A tablet containing one of the most famous mathematical texts from

Question

Project SC Butler: Day 55 Sentence Correction (SC1) 
 For SC butler Questions  Click Here

A tablet containing one of the most famous mathematical texts from ancient Mesopotamia proves that the Babylonians  had derived the formula that came later to be called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras would .

A) had derived the formula that came later to be called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras would

B) derived the formula later called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras did

C) derived what was later called the Pythagorean theorem long before the time in which the Greek philosopher Pythagorean was

D) derived the formula later called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher has

E) derived from the formula later called the Pythagorean theorem long before its derivation by the Greek philosopher Pythagoras

EDIT :This question originally contained a typographical error in option B. I mistakenly inserted the word  from  after  derived

The  best or excellent answers get kudos , which will be  awarded  after   the answer is revealed.

adkikani · Answer

This sentence tests knowledge on verb tenses and correct sequencing.

A tablet containing one of the most famous mathematical texts from ancient Mesopotamia proves that the Babylonians  had derived the formula that came later to be called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras would .

Meaning:
A tablet containing X proves that B derived formula 
long before P  did 
What was the formula: It was called Pythagoras theorem

containing in the non-underlined portion is a verb-ing modifier correctly modifying a previous noun- tablet
When we have time markers such as after/before, the use of past perfect/simple past tense is permitted.
that is a noun modifier modifying a singular noun: formula

Why would I say would (a verb in simple future tense/ a prediction) when clearly the time marker  long before  suggests 
that I need an action to compare in simple past to be parallel with what B did.

Yes, had derived is correct because of the above explanation, simple past tense  did  puts parallelism in place too

Now parallelism is  hot mess . We are comparing X (an action verb: derived 
with a noun Greek philosopher)

We need a point of time event as in simple past to denote what Greek philosopher did, 
 has  is a present perfect tense verb and the discovery of philosopher was done and over in past.

Again incorrect parallelism by comparing an action verb with a noun (this time  derivation ) as in C

teja8 · Answer

Posted from my mobile device

gadde22 · Answer

A - Feel that would is not apt there since pythagerons already derived theorem.

B - derived from is wrong usage

C - before the time is redundant

D - has is perfect tense not apt here.

E- Seems good in all aspects.

sm86 · Answer

The reason I did not mark B is because it changed the meaning. Is it okay if the meaning is changed.
From: X derived Y
To: X derived from Y

generis   sudarshan22   GMATNinja

generis · Answer

Project SC Butler: Day 55 Sentence Correction (SC1) 
 For SC butler Questions  Click Here

A tablet containing one of the most famous mathematical texts from ancient Mesopotamia proves that the Babylonians  had derived the formula that came later to be called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras would .

A) had derived the formula that came later to be called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras would
B) derived   from   the formula later called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras did
C) derived what was later called the Pythagorean theorem long before the time in which the Greek philosopher Pythagorean was
D) derived the formula later called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher has
E) derived from the formula later called the Pythagorean theorem long before its derivation by the Greek philosopher Pythagoras

*FACEPALM*

I had a typo in answer choice B.
 Everyone gets kudos. 
  
I will edit the original.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

• The presence of the verb  derived  in different forms, as well as the presence of different verbs
at the end of different answer choices indicates that this question is testing  both verb tense and parallel structure.

The verb at the end of the sentence must be parallel to the verb at the beginning of the underlined portion.

• (A) is incorrect because  had derived  is not parallel to  would. 
-- In addition,  came later to be  should be  later came to be . 
The adverb  later  modifies the entire clause  that came to be called the Pythagorean theorem.

• If we were to write out the full correction, the sentence would read,
 A tablet containing one of the most famous mathematical texts from ancient Mesopotamia proves that the Babylonians derived the formula that LATER came to be called the Pythagorean theorem long before the Greek philosopher Pythagoras derived it/the formula.

The goal is to find the answer that matches that construction most closely.

• (B) is correct because  did  is an appropriate substitute for derived, and both verbs are placed in the simple past.

• C and D are incorrect because  was  and  has    cannot   substitute for  derived ,
and because  where  in C cannot refer to a time.
 On the GMAT,  where  must be a place, a literal place, such as Elm Street or the Eiffel Tower or "my house."

• E is incorrect because it is illogical.  Derived  should not be followed by a preposition in this case:  X is derived from Y. 
The Babylonians derived the formula—they did not derive  from  the formula.

COMMENTS

• A good rule of thumb: if you can avoid deciding between past perfect and simple past, do so.
1) many people  incorrectly  avoid simple past merely because one event in the past happens earlier than the other. 
If, as in this case, there is a time sequence word such as LATER, simple past is fine.
We know which action is the "past of the past" without having to use past perfect.

2) Words such as  before, after, previously, and later  (and others) signal the time sequence.
We therefore have two events that happened in the past and we do not need "had derived" (for those who rejected B
because it was not framed in past perfect)

Correct: The Mt. Saint Helens volcano  showed  signs of trouble long  before  it  erupted .
Not necessary, but allowed: The Mt. Saint Helens volcano  had showed  signs of trouble long  before  it  erupted.

Find a different decision point. 
A vs. B? In A, 1) had derived and would are not parallel; 2) LATER is misplaced.

*********
Again, I apologize. Nothing like a crazy-making question created by a typo.

Kudos to all.

HAPPY 2019!

adkikani · Answer

Hi  generis

Thanks for the detailed comments.
 
Was I incorrect in understanding earlier? I thought both tenses are permitted.

generis · Answer

adkikani - Yes, past perfect is permitted with a time sequence word, but past perfect is not automatically preferred . In fact, if at all, the balance tilts towards simple past. I wish to emphasize that IF a sentence contains a time sequence word, two past events can be described by simple past. I have no idea from which post your quote comes. Please, post a link ? It is difficult to analyze statements pulled out of original context. • Almost certainly, you can and should find a decision point other than verb tense if past perfect and simple past seem to be at issue. Of the most recently published 251 official questions in OG 2019 and OG VR 2019, all of which I read, if past perfect and simple past show up in the answer choices, there is always another decision point, one that has nothing to do with verb tense. • In this question, a different decision point can eliminate (A): had derived and would are not parallel. And (A) should be "LATER came to pass." I will edit my response. My point could have been made more clearly: • Do not reject simple past merely because there is more than one action in the past. If 2+ events happened in the past and there is a time sequence word (LATER) or dates that show sequence, simple past is correct. (And hypothetically, theoretically, counterfactually as far as I can tell: IF all else is equal, choose concision and avoidance of redundancy.) Hope that helps.

Shobhit7 · Answer

GMATNinja

QUERY:

Whenever an elliptical clause ends with a helping verb, such as 'did' in choice B, shouldn't associated main verb be present in the initial clause. eg. did + derive. If yes, then in choice B, how "did+derived (past tense)" stands incorrect?

DmitryFarber · Answer

Shobhit7  That is definitely not a rule. When we use do/does/did to stand in for an earlier verb, we typically should not repeat the verb:

I ran faster than he did. 
 She saw the movie earlier in the week than you did.
He finds more value in the plan than we do.

A tablet containing one of the most famous mathematical texts from

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

A tablet containing one of the most famous mathematical texts from

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