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GMAT uses real numbers only. Know how they split into rational and irrational. Rational numbers include fractions and integers. Classify integers as even or odd, prime or nonprime. Remember exceptions: 0 is even, 1 is not prime, 2 is the only even prime number.
Every GMAT question rests on the foundation of numbers, and clarity here can make or break your preparation. On the test, all numbers are real numbers, which means you never deal with complex numbers. These real numbers divide into rational and irrational numbers. Rational numbers are those that can be written in the form P/Q, where P and Q are integers and Q is not zero. Integers are part of rational numbers too. Irrational numbers, on the other hand, can never be expressed in such a fraction. From here, rational numbers further divide into fractions and integers, and integers can be grouped as even or odd, prime or non-prime. Knowing these classifications helps prevent errors on test day. A structured GMAT prep course guides you through such fundamentals step by step, while practicing with GMAT practice tests strengthens your confidence in applying them quickly under pressure.
Numbers form the language of the GMAT’s quantitative questions. To approach questions with clarity, you must know how numbers are classified and the rules that apply to them. A firm grip on these basics saves you from falling into common traps that the test sets.
The GMAT deals only with real numbers. Complex numbers, which involve the square root of negative one, do not appear on the test. This simplifies your preparation, but within real numbers, you must be careful about the sub-classifications.
Real numbers divide into two broad categories. Rational numbers can be written in the form P/Q, where P and Q are integers and Q is not equal to zero. Irrational numbers cannot be expressed in this form. Common examples of irrational numbers include non-repeating, non-terminating decimals such as the square root of 2 or pi. Rational numbers, by contrast, include both fractions and integers. Even an integer like 2 is rational because it can be expressed as 2/1.
Rational numbers split into fractions and integers. Integers can be grouped in several ways, the most common being even and odd, or prime and non-prime. Even numbers are divisible by 2, while odd numbers are not. Prime numbers are integers that have exactly two factors: one and the number itself. Non-primes are all others.
There are certain exceptions and special cases that the GMAT often tests. Zero is considered an even number. Two is the only even prime number. One is not a prime number, because it has only one factor, not two. These may seem like small details, but GMAT questions often hinge on precisely such exceptions.
Understanding how numbers are classified is not about memorization alone. It is about clarity of thought and precision. The GMAT is testing whether you notice the fine lines between categories and whether you can apply rules without confusion. This same sharpness is respected in the MBA admissions process, where schools value candidates who can pay attention to detail, recognize patterns, and avoid careless errors in judgment.
The classification of numbers may appear basic, but it carries weight on the GMAT. By remembering that all numbers on the test are real, by distinguishing between rational and irrational numbers, by knowing how integers are divided, and by being alert to exceptions like zero, one, and two, you strengthen the foundation of your preparation. These basics remove doubt and allow you to approach each question with quiet confidence. Clarity with numbers is clarity with reasoning, and that is what will carry you through the GMAT calmly and successfully.
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