and all constants (numbers) on the other side (typically the RHS)
and then find the unknown.
E.g., if d = (c – b) / (a – b), then b =?

The cardinal rule to solve any equation is to remember that, if a unique solution is
needed for the variable/variables, then, the equation / system of equations should
satisfy the following condition:
Number of independent equations = Number of unknowns

In simple terms, this means,

A.The number of equations should be greater than or equal to the number of
unknowns.
E.g., consider the set of equations:
3a + 5b + 7c = 12
4a + 6b + 7c = 18

In such a given set of equations (equations = 2, variables = 3) we can never find the
value of all unknowns a, b, and c.

However, there is still a possibility to find the value of one of the variables in
some situations!
Consider the following:
3a + 5b + 7c = 12
9a + 15b + 13c = 22
Multiplying equation 1 by 3, we get: 9a + 15b + 21c = 36

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

Subtract equation 2 from the new equation 1 to obtain
8c = 14
c = 14/8

B.No two equations should be dependent / equivalent equations.

Two equations having the same solution(s) are “equivalent equations”.
E.g., consider the set of equations:
3x – y = 8
9x – 3y = 24
A system of dependent / equivalent equations has an infinite number of solutions,
as basically ALL values satisfy them!

Memory Tip: Dependent equations represent parallel / coincident lines and

hence do not intersect. As such, they do not have a unique solution

Review process
● If you are unsure of the solutions you obtained, it is a good idea to check the
solution you obtained by ‘plugging the values’ back into the equation.

● This is the best part about questions on equations – you not only get to solve
them but you can also verify your answers.

● E.g. If you find that the value of x is 3 in the equation, 3x+ 2 = 11, put x=3 in the
equation. You get 3.3 + 2 = 11. Therefore, 11=11 and your answer is correct!

Linear Equation:

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 ● A linear equation is an equation of degree ONE in one or more variables.

● This means that the highest degree of any variable / s present in a linear
equation will always be 1.

● The standard form of a linear equation is ax + by = c where a, b and c are

real-valued constants.

● The standard graph of a linear equation is always a straight line and can be
obtained if we know any 2 points through which the line is passing.

The three types of linear equations that you may encounter in Quant questions on
the GMAT are:

1. Simple Linear Equation

2. Simultaneous Linear equations in two/three variables
3. Indeterminate equations

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

Simple Equations

● Simple equations are linear equations with only one variable.

● The standard approach to solving Simple equations is to maintain all
variables on the LHS, all constants on the RHS and simplify using
Mathematical rules.

Simultaneous Linear equations in two/three variables

● These are a system of equations with two/three variables which have to be

considered together while solving for the roots.

Since they are taken together, they are called Simultaneous equations.

● The two methods that can be used to solve Simultaneous equations are

1. Method of Substitution
2. Method of Elimination

Let’s take an example problem to understand each method.

Example:

Solve for x and y

x + y = 15

x–y=3

Let’s name the two equations above as equation 1 and equation 2.

In equation 2, if we transfer y to the RHS of the equation, we obtain x = y +3.

We can now substitute this value of x in equation 1. When we do this,
equation 1 becomes a Simple equation in ‘y’ which is very easy to solve.

Substituting the value of x, we have, y + 3 + y = 15. Simplifying, we obtain y = 6.

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 Since x = y + 3, x = 9.

In this method, we substituted for the value of one variable to obtain a simple
equation in terms of the other variable. That is why this method is known as
the method of substitution.

Example:

Solve for x and y:

2x + 5y = 9

3x – 2y = 4

Since the coefficients of the variables are not 1, the method of elimination is the
better method to solve this system of equations.

In the method of elimination, we eliminate ONE of the variables so that we obtain a

simple equation in terms of the other variable.

We solve this to obtain the value of the other variable.

We plug this value back into one of the equations to obtain the value of the variable
that was eliminated.

It is wrong to expect all systems of equations to have a unique solution set.

In fact, the first line of attack in solving simultaneous linear equations is to ascertain
whether they are dependent or otherwise.

This is because of the fact that a system of dependent equations does not have a
unique solution.

In the previous section, it was seen that the standard form of a linear equation is

ax + by = c where a, b and c are real valued constants.

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

Let us consider two instances of the above equation, say a1x + b1y = c1 and a2x + b2y = c2
i.e. two linear equations.

If a1/ a2 = b1/b2, the system of equations is dependent and has infinite solutions (or no
unique solution)

If a1/ a2 ≠ b1/b2, the system of equations is independent and has a unique solution

If a1/ a2 = b1/b2 ≠ c1/c2, the system of equations is inconsistent and has NO solution.

Indeterminate Equations

An equation /system of equations in which the number of unknowns exceeds the

number of equations is/are called indeterminate equations.

