gre-prep

So, GRE is behind me...

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 17:56:13 +0100

I'm done. The results are out, pretty good for the Verbal, quite good for the Quant, the same for the Writing. This last part made me a little sad because I was sure that I had written better essays than in December, but no, same score...
Anyway, my scores are sent to the University and let's keep a positive attitude!
If anyone wants useful links for practice tests, more vocabulary etc, you know where to find me: in the comments below!

Useful vocabulary for the GRE (part 3)

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 08:51:06 +0100

Abate

Gallant

Precocious

Acclaim

Impertinent

Repulse

Adamant

Indignation

Resolute

Admonish

Insolent

Resound

Arcade

Intrepid

Satiate

Bleak

Lackadaisical

Saturate

Bolster

Latent

Scintillating

Captious

Lugubrious

Temerarious

Chary

Meager

Tenebrous

Cluster

Mirth

Titillating

Coddle

Mogul

Tout

Crotchety

Niggardly

Tractable

Destitute

Opulent

Unblemished

Disparage

Ornery

Valorous

Extol

Overarching

Vulpine

Exuberant

Overhaul

Wary

Forsake

Pecunious

Waver

Useful vocabulary for the GRE (part 2)

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 08:37:50 +0100

Hackneyed

Omniscient

Refute

Hefty

Omnivorous

Reiterate

Hilarity

Opacity

Replete

impudence

Ostentatious

Reprimand

impunity

Overt

Reticent

inane

Palpable

Revere

indigent

Parsimony

Ruffle

Innocuous

Paucity

Salubrious

Insurrection

Penury

Scrupulous

Irascible

Perspicacious

Shun

Jettison

Pious

Specificity

Judicious

Placate

Spurn

Kindle

Plausible

Squander

Leniency

Precarious

Stymie

Levitate

Prevalent

Subjugate

Levity

Proclivity

Sumptuous

Listless

Prodigal

Surreptitious

Ludicrous

Prodigious

Tantamount

Magnanimity

Profuse

Tenacious

Maladroit

Proponent

Transience

Mercenary

Propriety

Trepidation

Mitigate

Pulverize

Venturesome

Morbid

Pundit

Vicarious

Mundane

Purveyor

Vilification

Munificent

Rant

Virulence

Nefarious

Raze

Whet

Oblivious

Recalcitrant

Whimsical

Obscure

Recant

Zany

Omnipotent

Recluse

Useful vocabulary for the GRE (part 1)

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 08:24:22 +0100

abash

Burgeon

despondent

Abstemious

candor

Discrepancy

Accolade

Capitulate

disdain

Acquiesce

cardinal

Disentangle

acrimonious

chagrin

Disputatious

adroit

chaste

dissident

affable

Clemency

Distend

allure

Coalesce

Distention

aloof

Coalescence

distraught

Amass

colloquial

Evanescent

Ambivalent

complacent

exacerbate

Ambulatory

condescend

Expedite

Amity

Confound

Expeditious

Antediluvian

Congeal

Expendable

apprise

Contaminant

expunge

arduous

contrite

extricate

Ascendancy

Convivial

fallacious

assiduous

Copious

Fallow

Bane

Corroborate

fastidious

bear out

Corrugated

forceful

bewilderment

coup

Fraudulent

Blunder

Cursory

frugal

boorish

Daunt

Garner

brazen

Debilitate

gregarious

Bungle

deference

Guile

Argument: advertising executives, sleep and success

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 07:48:30 +0100

The following appeared as part of an article in a business magazine.

"A recent study rating 300 male and female advertising executives according to the average number of hours they sleep per night showed an association between the amount of sleep the executives need and the success of their firms. Of the advertising firms studied, those whose executives reported needing no more than six hours of sleep per night had higher profit margins and faster growth. On the basis of this study, we recommend that businesses hire only people who need less than six hours of sleep per night."

Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the recommendation and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.

(not in full length)

Several questions to be addressed and more information to be gathered... this argument seems to lead to a hasty conclusion...

1. Sample of 300 people is not significant and the study may have large standard deviation or sampling error. Sample of advertising firms may not be representative of the respective population either. No information on the geographical area or the time of the year the study was conducted. Very often executives tend to work more and be more efficient because deadlines approach.

2. How many men and how many women? The two sexes do not correspond to the quantity and quality of sleep in the same way - a matter of biology and physiology. In addition, there are other factors that play a significant role in having fewer hours of sleep, such as large amounts of coffee or other stimulative drinks or pills. Even then, men and women don't correspond equally.

3. Not only the executives contribute to the firm's success and profit increase. Other employees may be even more important as to the amount of work they handle and finish in an average business day.

The conclusion drawn by the author of the article could be unwarranted and overturned if the answers to the above questions come to light. However, there may be some truth in the author's argument if these executives spend more time working than sleeping and thus they are more focused in their professional than their personal life. But, again, this is something that we cannot consider valid based just on this information and, therefore, a more extended study and perhaps the opinions of experts are needed to draw safer conclusions.

Governments should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development.

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 07:50:31 +0100

Governments should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.

(not in full length)
Scientific research and development is the path that brought humanity at this point. It's the path to the future too. Should governments restrict scientific advancement, humanity and our planet will probably endure difficult times ahead of them. We need science to improve our everyday life, cure diseases, protect the natural environment, explore the infinite capabilities of man and the universe and generally offer every person on earth a decent life.
Para 1: R&D improves our way of life, solves each generations problems and makes us meet our needs more easily and effectively. Technology... and computing. Technology at home. Sanitation. Healthy food. More effectively and productive agriculture and production of goods and services. Technology that literally drives us to other planets and galaxies in exploration of the unknown...
Para 2: R&D is number one ally if we want to cure disease or at least ease pain in incurable diseases... R&D helps people with disabilities live a normal and even productive life to the extent this is possible. New medications, new cures, new ways of thinking in medicine and psychology combined.
Para 3: R&D helps us understand nature and develop ways to protect it and live in harmony with it. High-end technology for forest surveillance, wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection. New information makes us more active in living a sustainable life, makes us wary of deceitful people and companies and fills us with loving and protective feelings for every animal and plant on earth; it gives us tools.
Para 4: Nevertheless, there are always issues of dangerous scientific discoveries and we should be wary. Governments could come in, at this point, and place as few restrictions as possible, having the public benefit in mind. These restrictions would most likely include legal frameworks that protect citizens and consumers; thresholds for funding sources and for the use of certain dangerous or disputable material...
Summing up, although it would be judicious on behalf of national and international authorities to impose some regulations on specific kinds and volumes of research work, science cannot and should not be halted from improving the world. Unless for reasons of public health or security, scientific research needs to remain one of the most important sectors of activity worldwide; because it offers more than we realize.

Geometric formulas (part 3)

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:38:01 +0100

click here for a larger image

Geometric formulas (part 2)

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:38:17 +0100

click here for larger image

Geometric formulas (part 1)

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 20:38:33 +0100

Click here for larger image

Algebraic formulas

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 19:31:31 +0100

(a+b)²= a²+2ab+b²

a²-b² = (a+b)(a-b)

(a-b)³ = a³-3a²b+3ab²-b³

if: x^a=x^b, then: a=b (except if: x=1)

x^-a = 1/x^a AND 1/x^-a = x^a

(x^a)(x^b) = x^a+b

(x^a)^b = x^ab

x^a/x^b = x^a-b= 1/x^b-a

x⁰ = 1

(x^a)(y^a) = (xy)^a

(x/y)^a = x^a/y^a

(x+a)(x+b) = x²+ax+bx+ab = x²+(a+b)x+ab