Bunuel
\(\frac{a + \frac{b}{c}}{\frac{d}{e}}\)
If the value of the expression above is to be halved by doubling exactly one of the five numbers a, b, c, d, or e, which should be doubled?
A) a
B) b
C) c
D) d
E) e
Notice that (a + b/c)/(d/c) = (a + b/c)(c/d) = ac/d + b/d.
If we double d we have:
(a + b/c)/(2d/c) = (a + b/c)(c/(2d)) = ac/(2d) + b/(2d) = (1/2)(ac/d) + (1/2)(b/d) = (1/2)(ac/d + b/d)
So we see that by doubling d, the entire expression is halved.
Alternate Solution:
Let’s initially set all five variables equal to 1. We would have:
[1+ (1/1)] /(1/1) = 2/1 = 2
Our goal is to determine which of the 1’s must be doubled so that the value of the entire expression is halved (i.e., equal to 1 instead of 2).
If a is doubled, we have: [2+ (1/1)] /(1/1) = 3/1 = 3 This is not correct.
If b is doubled, we have [1+ (2/1)] /(1/1) = 3/1 = 3 This is not correct.
If c is doubled, we have [1+ (1/2)] /(1/1) = (1.5/1 = 1.5 This is not correct.
If d is doubled, we have [1+ (1/1)] /(2/1) = 2/2 = 1 This is correct.
If e is doubled, we have [1+ (1/1)] /(1/2) = 2/(1/2) = 4 This is not correct.
Answer: D