Example:

x+y = 10 is an indeterminate equation in 2 variables.

How many solutions does this equation have?

It has infinite solutions because the number of unknowns is 2 but we only have one
equation.

As such, for every value of x, we will have a corresponding value for y such that x + y =
10.

For example, x = 5 and y = 5 is one solution; x = 8.5 and y = 1.5 is another; x = 11.25 and y
= -1.25 is a third.

How many solutions can we have, similar to the above?

Clearly, there are an infinite number of solutions.

So, does it mean that Indeterminate equations always have infinite solutions? Not
necessarily.

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

With additional conditions thrown in, indeterminate equations can be solved even
to the extent of having a unique value.

Let’s take the same example of x+y = 10. If x and y were prime numbers such that x>y,
then there exists one unique solution to the equation above.

Therefore, when you see lesser number of equations compared to variables, do

not conclude that you cannot find the values of the variables.

Instead, look out for additional conditions which may be given explicitly/implicitly in
the question.

2. Quadratic Equations

● A quadratic equation in ‘x’ is represented as ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a ≠ 0 and

a, b and c are real valued constants.
● GMAT only tests you on quadratic equations with one variable of the form:
ax2 + bx + c = 0.
● As can be seen, the degree of a quadratic equation is 2 and hence it has 2
roots.
● r1 and r2 are called the roots of the equation and are given by:

■ r1 = (-b + b2 – 4ac) / 2a

■ r2 = (-b - b2 – 4ac) / 2a

Factorisation of a Quadratic equation:

● If the roots of a quadratic equation are represented as r1 and r2, (x - r1) and (x –
r2) are the factors of a quadratic equation.

● Any quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 can be represented in the factored

form

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 ■ (x – r1) (x – r2) = 0
● The above equation forms the basis of solving a Quadratic equation by the
method of factorisation.

Sum & Product of Roots of a Quadratic Equation:

● Sum of roots of a Quadratic equation = -b / a
● Product of roots of a Quadratic equation = c / a
● Using the values in an equation, the standard equation of a quadratic can also
be written as
○ x2 – Sx + P = 0
where S and P are the sum and product of the roots, respectively

Nature of Roots of a Quadratic Equation:

For a quadratic equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0, the nature of the roots is
decided by the sign of the term ‘b2 – 4ac’

Therefore, ‘b2 – 4ac’ is termed as the discriminant and represented using the
symbol ∆.

● If ∆ > 0, the roots of the quadratic equation are real and distinct (or unequal)

● If ∆ = 0, the roots of the quadratic equation are real and equal

● If ∆ < 0, the roots of the quadratic equation are imaginary and distinct
(or unequal)

● If ∆ = A perfect square, the roots are real, rational and unequal.

In this case, the quadratic equation can be factorised to find the roots.

● If ∆ is not a perfect square, the roots are real, irrational and unequal.

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 Additionally, the roots are conjugate pairs. In this case, the quadratic equation
cannot be factorised; the roots have to be found out using the formula.

3. Functions
● A function, in Algebra, is an equation of the form y = f(x) and it is read as “f OF
x”.
Note that f(x) does not mean that you multiply f with x like how it’s usually
done when there is a bracket.

● When you represent something in the form f(x), you are saying that the value
of function f is dependent on the value of the variable x.

● Therefore, conventionally, ‘x’ is taken to be the independent variable and ‘y’

is taken to be the dependent variable.

● In specific, the situations that you need to be careful about are:

1. Division by ZERO – if x is present in the denominator, 0 cannot be

provided as the input because the function will not work with this
input.

2. Negative values under a square root sign – If ‘x’ or an expression

involving x is under a square root, values of x which will make these
negative cannot be considered as the input.

● A function may also be used to define a sequence of terms, too.

E.g. a(n) = n2 + 1 for n = 0, 1, 2, 3…

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 ● On some questions, the functions won’t use the standard ƒ(x) or g(x) format.
Instead, they will use symbols, including #, & !,etc.
Treat them the same as any other function and these questions will be easy.
Simply plug the numbers into the function.

● In the case of nested functions(functions within functions like f(g(h(i(j....),you

apply one function to find a value, then apply a second function to that value.

It is important to follow the order of operations, doing the inside function first,
then the outside function

4. Inequalities
Fundamentally,
1. If x>y, x-y> 0 and vice versa.
2. If x<y, x-y<0 and vice versa.

Basic properties of Inequalities:

Let’s understand this with the help of an example.

Look at the following inequality: 3x – 2 > 5

● Multiplying or dividing an inequality by a negative number reverses the

order of the inequality.
5>3, but (-1)5< (-1)3. Thus, -5 < -3

● The same number can be added to or subtracted from both sides of the
inequality without changing the sign of the inequality.
3x – 2 > 5, we can add 2 on both sides of the inequality, 3x – 2 + 2 > 5 + 2. So this
gives us 3x > 7.

