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# If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a

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If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a [#permalink]

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24 Jun 2008, 13:16
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If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a vacuum pump, what fraction of the original amount of air has been removed after 4 strokes ?

A. 15/16
B. 7/8
C. 1/4
D. 1/8
E. 1/16
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 13 May 2014, 06:32, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic, edited the question, added the OA and moved to PS forum.
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24 Jun 2008, 13:18
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A

First you have 1

so
first stroke = 1/2
second stroke = 1/4
third stroke = 1/8
fourth stroke = 1/16

8/16 + 4/16 + 2/16 + 1/16 = 15/16

puma wrote:
if 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a vacuum pump, what fraction of the original amount of the air has been removed after 4 strokes?

A) 15/16
B) 7/8
C) 1/4
D) 1/8
E) 1/16

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24 Jun 2008, 13:58
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puma wrote:
if 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a vacuum pump, what fraction of the original amount of the air has been removed after 4 strokes?

A) 15/16
B) 7/8
C) 1/4
D) 1/8
E) 1/16

I get A, too.

Let X = air in the tank.

Plug in 240 = X.

First stroke = 1/2 * 240 = 120
Second stroke = 1/2 * 120 = 60
Third stroke = 1/2 * 60 = 30
Fourth stroke = 1/2 * 30 = 15

So 15 remains, which is the amount of air left.

240 - 15 = 225 (amount of air removed). 225/240 = 15/16
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If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2011, 11:26
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If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a vacuum pump, what fraction of the original amount of air has been removed after 4 strokes ?

A. 15/16
B. 7/8
C. 1/4
D. 1/8
E. 1/16

This question is actually from the OG 12th edition. Am not able to understand the explanation given in OG for this problem. Could someone please explain in detail as to how to solve this

Last edited by Bunuel on 24 Sep 2013, 02:43, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2011, 11:49
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srivats212 wrote:

If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a vacuum pump, what fraction of the original amount of air has been removed after 4 strokes?

A. 15/16
B. 7/8
C. 1/4
D. 1/8
E. 1/16

This question is actually from the OG 12th edition. Am not able to understand the explanation given in OG for this problem. Could someone please explain in detail as to how to solve this

The best thing to do here is plug in
Assume that there is 16 units of air in the tank
first stroke = 1/2*16 = 8 ( we are left ith 8 now)
second stroke = 1/2*8 = 4( left ith 4 units now)
third stoke = 1/2*4 = 2( left with 2 units)
4th stroke = 1/2* 2 = 1 (left with 1 unit)

total units removed = 8+4+2+1 = 15
total unis in the tank at the begining = 16
thus its A . 15/16

Hope this helps
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2011, 11:52
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This is a decay-type problem...the tank is halved after each stroke. Therefore:

(0.5)^4 = 1/16 --> 0.5 for halving, 4 for strokes

so 1/16 of air is left in the tank => 15/16 of the air was removed
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2011, 12:10
Oh, I get it..! Thanks..!!!
I think the catch over here is.."the tank is halved after each stroke"....failed to understand the question properly.
Thought that a single stoke halves the air in it...so after 2 strokes guessed there wont be any air in it
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2011, 21:30
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A - 15/16..

Left After 1st stroke = 1/2
Left After 2nd stroke = 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4
Left After 3rd stroke = 1/2 * 1/4 = 1/8
Left After 4th stroke = 1/2 * 1/8 = 1/16

So removed = 1- 1/16 = 15/16
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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10 Jun 2011, 09:40
As they say, the devil is in the details!
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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10 Jun 2011, 11:42
By the 4th stroke the the air remaining is 1/16 , so what has been removed is 15/16
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02 Nov 2011, 10:44
1st stroke 1/2
2nd stroke 1/4
3rd stroke 1/8
4th stroke 1/16
total: (8+4+2+1)/16=15/16
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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02 Nov 2011, 10:46
1st stroke 1/2
2nd stroke 1/4
3rd stroke 1/8
4th stroke 1/16
total: (8+4+2+1)/16=15/16
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Re: Need Help - Fractions [#permalink]

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24 Sep 2013, 02:31
Better use compound interest formula.

Remaing amount = P ( 1 - R/100)^n

Let P is 100 ( 1 - 50/100)^4
Remaining amount = 100(1/16)

if 1/16 of 100 is remaining means 1-1/16 = 15/16 is lost.
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Re: if 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a [#permalink]

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13 May 2014, 05:31
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Re: If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a [#permalink]

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13 May 2014, 06:32
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puma wrote:
If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a vacuum pump, what fraction of the original amount of air has been removed after 4 strokes ?

A. 15/16
B. 7/8
C. 1/4
D. 1/8
E. 1/16

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Hope it helps.
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Re: If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a [#permalink]

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01 Aug 2014, 00:57
Let say total air = 1

Total air removed

$$= \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2^2} + \frac{1}{2^3} + \frac{1}{2^4}$$

$$= \frac{15}{16}$$

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Re: If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a [#permalink]

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26 Oct 2015, 10:19
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

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Re: If 1/2 of the air in a tank is removed with each stroke of a   [#permalink] 26 Oct 2015, 10:19
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