Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 03:28 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 03:28
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Sub 505 (Easy)|   Arithmetic|   Exponents|                     
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,773
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,773
Kudos: 810,735
 [50]
8
Kudos
Add Kudos
41
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,448
 [8]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,448
 [8]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,773
Own Kudos:
810,735
 [4]
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,773
Kudos: 810,735
 [4]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 17 Dec 2025
Posts: 5,903
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,903
Kudos: 5,451
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel


17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17
\(17^3 + 17^4\)

Or, \(17^3( 1 + 17)\)

Or, \(17^3*18\), thus answer will be (B)
avatar
GMATINSECT
Joined: 17 Jun 2017
Last visit: 22 Jul 2020
Posts: 54
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 56
Posts: 54
Kudos: 64
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
WRT Question
17^3+17^4
= 17^3(common) [1+17]
=17^3*18
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,974
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,974
Kudos: 8,710
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17

17^3 + 17^4 = 17^3(1 + 17) = 17^3 x 18

Answer: B
User avatar
dave13
Joined: 09 Mar 2016
Last visit: 15 Mar 2026
Posts: 1,086
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 3,851
Posts: 1,086
Kudos: 1,137
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
SOLUTION

17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17

\(17^3 + 17^4 =17^3(1+17)=17^3*18\).

Answer: B.

Hi Bunuel, how do you call this rule when from this \(17^3 + 17^4\) you get this \(17^3(1+17)\) ? please explain in two or three words :)
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,773
Own Kudos:
810,735
 [1]
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,773
Kudos: 810,735
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
dave13
Bunuel
SOLUTION

17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17

\(17^3 + 17^4 =17^3(1+17)=17^3*18\).

Answer: B.

Hi Bunuel, how do you call this rule when from this \(17^3 + 17^4\) you get this \(17^3(1+17)\) ? please explain in two or three words :)

We are factoring out common term 17^3 from 17^3 + 17*17^3 to get 17^3(1+17).
User avatar
Mo2men
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Last visit: 09 May 2023
Posts: 2,426
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 641
Concentration: Operations, Strategy
Schools: Erasmus (II)
Products:
Schools: Erasmus (II)
Posts: 2,426
Kudos: 1,508
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17

17^3 + 17^4 = 17^3 (1+ 17) = 17^3 (18)

Answer: B
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,423
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,002
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,423
Kudos: 1,937
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17
17^3 + 17^4

Or, 17^3(1 + 17)

17^3 * 18

(B)
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,448
 [2]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,448
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The Official Guide For GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition

\(17^3 + 17^4\) =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17

\(17^3 + 17^4\) has the same format as \(x^3 + x^4\), which we can factor as follows: \(x^3(1 + x)\)
The same applies to the given expression.
\(17^3 + 17^4=17^3(1 + 17)\)
\(=(17^3)(18)\)

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent
avatar
meganmcl1
Joined: 17 Jun 2021
Last visit: 19 Dec 2021
Posts: 2
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 600 Q36 V36
GMAT 1: 600 Q36 V36
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone please explain why the answer still cannot be A?
User avatar
andreagonzalez2k
Joined: 15 Feb 2021
Last visit: 26 Jul 2025
Posts: 308
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 14
Posts: 308
Kudos: 503
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
meganmcl1
Can someone please explain why the answer still cannot be A?

When you multiply powers with the same base you add the exponents. When you add powers with the same base you can only take common factor.
avatar
meganmcl1
Joined: 17 Jun 2021
Last visit: 19 Dec 2021
Posts: 2
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 600 Q36 V36
GMAT 1: 600 Q36 V36
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
andreagonzalez2k
Thank you so much!
User avatar
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,063
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,063
Kudos: 20,000
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\(17^3 + 17^4 = 17^3(1 + 17) = 17^3(18)\)

Answer B
User avatar
GmatKnightTutor
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 31 Jan 2020
Last visit: 01 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,205
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 5,205
Kudos: 1,574
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17

Hello, people. For this question, making everything in the expression have a power of 3 can be helpful.

\(17^3 + 17^4\)

\(17^3 + 17(17^3)\)

\((1)(17^3) + (17)(17^3)\)

\((18)(17^3)\)

(B) is your answer.
User avatar
totaltestprepNick
Joined: 25 Aug 2014
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 469
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 469
Kudos: 4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
17^3 + 17^4 =

(A) 17^7
(B) 17^3*18
(C) 17^6*18
(D) 2*17^3 + 17
(E) 2*17^3 - 17





Nick Slavkovich, GMAT/GRE tutor with 20+ years of experience

[email protected]
Moderators:
Math Expert
109773 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts