GMAT Quantitative: Problem Solving
GMAT Quantitative Reasoning includes two question types: Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency. Problem Solving questions are standard math multiple-choice with five answer choices (A-E). The math content covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and word problems at roughly high school level. No calculator is available for the Quantitative section. Key GMAT Quantitative content areas: number properties (integers, factors, multiples, prime factorization); fractions and ratios; percentage and percent change; algebraic expressions and linear/quadratic equations; inequalities; coordinate geometry; statistics (mean, median, mode, standard deviation); probability; and geometry (angles, triangles, circles, volume, surface area). GMAT Problem Solving questions are deliberately designed so that the fastest solvers use number properties and conceptual shortcuts rather than brute-force computation. For example, rather than computing 37 × 43 directly, recognize this as (40-3)(40+3) = 40² - 9 = 1600 - 9 = 1591 — using the difference of squares pattern. Similarly, estimation is powerful: if answer choices are spread widely, you may not need to compute the exact answer. Backsolving (substituting answer choices into the problem to see which one works) is a reliable strategy when the algebraic approach seems complex — start with answer choice C (the middle value), which is often the median of the answer range.