2011 UMAT Question Thread

[Graphite]

Hi everyone!

I started this thread so that I would be able to get some better explanations from to experts and in addition alternative approaches to problems. Anyone can contribute and ask questions!

Good luck for the UMAT!

[Russ]

B

1 is false, so 2 is true thus making 3 true as well meaning that B is false

If I'm wrong, I blame the early hour

[Graphite]

Yup that's correct!

Was there any particular way you approached the question?

[Russ]

Trial and error. The hard part is holding all the true/false options in your head whilst you consider the 4th one.

[Graphite]

Thanks Russ, I think I get how to do it. What I did was assume 1 is correct then see how the other statements contradicts/supports one anther.

Here's the next question

[Russ]

These are in newspapers all the time, you should do them there because they often give hints with them.

Anyway:
you can fill in the right column, every box has to be a 1 (otherwise there's no way it could add to 3)
with the same logic the top box of the middle column has to be a 2, or you couldn't get that column adding to 5
therefore the top box of the left column is 3
therefore the two alien symbols in the middle column must represent 1 and 2 (order unimportant)
therefore the two alien symbols in the left column must represent 7 and 4 or 6 and 5 (depends on the order in the middle column)
therefore C

I hope this one is right as well

[Graphite]

Oh! I get it now!
Thanks again Russ

[nacho]

Hey, i took a different approach.
First i didnt fill in any boxes, just left them.
For explanations sake, i'll number the boxes:                1 | 2
                                                                           3 | 4
I knew that plussing box 2 and 4 = 5, therefore box 2 must be less than 5
From here, i just used trial and error. I let box 2 = 4, therefore box 1 = 5 and box 4 = 1, therefore box 3 = 6
so box 1 + box 3 = 5 + 6 = 11
Which is option C

[Graphite]

Hmm that would need a lot of trials as you can have 1 and 4 both ways and 3 and 2 both ways for box 2 and 4

[Graphite]

With S3 moving rectangles and moving dots, is there any way to figure out the reference dot/rectangle (one that does not move)? So far I think the biggest component doesn't move, but maybe that doesn't have to apply.

[Graphite]

People who did UMAT last year told me to do some exams early as during the UMAT time, its unlikely you will be able to do 10 exams properly+the ACER ones. So do you think exams are more valuable than drills? I don't wish to save exams which I won't be able to finish at the end and use exams as drills pretty much.

[Graphite]

For the 1st question I cannot find a pattern for the triangle (however it is possible to deduce the answer with the circle only). Just wondering is there an error.

I don't understand the 2nd question at all...

Answers are D, E respectively

[Zien]

For question 1, sometimes other shapes are superfluous and act as distractors. But since you figured out how to do it, I didn't have a go at it myself.

Question 2:

We can immediately observe that this involves the 3-2 pattern. Two shapes have the black dot outside the triangle, and three shapes have the black dot inside the triangle. We can also observe that the arrow and the black dot are rotating in some way; to determine this is to get the answer.

Since we know that a shape from the 3 starts first and a shape from the 2 follows, trial and error is probably the way to go.

Taking shape C, it's reasonable to assume that shape A follows. This means that the black dot moves anti-clockwise by 1 and the arrow moved clockwise by 1. Using this rule, shape E then D then B follows. This case works and E is the answer.

It's also interesting to note that this can be done in reverse. So, taking shape B first, it is reasonable shape D follows. This means the dot moved clockwise by 1 and the arrow moved anti-clockwise by 1. Using this rule, shape E then A then C follows.

So the order for them is (also reversible): B-D-E-A-C.

[Graphite]

Oh oh now I understand so the triangle sides and corners act as a space for movement. I thought the circle was split into 8 sections for movement instead!

Thank you for that

[MrIraq]

Thanks Russ, I think I get how to do it. What I did was assume 1 is correct then see how the other statements contradicts/supports one anther.

Here's the next question

arabic numbers, thats strange... because we dont user thoes ones :S

but i think they originated from arabs.