Math Strategy: Backsolving

Lesson by Mike McGarry

Magoosh Expert

Summary

Backsolving is a strategic approach for solving algebraic and word problems on the GRE exam, offering an alternative to traditional algebraic methods.

Backsolving involves starting with the middle answer choice and working backwards to solve the problem, which can be quicker than algebra in some cases.
If the middle answer choice is too big or too small, it provides valuable information to eliminate three out of the five choices immediately.
Practicing backsolving can lead to increased efficiency and speed in solving problems, especially when the answers are numerical and listed in order.
It's important to consider the logical implications of the problem when backsolving, as increasing or decreasing values may not always have intuitive outcomes.
Backsolving is particularly useful for complex problems where traditional algebraic approaches are cumbersome or impractical.

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