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Elementary arithmetic

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Elementary arithmetic [#permalink]  12 Nov 2010, 17:55
I stumbled across this problem recently and for the life of me couldn't solve it. My answer wasn't even close to any of the available answer choices. Can anyone break this one down for me?

$$\frac{(8^2)(3^3)(2^4)}{96^2}=?$$
Intern
Status: Current Student
Joined: 16 May 2010
Posts: 44
Schools: Darden '13
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Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 4

Re: Elementary arithmetic [#permalink]  12 Nov 2010, 18:06
Actually, I think I know what I did. I think I just found the prime factors of 96....not 96 SQUARED. So I was way off. I did it using 96 squared and the answer I got was 3. Can anyone else confirm this?
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Re: Elementary arithmetic [#permalink]  12 Nov 2010, 18:13
Expert's post
MateoLibre wrote:
I stumbled across this problem recently and for the life of me couldn't solve it. My answer wasn't even close to any of the available answer choices. Can anyone break this one down for me?

$$\frac{(8^2)(3^3)(2^4)}{96^2}=?$$

In such questions, the best approach is to break it down into prime factors. The question testing whether you know your exponents well...

$$\frac{(8^2)(3^3)(2^4)}{96^2}=?$$

96 = 16 x 6 (Try and be comfortable with multiplication tables) = $$2^5 * 3$$
$$8 = 2^3$$

So, $$\frac{(8^2)(3^3)(2^4)}{96^2}=?$$ = $$\frac{(2^3)^2.3^3.2^4}{(2^5 * 3)^2}$$

= $$\frac{2^{6 + 4} . 3^3}{(2^5* 3)^2}$$
$$=2^{10 - 10} .3^{3 - 2} = 3$$

If basics of exponents are an issue, check out my blog:
http://gmatquant.blogspot.com/2010/11/s ... tials.html
_________________

Karishma
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 5682 Location: Pune, India Followers: 1413 Kudos [?]: 7334 [0], given: 186 Re: Elementary arithmetic [#permalink] 12 Nov 2010, 18:15 Expert's post MateoLibre wrote: Actually, I think I know what I did. I think I just found the prime factors of 96....not 96 SQUARED. So I was way off. I did it using 96 squared and the answer I got was 3. Can anyone else confirm this? Thats right! Looks like you are fine with exponents.. Just a silly mistake! _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Re: Elementary arithmetic   [#permalink] 12 Nov 2010, 18:15
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