Quantitative comparison question format practice as tested on the Middle and Upper Level ISEE.
35 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- On the ISEE/SSAT, what is a Quantitative Comparison (QC) question?
- A question where you compare two quantities, Column A and Column B, and determine which is larger or if they are equal.
- How many answer choices are there on a QC question?
- Four answer choices.
- What are the four answer choices for a QC question?
- A, B, C, D. The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
- What does answer choice A mean on a QC question?
- The quantity in Column A is greater.
- What does answer choice B mean on a QC question?
- The quantity in Column B is greater.
- What does answer choice C mean on a QC question?
- The two quantities are equal.
- What does answer choice D mean on a QC question?
- The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
- When should you choose answer D (relationship cannot be determined)?
- When different possible values for variables lead to different answers (for example, sometimes A > B and sometimes B > A depending on the variable).
- Can you eliminate answer choice D even before solving a QC question?
- Yes. If both columns contain only numbers with no variables, the relationship is always determined, so D cannot be the answer.
- What is the main benefit of cross-multiplication on QC questions?
- It lets you compare fractions without calculating decimals, and it avoids rounding errors.
- What is a common mistake when comparing two fractions on a QC?
- Comparing only the numerators or only the denominators instead of comparing the fractions as whole numbers.
- How do negative numbers change the outcome of a comparison on a QC?
- Negative numbers can reverse inequality signs and change which quantity is larger, especially when multiplying or squaring.
- On a QC question where both columns contain the same variable, what should you try?
- Plug in multiple values (one positive, one negative, one fraction) to see if the relationship changes.
- Is zero a good test value to plug into a QC question?
- Yes, zero often simplifies the problem and reveals relationships, but always test at least one other value too.
- Should you test negative numbers when checking a QC question with a variable?
- Yes. Negative numbers often behave differently from positive numbers and can change the relationship.