Bocconi Graduate Test flashcards
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31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Percentage change formula
- Divide the difference between new and old values by the original value, then multiply by 100. Always divide by the starting value, not the final one.
- Successive percentage factors
- Chained changes multiply rather than add: a rise of a% then a fall of b% gives a net factor of (1 + a/100)(1 − b/100) applied to the original amount.
- Compound interest formula
- Amount equals principal times (1 + r/n) raised to nt, where r is the annual rate, n the compounding frequency per year, and t the number of years.
- Quadratic formula
- The roots of ax² + bx + c = 0 are [−b ± √(b² − 4ac)]/(2a). The discriminant b² − 4ac determines whether real roots exist.
- Arithmetic progression sum
- For n terms with first term a and common difference d, the sum is n/2 times [2a + (n − 1)d], equivalently n times the average of first and last terms.
- Combined work rate
- Two workers completing a job in t₁ and t₂ hours alone finish together in t₁t₂/(t₁ + t₂) hours, because their rates add as reciprocals.
- Average speed definition
- Total distance divided by total time. It is not the arithmetic mean of the individual speeds unless the time spent at each speed is equal.
- Addition rule for probability
- For two events, P(A or B) equals P(A) + P(B) − P(A and B). Subtract the overlap so outcomes counted in both events are not double-counted.
- Circle and sphere formulas
- A circle has area πr² and circumference 2πr; a sphere has volume (4/3)πr³ and surface area 4πr².
- Conditional and contrapositive
- 'If P then Q' is logically equivalent to 'if not Q then not P'. The converse 'if Q then P' is not equivalent and often confused with it.
- Necessary versus sufficient condition
- P is sufficient for Q when P guarantees Q. P is necessary for Q when Q cannot occur without P, so absence of P rules out Q.
- Valid deductive argument
- An argument is valid when its premises cannot all be true while its conclusion is false. Validity concerns structure, not the factual truth of premises.
- Negating universal statements
- The negation of 'all A are B' is 'some A are not B'. The negation of 'some A are B' is 'no A are B'. Quantifier swaps are the key step.
- Assumption question strategy
- Identify an unstated premise required for the conclusion. Test a candidate by negating it: if the argument then falls apart, it is the needed assumption.
- Correlation versus causation flaw
- A reasoning error that treats two events occurring together as proof that one causes the other, ignoring coincidence, reverse causation, or a shared third factor.
- False dilemma flaw
- An argument presents only two options as exhaustive when other alternatives exist, forcing a choice between extremes that does not reflect reality.
- Strengthen versus weaken questions
- Both target the link between evidence and conclusion. The correct option makes that inference more or less credible without introducing unrelated information or restating the premise.
- Linear arrangement setup
- For ordering puzzles, draw slots in a row and place the most restricted item first. Each stated condition eliminates placements that violate it.
- Main idea versus detail
- A main-idea answer summarizes the passage's central claim across all paragraphs. A detail answer is accurate but covers only a supporting point, making it too narrow.
- Valid inference in reading
- An inference must follow necessarily from stated information. An option that is merely reasonable in everyday life but unstated in the passage is incorrect.
- Author tone signals
- Qualifiers and adverbs such as 'arguably', 'unfortunately', or 'reportedly' reveal stance. Tone answers should match the passage's attitude, not the topic's general reputation.
- Scope words in options
- Terms like 'all', 'only', 'never', and 'primarily' set the strength of a claim. An option stronger than the passage's own wording is usually wrong.
- EXCEPT question handling
- Three options are supported by the passage and one is not. Verify each supported option against a specific line, then select the remaining unsupported or contradictory choice.
- Vocabulary in context
- Insert each candidate meaning into the original sentence and check whether the surrounding logic still reads correctly. The passage's usage overrides the most common dictionary sense.
- Paragraph function analysis
- Label sentences as claim, evidence, concession, or counterargument. This structural map answers questions about why a paragraph or example appears where it does.
- Percentage points versus percent
- A change from 20% to 25% is 5 percentage points but a 25% relative increase, since the change is divided by the original 20%.
- Index number conversion
- With base year equal to 100, an index of 130 means the value is 1.3 times the base. Convert between years using the ratio of their index values.
- Compound annual growth rate
- CAGR equals (end value / start value) raised to 1/n, minus 1, where n is the number of year intervals between the two measurements.
- Weighted average formula
- The overall mean equals the sum of weight times value, divided by the sum of weights. It lies between the group means, nearer the larger group.
- Per-capita ratio reading
- Divide the row value by its stated denominator, such as population or number of outlets. Do not divide by the column total unless the question asks for a share.
- Chart axis unit check
- Confirm whether axis labels use units, thousands, millions, or percentages before calculating. Unit mismatches are a common source of wrong answers in data questions.