Word Problems, Rates and Ratios
This topic covers work, rates, speed, mixtures, ratios, proportions, percent change, weighted average, sets, counting, probability, and translating business-like facts into equations.
How to study for the GMAT
Build every answer around the exact decision: problem setup, argument gap, passage support, data source, sufficiency, table filter, graph label, or linked two-part condition.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Word Problems, Rates and Ratios questions test the reasoning and decision skills used on the current GMAT exam.
Exam cue: Name the task type: problem solving, reading comprehension, critical reasoning, data sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, table analysis, graphics interpretation, or two-part analysis.
Concept 2
The strongest answer identifies the business-relevant task, data source, argument relationship, arithmetic setup, or decision criterion before comparing choices.
Exam cue: Check constraints, units, variables, claim structure, source tabs, table filters, graph axes, and whether the answer is enough to make the decision.
Concept 3
Eliminate choices that answer a different question, overlook a condition, misuse a source, ignore sufficiency, or rely on specialized outside knowledge.
Exam cue: Use review and edit time to verify the exact question, not just the topic that first looked familiar.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Solving a nearby math or reading task while missing the decision the item actually asks for.
Guardrail: Use a 15-second safety pause before finalizing your action.
Using outside business knowledge instead of the evidence, data, or argument in the prompt.
Guardrail: Use a 15-second safety pause before finalizing your action.
Ignoring GMAT-specific constraints such as no calculator in Quant and sufficiency rather than calculation in Data Insights.
Guardrail: Use a 15-second safety pause before finalizing your action.
Memory anchors
Rate
A rate compares one quantity per unit of another.
Work Rate
Work problems combine rates to find time or output.
Ratio
A ratio compares quantities multiplicatively.
Proportion
A proportion sets two ratios equal.
Percent Change
Percent change is change divided by original value.
Weighted Average
A weighted average accounts for different group sizes.
Mixture
Mixture problems track total amount and component amount.
Counting
Counting problems depend on order, repetition, and restrictions.
Probability
Probability compares favorable outcomes to possible outcomes.
Translation
Translation turns words into variables, equations, and constraints.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Two trains leave cities 300 miles apart at the same time and travel toward each other. One travels at 70 miles per hour and the other at 50 miles per hour. How many hours pass before they meet?
Pipe A can fill a tank in 6 hours, and Pipe B can fill it in 4 hours. If both pipes operate together, how long will they take to fill the tank?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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