so as to : in order to OR " in such a way as to "

 The correct usage is so <adjective/adverb> as to <verb> ... 

 if the adjective is not present => "so as to"  is incorrec atleast for GMAT Sentence Correction

such that is preferred over so as to ... why? such that is concise. 

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Collective noun: A collective noun is a word used to define a group of objects, where "objects" can be live, inanimate things, concepts, or other things. In GMAT Sentence Correction or english grammar in general, collective nouns are always singular. It is important to know as many collective nouns as possible so that we can identify them when we encounter them in questions.

 A list of collective nouns, please include more which I may have missed:

List of Collective nouns:

archive, administration, army,asylum, audience,

babel, ballet, band,
bevy, brigade,

camp, cast, chorus, class, cluster, colony, company,
congregation, constellation, cornucopia, crowd,

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|x| denotes ...  +x if x>0 AND -x if x<0 . Its called absolute value function and is also called modulus of x. The problems involving this function can be very complicated and hence need some understanding. 

|x+y| = |x| + |y| IFF x and y are of the same sign. (both positive or both negaitve, otherwise this is not possible)

GMAT math absolute value, gmat math modulus, absolute value function, modulus function

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This is a list of terms which are used very often in ScoreChase and most people dont have any clue on what they are. I am creating a quick reference here:

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- Given a statistics/fact/premise etc :
Conclusion: Something that will be definitely true.

Inference: Something that can be derived with high probability from the given

For example (although I am not very proud of this example):
- Team A have won 90% of all the games in the World Cup so far. There have been 20 games in Wold Cup so far.

Conclusion: Team A has won 18 games in world cup

Inference: Since the win rate is so high, we can infer that Team A is likely to win the next game they play

Ok another one on inference(I didnt like the first one):

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Lie and Lay...

When speaking in the present tense, lie is used when there is no direct object involved.

"I lie down on the bed", or "You lie on the ground"

Lay is used when there is a direct object in the sentence.

"The phone lay on the table" or "The pencil lay on the desk".

In the past tense, lie turns to lay, which makes this confusing.

If you can put "the" in front of the noun that the verb is describing, this is a direct object. I do not know if this is the textbook definition, but I use this to distinguish.

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Rise and Raise are two different words completely. But they sound similar.
Raise: [usually used when a person acts on a third person]
Meanings: to lift something, to set upright, to elevate something.
I think it can be used as a synonym for nurturing ... like he was raised by his foster parents.
Rise: [usually used when a person acts on himself]
Meanings: to get up, to get up from a sleeping/kneeling/sitting position, to come back from dead (zombies anyone!
Important: I am putting forth these notes for ScoreChase members only! Please seek my permission before distributing this formula list anywhere on the internet.

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The word "in spite" always comes with 'of' .... "in spite of" .....

Note: Its NOT "inspite of", the correct usage is "in spite of" ..... in other words inspite is not a word ...its two words "in spite"

despite and "in spite of" are similar in english, you can use them interchangeably.

Usage: They are used to indicate the fact that they are "taking no notice of" something.

- He went to school in spite of cold weather. (He didnt take notice of cold)

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Something a lot of people have asked me and a lot of them get wrong the first time, so I thought this deserves a thread of its own

A) Is there a difference between 4^(1/2) and rt(4), if yes what?, if no why not?


The other questions on similar lines

B) What are the possible values of :
1] rt(4)
2] rt([-2]^2]
3] 4^1/2
4] [(-2)^2]^1/2

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