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# 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =

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Manager
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 178
1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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07 Dec 2012, 05:03
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$$\frac{1}{2} +\frac{\frac{2}{3} *\frac{3}{8}}{4} - \frac{9}{16}$$.

(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 43898
Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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07 Dec 2012, 05:08
1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =

(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0

$$\frac{1}{2} +\frac{\frac{2}{3} *\frac{3}{8}}{4} - \frac{9}{16} =\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16}=\frac{8}{16}+\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16}=0$$.

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Senior Manager
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Posts: 456
Concentration: Marketing, Finance
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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18 Dec 2012, 22:28
I love it when you get 0 in the GMAT.

$$1/2 + (2/3)(3/8)(1/4) - 9/16 = 1/2 - 1/16 - 9/16 = 1/2 - 8/16 = 1/2-1/2=0$$

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Joined: 09 Sep 2013
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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04 Oct 2015, 15:26
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2016, 13:01
1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =

(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0

We need to simplify the expression using PEMDAS.

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication and Division

The calculation of an equation or expression must be carried out in the following order:

1) Operations within parentheses (or absolute value bars or radicals)
2) Exponents
3) Multiplication and division from left to right
4) Addition and subtraction from left to right

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Joined: 09 Sep 2013
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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12 Jun 2017, 08:56
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

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Director
Joined: 02 Sep 2016
Posts: 786
Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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21 Sep 2017, 21:46
Bunuel what difference does it make if we do not follow PEMDAS rule for addition?

For example:
1/2+1/16-9/16
= 1/2-8/16
=0

Or

1/2+1/16-9/16
= (8+1-9)/16
=Still 0
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]

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21 Sep 2017, 22:29
Shiv2016 wrote:
Bunuel what difference does it make if we do not follow PEMDAS rule for addition?

For example:
1/2+1/16-9/16
= 1/2-8/16
=0

Or

1/2+1/16-9/16
= (8+1-9)/16
=Still 0

Neither of those violates any rule and both are correct:

$$\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16}$$

You can treat it as $$(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16})-\frac{9}{16}$$ or $$\frac{1}{2}+(\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16})$$ or $$(\frac{1}{2}-\frac{9}{16})+\frac{1}{16}$$. This is because of commutative law, which says that any finite sum (or product) is unaltered by reordering its terms or factors. Simply put a + b = b + a and ab = ba.

Of course yo can simply transform all fractions having the same common denominator and proceed: $$\frac{8+1-9}{16}$$.

Check for more HERE.

Hope it helps.
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =   [#permalink] 21 Sep 2017, 22:29
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