GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 20 Oct 2018, 14:25

### 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

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

# If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Manager
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 04 Nov 2014, 10:00
1
3
00:00

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

81% (02:00) correct 19% (02:27) wrong based on 292 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

If $$\frac{(6^2)(44)(5^x)(20)}{(8^2)(9)} = 1375$$, what is the value of x?

A. -1
B. 0
C. 1
D. 2
E. 3

Originally posted by lifeisshort on 20 Aug 2010, 11:12.
Last edited by Bunuel on 04 Nov 2014, 10:00, edited 5 times in total.
Edited the question.
Director
Status: Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 629
Schools: Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 11:18

If just looked at 5 then we have 5^(x+1) = 5^3

Posted from my mobile device
_________________

Consider kudos, they are good for health

Manager
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 20 Aug 2010, 11:31
mainhoon wrote:

If just looked at 5 then we have 5^(x+1) = 5^3

Posted from my mobile device

How can we assume five-to-the-x-power, (5^x), is actually 5^x plus "some other number"? If that was the intention of the problem, then the problem would show (5^(x+1)) not (5^x)...right?

And in anycase, how did you decide on the answer choice? How do you know what the answer is....

Originally posted by lifeisshort on 20 Aug 2010, 11:28.
Last edited by lifeisshort on 20 Aug 2010, 11:31, edited 1 time in total.
Director
Status: Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 629
Schools: Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 11:30
I got the extra 5 from 20. I wa isolating all the 5s in one place.. So is it 2?

Posted from my mobile device
_________________

Consider kudos, they are good for health

Manager
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 11:57
I don't know the answer, unfortunately. Anyone able to offer a solution/explanation for this problem?
Director
Status: Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 629
Schools: Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 12:02
1
Ok so I took a calculator out and here is the bottom-line
5^x = 18.59, it's not a clean figure, I don't know why
But closest has to be 2..

Posted from my mobile device
_________________

Consider kudos, they are good for health

Manager
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 12:19
Ooops, I must apologize because I made a blunder in my copy/paste of this equation.
(62) should be (6^2), six-to-the-power-of-two.

So, does this change your answer...if not, can you elaborate more on how exactly you arrived at your solution? THanks.
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 184
Schools: Booth
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 13:29
Are you sure that the denominator is correct? 1,375 factors to 11 * 5^3. The denominator factors to 41*2*3*3. There is no other 41 in the equation to cancel out. Further, 41 is a prime number. It just seems to me that this is the sort of problem where most other numbers will cancel out and you would be left with 5^x = 5^3.
_________________
Director
Status: Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 629
Schools: Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 14:03
I would say x is still 2 as your correction did not introduce any more 5s... Doublecheck with calc but 6^2 still doesn't work

lifeisshort wrote:
Ooops, I must apologize because I made a blunder in my copy/paste of this equation.
(62) should be (6^2), six-to-the-power-of-two.

So, does this change your answer...if not, can you elaborate more on how exactly you arrived at your solution? THanks.

Posted from my mobile device
_________________

Consider kudos, they are good for health

Manager
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 54
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 17:33
runnergirl683 wrote:
Are you sure that the denominator is correct? 1,375 factors to 11 * 5^3. The denominator factors to 41*2*3*3. There is no other 41 in the equation to cancel out. Further, 41 is a prime number. It just seems to me that this is the sort of problem where most other numbers will cancel out and you would be left with 5^x = 5^3.

Gosh, yes I see the denominator was incorrect; it should be (8^2), I made the change.
The problem is now correct....and with a quick calculator check, the answer should be 2 (answer D).

But is there anyway to do this OTHER than doing ALL of that LONG-hand multiplication and LONG-hand division? It takes too much time and increases the chance I'll make an error.

What is the shortcut?
Director
Status: Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Posts: 629
Schools: Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Aug 2010, 17:53
Well, as I have been saying in my earlier posts above the shortest method indeed is:
5^(x+1) = 5^3
x=>2

Just compare the powers of 5 on both sides. I can't imagine anything shorter than this.
_________________

Consider kudos, they are good for health

VP
Joined: 17 Feb 2010
Posts: 1158
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

23 Aug 2010, 12:38
5
2
The attached should help.
Attachments

solution.jpg [ 636.2 KiB | Viewed 4700 times ]

Intern
Status: In Quiet Contemplation
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 12
WE 1: General Management: Plastics Manufacturing (7 years)
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

24 Aug 2010, 10:40
seekmba wrote:
The attached should help.

Yup, that's how I did it. I think what we must remember in this case is that most of the time, GMAT problems that appear to require complex calculations can often be simplified to very manageable proportions.
Manager
Joined: 20 Apr 2010
Posts: 218
WE 1: 4.6 years Exp IT prof
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

27 Aug 2010, 07:34
You can do it two ways Either by solving the whole equation or by considering 1375 and it's factor with the factors on the other side
for full explanation Seekmba has given right but long explanation
another the shorter version
The whole equation on the left side when solved should be equal to the 1375
the factors of 1375 are 5*5*5*11
that means all this value will be present on the left side of the equation
and rest all will cancel each other out
Moreover we are not concerned about any powers of 2,3 and 11
we are only concerned with the power of 5
so we will search for the 5 as factor for the equation on the left
it comes out to be 5^x and 5 as a factor of 20
Hence 5^x*5 = 5^3
that is all what is required therefore the answer for x is 2
i.e. D
_________________

I will give a Fight till the End

"To dream anything that you want to dream, that is the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do, that is the strength of the human will. To trust yourself, to test your limits, that is the courage to succeed."
- Bernard Edmonds

A person who is afraid of Failure can never succeed -- Amneet Padda

Don't Forget to give the KUDOS

Retired Moderator
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 210
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

04 Nov 2010, 12:58
1
easy one if you prime factorise every term with 2 and 3 , just discard all possible and you are left with only one prime "5" to be operated
_________________

http://www.gmatpill.com/gmat-practice-test/

Amazing Platform

SVP
Status: The Best Or Nothing
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Posts: 1829
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

29 Oct 2014, 20:39
$$\frac{6^2* 44* 5^x *20}{8^2 *9} = 1375$$

$$5^{x+1} = 125$$

x+1 = 3

x = 2

_________________

Kindly press "+1 Kudos" to appreciate

Intern
Joined: 18 Sep 2014
Posts: 1
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

02 Mar 2015, 03:07
PareshGmat wrote:
$$\frac{6^2* 44* 5^x *20}{8^2 *9} = 1375$$

$$5^{x+1} = 125$$

x+1 = 3

x = 2

Can you explain this? Can't get it
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 50007
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

02 Mar 2015, 03:14
neowacka wrote:
PareshGmat wrote:
$$\frac{6^2* 44* 5^x *20}{8^2 *9} = 1375$$

$$5^{x+1} = 125$$

x+1 = 3

x = 2

Can you explain this? Can't get it

Explained here: if-6-2-44-5-x-20-8-2-9-1375-what-is-the-value-of-x-99494.html#p768504
_________________
Manager
Joined: 20 Apr 2014
Posts: 94
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Jul 2016, 21:15
I think we need to know the prime factors of 1375 then we must cancel out any prime factor different from the other side and complete the missing power of common prime factors.
1375 = 11 x 5 power 3 so there is no need for 2 or 3 on the other side. so 5 and 11 must have missing power which is 5 power 2
x = 2
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 8484
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

03 Apr 2018, 01:15
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).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________
Re: If (6^2)(44)(5^x)(20) / (8^2)(9) = 1375, what is the value of x? &nbs [#permalink] 03 Apr 2018, 01:15
Display posts from previous: Sort by