Circles
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GRE Quantitative Reasoning › Circles
For , Chelsea can get either a
diameter pizza or two
diameter pizzas. Which is the better deal?
two
The two values are equal.
Cannot be determined.
Explanation
Therefore the 16 inch pizza is the better deal.

O is the center of the circle above.
The length of is
.
Quantity A: The area of the circle.
Quantity B:
Which of the following is true?
Quantity A is greater.
Quantity B is greater.
The two quantities are equal.
The relationship cannot be determined.
Explanation

O is the center of the circle above.
The length of is
.
Quantity A: The area of the circle.
Quantity B:
Do not be tricked by this question. It is true that can be split into halves, each of which are
in length. These halves are not, however, radii to the circle. Since this does not go through the center of the circle, its length is shorter than the diameter. This means that the radius of the circle must be greater than
. Now, if it were
, the area would be
. Since it is larger than
, the area must be larger than
. Quantity A is larger than quantity B.

O is the center of the circle above.
The circumference of the circle above is .
Quantity A: The length of .
Quantity B:
Which of the following is true?
Quantity B is larger.
Quantity A is larger.
The relationship cannot be determined.
The two quantities are equal.
Explanation
Now, we know that the circumference of a circle is:
or
This means that the diameter of our circle is must be . Given this, we know that the
must be shorter than
, for the diameter is the longer than any chord that does not pass through the center of the circle. Quantity B is larger than quantity A.

O is the center of the circle above.
The circumference of the circle above is .
Quantity A: The length of .
Quantity B:
Which of the following is true?
Quantity B is larger.
Quantity A is larger.
The relationship cannot be determined.
The two quantities are equal.
Explanation
Now, we know that the circumference of a circle is:
or
This means that the diameter of our circle is must be . Given this, we know that the
must be shorter than
, for the diameter is the longer than any chord that does not pass through the center of the circle. Quantity B is larger than quantity A.

O is the center of the circle above.
The length of is
.
Quantity A: The area of the circle.
Quantity B:
Which of the following is true?
Quantity A is greater.
Quantity B is greater.
The two quantities are equal.
The relationship cannot be determined.
Explanation

O is the center of the circle above.
The length of is
.
Quantity A: The area of the circle.
Quantity B:
Do not be tricked by this question. It is true that can be split into halves, each of which are
in length. These halves are not, however, radii to the circle. Since this does not go through the center of the circle, its length is shorter than the diameter. This means that the radius of the circle must be greater than
. Now, if it were
, the area would be
. Since it is larger than
, the area must be larger than
. Quantity A is larger than quantity B.

O is the center of the circle above.
The length of is
.
Quantity A: The area of the circle.
Quantity B:
Which of the following is true?
Quantity A is greater.
Quantity B is greater.
The two quantities are equal.
The relationship cannot be determined.
Explanation

O is the center of the circle above.
The length of is
.
Quantity A: The area of the circle.
Quantity B:
Do not be tricked by this question. It is true that can be split into halves, each of which are
in length. These halves are not, however, radii to the circle. Since this does not go through the center of the circle, its length is shorter than the diameter. This means that the radius of the circle must be greater than
. Now, if it were
, the area would be
. Since it is larger than
, the area must be larger than
. Quantity A is larger than quantity B.

O is the center of the circle above.
The circumference of the circle above is .
Quantity A: The length of .
Quantity B:
Which of the following is true?
Quantity B is larger.
Quantity A is larger.
The relationship cannot be determined.
The two quantities are equal.
Explanation
Now, we know that the circumference of a circle is:
or
This means that the diameter of our circle is must be . Given this, we know that the
must be shorter than
, for the diameter is the longer than any chord that does not pass through the center of the circle. Quantity B is larger than quantity A.
For , Chelsea can get either a
diameter pizza or two
diameter pizzas. Which is the better deal?
two
The two values are equal.
Cannot be determined.
Explanation
Therefore the 16 inch pizza is the better deal.
Circle B has a circumference of 36π. What is the area of circle A, which has a radius half the length of the radius of circle B?
9π
324π
81π
18
18π
Explanation
To find the radius of circle B, use the circumference formula (c = πd = 2πr):
2πr = 36π
Divide each side by 2π: r = 18
Now, if circle A has a radius half the length of that of B, A's radius is 18 / 2 = 9.
The area of a circle is πr2. Therefore, for A, it is π*92 = 81π.
What is the angle between the hour and minute hand of a clock at 4:15?
Explanation
In this case, the minute hand is pointing at 3 while the hour hand is pointing at some value past 4. Now, since 15 minutes represents 1/4 of an hour, the hour hand will be 1/4 the distance between 4 and 5. The total number of degrees between minutes is 360/12 = 30°; therefore, the hour hand is 30/4 or 7.5° past the 4 o'clock point. Now, between 3 and 4, there are 30°. Add to that the 7.5°. The total distance is therefore 37.5°.