● Similarly, any variable can be added or subtracted on both sides of the

inequality without changing the truth of the inequality.

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 ● Both sides of an inequality can be multiplied or divided by a positive
number without changing the sign of the inequality.
3x > 7, let us divide both sides by 3. This gives us x> 7/3.

● If you want to multiply the two sides of an inequality with a variable with an
unknown sign (i.e., you don’t know whether it is positive or negative), you have
to split the solution for both the cases!
You cannot straightaway multiply the variable on both sides, as you will only
get a partial solution.

Remember that variables can hold signs within them as well!

So, if y/x > 1, we cannot deduce that y > x.
y may be greater than x if x is positive, but if x is negative, we will get y < -x.

In some cases, you may come across an inequality in the form:

(x+3) (x+5) > 0. In such cases, remember the concepts taught in the Arithmetic class.

Integers N*N P*N N*P P*P

Result P N N P

Thus, applying to the above case, we get that either both (x+3) and (x+5) are negative,
or both are positive.
Solve the problem case-wise from there on.
Thus,
Case 1: (x+3) < 0 and (x+5) < 0
Case 2: (x+3) > 0 and (x+5) > 0
You can solve the problem from here on.
Never ignore the denominator in inequalities!
Example:

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 >0
Most of us assume (x+2) * 0 = 0, and hence start solving for (x+3) > 0.
Please remember that division rules apply in the same way as multiplication rules!

Integers N/N P/N N/P P/P

Result P N N P

Plotting Inequalities on the Number Line:

● A closed (shaded) circle at the end point of the shaded portion of the
number line indicates that the graph is inclusive of that endpoint, as in the
case of ≤ or ≥.
● An open(unshaded)circle at the endpoint of the shaded portion of the
number line indicates that the graph is not inclusive of that end point, as in
the case of < or >.

1) x> 5

2) x ≤ 2

3) -3 ≤ x ≤ 4

Whenever in doubt while solving an inequalities question, make a number

line

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

Quadratic Inequalities:

● The quadratic inequalities that are tested on the GMAT are of the form
ax2 + bx + c > 0 or ax2 + bx + c < 0.

● To solve a quadratic inequality, follow the following steps:

1. Replace the inequality symbol to obtain a quadratic equation; factorise the

quadratic equation and find the roots.

2. The roots obtained in the previous step represent the critical points on the
number line.

3. Plot the critical points on the number line. When this is done, the number
line gets divided into three segments.

4. The rightmost segment is to be considered positive, the middle one to be

negative and the leftmost as positive.

5. If the inequality sign is ‘>’, we pick the segments which are positive to
represent the values of x that will satisfy the given inequality.

6. If the inequality sign is ‘<’, we pick the segments which are negative to
represent the values of x that will satisfy the given inequality

Reciprocals:
The general rule is that when x < y then the following holds true-

•x and y are positive then flip the inequality (1/x ) > (1/y)

•x and y are negative then flip the inequality (1/x) > (1/y)

•x is negative and y is positive do not flip the inequality (1/x) < (1/y)

•If you do not know the sign of x or y, you cannot take reciprocals

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

In summary, if you know the signs of the variables, you should flip the inequality
unless x and y have different signs

Squaring the Inequalities:

● You cannot square both sides of an inequality unless you know the signs of
both sides of the inequality

● If both sides are known to be negative then flip the inequality sign when
you square

● If both sides are known to be positive, do not flip the inequality sign when
you square

● If one side is positive and one side is negative then you cannot square

● If signs are unclear, then you cannot square

5. Absolute Value (Modulus):

● The absolute value of x, denoted |x|, is defined to be x if x ≥ 0 and −x if x< 0.

Thus, before starting to solve, the |…| has to be opened in the manner above.

After that, one can continue solving inequalities.

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700

 ● Modulus is also defined as the length function and this is the reason why this
function always yields a non-negative output regardless of the sign of the
input.

| x | = + x when x is positive
= - x when x is negative
= 0 when x is = 0
Example:
Solve | x + 7 | = 9

| x + 7 | can be expanded as + (x + 7) = 9 and – (x + 7 ) = 9.

Solving these two equations gives us x = 2 and x = - 16

In the above situation, note that

|x+7| = (x+7) only if x≥-7

and

|x+7| = (-x+7) when x<-7.

This type of a review is very essential to check whether the values of the variable
obtained are correct or not.

● Alternate definition of Modulus function-

2
|a| = √𝑎

www.crackverbal.com Contact us: support@crackverbal.com | +91 804 568 4700