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If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3?

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amitjash
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If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 12 Jan 2018, 11:42
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If \(3^{6x}=8,100\), what is the value of \((3^{x-1})^3\)?

A. 90
B. 30
C. 10
D. 10/3
E. 10/9
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D

Originally posted by amitjash on 08 Aug 2010, 03:51.
Last edited by Bunuel on 12 Jan 2018, 11:42, edited 2 times in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   08 Aug 2010, 04:10
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amitjash wrote:
If \(3^{6x}=8,100\), what is the value of \((3^{x-1})^3\)?

A. 90
B. 30
C. 10
D. 10/3
E. 10/9


\(3^{6x}=(3^{3x})^2=90^2=8,100\) --> \(3^{3x}=90\).

\((3^{x-1})^3= 3^{3x-3}=\frac{3^{3x}}{3^3}=\frac{90}{27}=\frac{10}{3}\).

Answer: D.

Check Number Theory chapter of Math Book for exponents (link in my signature).
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   05 Dec 2010, 19:56
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ajit257 wrote:
Q11:
If 3^6x = 8,100, what is the value of 3^((x – 1)3) ?
3
A. 90
B. 30
C. 10
D. 10/3
E. 10/9


In a question such as this where you have \(3^{6x} = 8100\) where 8100 is not a perfect sixth power but the options do not have irrational numbers, you should immediately go and analyze what is asked. You will not need to solve for x. You will end up using either \(3^{6x} = 8100\) or \(3^{3x} = 90\)
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   08 Aug 2010, 08:18
Excellent. No a side note, Bunuel, I started approaching this using the "power of prime in a number" - I had seen the link somewhere which had the formula N/p + N/p^2+N/p^3... until N>p^x and thought of equating that to 6x and solve thus. I know yours is much simpler. However would that approach have worked? Is that formula exactly saying what is the highest power of the prime in the number?
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   08 Aug 2010, 08:41
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mainhoon wrote:
Excellent. No a side note, Bunuel, I started approaching this using the "power of prime in a number" - I had seen the link somewhere which had the formula N/p + N/p^2+N/p^3... until N>p^x and thought of equating that to 6x and solve thus. I know yours is much simpler. However would that approach have worked? Is that formula exactly saying what is the highest power of the prime in the number?


No need to complicate simple questions.

The formula is correct (everything-about-factorials-on-the-gmat-85592.html) but it has nothing to do with this problem, (highest power of 3 in 81,000 won't be equal to 6x, because 3^(6x)=81,000=2^m*3^n*5^k, so as 81,000 has other factors than 3 in it then 6x won't be an integer at all).
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   08 Aug 2010, 08:56
When I think some more, I don't think we can use that formula. Isn't that formula for factorials - (a) N! not N and (b) as you rightly pointed out it would result in a fraction for 6x, not integer.

For 3^(3x) = 90, if I wanted to solve it, it is clear than x is fractional. So is the answer basically taking logarithms? Any other way?
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If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   01 Jul 2012, 16:50
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8. Exponents and Roots of Numbers



Check below for more:
ALL YOU NEED FOR QUANT ! ! !
Ultimate GMAT Quantitative Megathread

Hope it helps.
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   01 Jun 2013, 20:09
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Bunuel wrote:
amitjash wrote:
If 3^6x = 8,100, what is the value of (3^x – 1)^3 ?

A. 90
B. 30
C. 10
D. 10/3
E. 10/9


Please when posting such questions make sure that it's not ambiguous.

Correct question is: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3?
Or it can be written using the formating as: If \(3^{6x}=8,100\), what is the value of \((3^{x-1})^3\)? (It's not hard at all).

\(3^{6x}=(3^{3x})^2=90^2=8,100\) --> \(3^{3x}=90\).

\((3^{x-1})^3= 3^{3x-3}=\frac{3^{3x}}{3^3}=\frac{90}{27}=\frac{10}{3}\).

Answer: D.

