Advice needed. Need to learn basic algebraic operations!

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Advice needed. Need to learn basic algebraic operations! [#permalink]

11 Sep 2007, 17:57

Hey everyone,

I have been studying the GMAT for a while, took it a few months ago, scored a 610, took a break and now back at it to score a 700.

My studies have been going fine, I am confident in many areas of math but realize I am just not confident when it comes to the basic operations of algebra. Can anyone recommend a book or an online resource that would teach gmat-related algebra from the ground up? I find my Kaplan book and Manhattan Gmat prep books assume too much knowledge from the reader regarding ]\ algebra basics. I need a book or online resource that has me drill problems over and over and over in these areas.

My problem areas

distributive property

factoring algebraic expressions / dividing out variables etc

adding/subtracting polynomials

I'm looking for mastery in this type of problem.

If 16x4 – 81y4/ 2x + 3y = 12x2 + 27y2 and 4x + 3y = 9, what is x?

(the answer is 2)

I don't know what to divide out, or what I am allowed to divide out etc. If someone could point me in the direction of a book or website that helped them with algebra, please let me know. Again sorry for the long post, it has been long day. Thanks in advance.

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Re: Advice needed. Need to learn basic algebraic operations! [#permalink]

11 Sep 2007, 20:04

boggin wrote:

You can try http://www.math.com/

I am not sure how helpful this site is but looks like it has basic concepts of mathematics.

Once your basic concepts/formulae are refined, you can start attacking GMAT questions by participating more and more in this forum.

- Brajesh

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11 Sep 2007, 23:31

If 16x4 – 81y4/ 2x + 3y = 12x2 + 27y2 and 4x + 3y = 9, what is x?

I like this problem. I actually had fun manipulating and solving it.

16x4 – 81y4/ 2x + 3y = 12x2 + 27y2
(4x^2 + 9y^2)(4x^2 - 9y^2) / (2x + 3y) = 12x^2 + 27y^2
(4x^2 + 9y^2)(2x + 3y)(2x - 3y) / (2x + 3y) = 12x^2 + 27y^2

on LHS, can eliminate 2x + 3y from numerator and denominator

(4x^2 + 9y^2) (2x - 3y) = 12x^2 + 27y^2

now manipulate the RHS by factoring 3:
(4x^2 + 9y^2) (2x - 3y) = 3(4x^2 + 9y^2)

now we can eliminate (4x^2 + 9y^2) from both the numerator and denominator and all we are left with is:
2x - 3y = 3

now we use the other equation given and combine to solve for x:
4x + 3y = 9
2x - 3y = 3
6x = 12
x = 2

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12 Sep 2007, 06:57

This is actually a very easy problem if one simplifies the algebraic expression. I would luv to encounter such a problem in actual exam.
_________________

Regards

Subhen

[#permalink] 12 Sep 2007, 06:57

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Advice needed. Need to learn basic algebraic operations!

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Advice needed. Need to learn basic algebraic operations!

Advice needed. Need to learn basic algebraic operations!

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