KAPLAN’S 3-STEP METHOD FOR PICKING NUMBERS
Step
1:Pick simple, easy-to-use numbers for each variable.Step
2.Solve the problem using the numbers you pick.Step
3.Plug your numbers into each answer choice. The choice that gives you the same numerical solution you arrived at in Step 2 is
correct.A Few Things to Remember:Try picking numbers for the following problem.Exercise
You can pick numbers only when the answer choices contain variables.
Pick easy numbers rather than realistic numbers. Keep the numbers small and manageable, but try to avoid 0 and 1.
Remember that you have to try all the answer choices. If more than one works, pick another set of numbers.
Don’t pick the same number for more than one variable.
When picking a number for a remainder problem, add the remainder to the number you’re dividing by.
Always pick 100 for percent questions.vi. The average of four numbers is n. If three of the numbers are n + 3, n + 5, and n − 2, what is the value of the fourth number?
(F) n − 6
(G) n − 4
(H) n
(J) n + 2
(K) n + 4