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Sub 505 Level|   Word Problems|                                    
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If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice as much as his sister. Together they now weigh 278 pounds. What is Jake's present weight, in pounds?

(A) 131
(B) 135
(C) 139
(D) 147
(E) 188

Let J be Jake's present weight and S be his sister's weight, then we can construct two linear equations:

J = 2S + 8;
J + S = 278.

Subtract one from another:

S = 278 - 2S - 8
S = 90
J = 2S + 8 = 188.

Answer: E.
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One of my favorite method to attempt questions is by using as low level an approach as possible:

- On this question we know that 278 is the current sum of Jake's and his sister weights

- We also know that 270 is the sum of their weights if Jake loses 8 pounds

- Since 270 equals 2 parts from Jake's weight and 1 part from his sister weight so we can have following ratio

- Jake: 2 parts of 270 (180) and Sister: 1 part of 270 (90)

- So Jake's current weight will be those 2 parts (180) plus the weight that he has not lost yet (8) = 188 (option E)


- In fact we don't even need to calculate 188. Since we know that Jake's weight is at least 180 and since none of the other options is anywhere close to 180, so our answer is automatically option - E. Moreover, if you are pressed for time then you don't even have to consider 8. You can use the approximation technique to divide 278 into 3 equal parts which will be about ~93 and so Jake's weight is approximately 186 (and so only option E works)
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Walkabout
If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice as much as his sister. Together they now weigh 278 pounds. What is Jake's present weight, in pounds?

(A) 131
(B) 135
(C) 139
(D) 147
(E) 188

Here's a solution that uses one variable.

Let x = Jake's present weight in pounds
So, x - 8 = Jake's hypothetical weight IF he were to lose 8 pounds

If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice as much as his sister.
In other words, the sister weighs HALF as much as Jake's hypothetical weight of x - 8 pounds
So, (x - 8)/2 = sister's present weight

Together they NOW weigh 278 pounds.
So, Jake's present weight + sister's present weight = 278
So, x + (x - 8)/2 = 278
Eliminate the fraction by multiplying both sides by 2 to get: 2x + (x - 8) = 556
Simplify: 3x - 8 = 556
Add 8 to both sides: 3x = 564
Solve: x = 564/3 = 188

Answer: E

Cheers,
Brent
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Quote:
If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice as much as his sister. Together they now weigh 278 pounds. What is Jake's present weight, in pounds?

(A) 131
(B) 135
(C) 139
(D) 147
(E) 188
Hello Experts,
EMPOWERgmatRichC, VeritasKarishma, IanStewart
Is it the right way...?

Let Jake's weight is 11 (odd number). After losing 8 pounds, his new weight would be 3. This 3 pounds is the twice of his sister. So, his sister's weight is \(\frac{3}{2}=1.5\) pound.
Their present weight is 11+1.5 pounds=12.5 pounds (this is fraction value). The question prompt gave their total weight is EVEN (278). So, Jake's weight can't be odd (say 11). The weight of Jake must be EVEN. In the answer option, every answer option is ODD without choice E. So, choice E is the correct choice.

Or,
We can cross out choices A, B and C easily.
A, B and C:
Half of 278 is 139, which is choice C. Jake's weight has to be a lot more than half of 278. Because, together they weigh 278, but Jake is more than twice as much as his sister. So, he needs to be a lot more than half of 278. The correct choice MUST be greater than 139.

Thanks__
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Hi Asad,

YES - the Number Properties that you've described could be used to correctly answer this question. This goes to show how important it is to pay attention to how the answers are written. There are plenty of circumstances (in BOTH the Quant and Verbal sections), in which you can use the 5 answer choices "against" the prompt to logically eliminate the wrong answers and zero-in on the correct one.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Video solution from Quant Reasoning:
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Walkabout
If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice as much as his sister. Together they now weigh 278 pounds. What is Jake's present weight, in pounds?

(A) 131
(B) 135
(C) 139
(D) 147
(E) 188

Answer: Option E

Video solution by GMATinsight

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­No sweat. Couple of equations:

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Walkabout
If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice as much as his sister. Together they now weigh 278 pounds. What is Jake's present weight, in pounds?

(A) 131
(B) 135
(C) 139
(D) 147
(E) 188

A shorter way is,
If now they weigh together 278, then 278 - 8 = 270. And 270/3= 90 -> 90*2= 180 that is double of sister. Then just add the 8 pounds again because asks for present weight, and we have 188 pounds. Answer (E) 188
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