Check Number Theory chapter of Math Book for exponents (link in my signature).



Hi Bunnel,

Please point out the mistake in this approach. Why am I not getting correct answer by this method.

3^6x=8100=3^4*2^2*5^2
=> 6x=4, as all nos are primes
=> x= 2/3

Now, 3^(3*(x-1)) = 3^(3*(-1/3)) = 3^(-1) = 1/3.

Still based on denominator I chose D.
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If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   02 Jun 2013, 04:13
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cumulonimbus wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
amitjash wrote:
If 3^6x = 8,100, what is the value of (3^x – 1)^3 ?

A. 90
B. 30
C. 10
D. 10/3
E. 10/9


Please when posting such questions make sure that it's not ambiguous.

Correct question is: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3?
Or it can be written using the formating as: If \(3^{6x}=8,100\), what is the value of \((3^{x-1})^3\)? (It's not hard at all).

\(3^{6x}=(3^{3x})^2=90^2=8,100\) --> \(3^{3x}=90\).

\((3^{x-1})^3= 3^{3x-3}=\frac{3^{3x}}{3^3}=\frac{90}{27}=\frac{10}{3}\).

Answer: D.

Check Number Theory chapter of Math Book for exponents (link in my signature).



Hi Bunnel,

Please point out the mistake in this approach. Why am I not getting correct answer by this method.

3^6x=8100=3^4*2^2*5^2
=> 6x=4, as all nos are primes
=> x= 2/3

Now, 3^(3*(x-1)) = 3^(3*(-1/3)) = 3^(-1) = 1/3.

Still based on denominator I chose D.


From \(3^{6x}=8100=3^4*2^2*5^2\) we cannot say that 6x = 4 --> 3^4 = 8100 = 3^4*2^2*5^2 --> 1=2^2*5^2 which is not correct.
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   26 Aug 2014, 01:25
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\(3^{6x} = 8100\)

Square root both sides

\(3^{3x} = 90\)

Divide both sides by 27

\(\frac{3^{3x}}{27} = \frac{90}{27}\)

\(3^{3x-3} = \frac{10}{3}\)

\([3^{(x-1)}]^3 = \frac{10}{3}\)

Answer = D
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   21 Oct 2020, 08:21
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Let \((3^{x - 1})^3\) = p

=> \((3^{x})^3 * (3^{-1})^3\) = p

=> \(\frac{(3^{3x})}{ 3^{3}}\) = p

=> Squaring both the sides: \(\frac{((3^{3x})^2)}{((3^{3})^2)} = p^2 \)

=> \(\frac{(3^{6x})}{3^{6}} = p^2\)

=> \(\frac{8100 }{ 3^6} = p^2\)

=> \(\frac{100 }{ 9} = p^2\)

=> p = \(\frac{10}{3}\)

Answer D
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   28 Sep 2021, 01:28
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3^6x = 8100
3^6x = 3^ 4 * 100

3^(6x-4) = 100
3 ^ (3x-2) = 10

We are asked for 3^ (3x-3). Therefore answer is 10/3.
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink] New post   23 Nov 2023, 05:22
Bunuel wrote:
amitjash wrote:
If \(3^{6x}=8,100\), what is the value of \((3^{x-1})^3\)?

A. 90
B. 30
C. 10
D. 10/3
E. 10/9


\(3^{6x}=(3^{3x})^2=90^2=8,100\) --> \(3^{3x}=90\).

\((3^{x-1})^3= 3^{3x-3}=\frac{3^{3x}}{3^3}=\frac{90}{27}=\frac{10}{3}\).

Answer: D.

Check Number Theory chapter of Math Book for exponents (link in my signature).


Bunuel - This is just such an elegant solution. I didnt even think of just separting the chunk and solving for 3^3x as a chunk. So much value in your posts. Thanks for all you do.
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Re: If 3^(6x) = 8,100, what is the value of [3^(x-1)]^3? [#permalink]
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