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.
Thank you for using the timer!
We noticed you are actually not timing your practice. Click the START button first next time you use the timer.
There are many benefits to timing your practice, including:
Achieving a high GMAT score while balancing a hectic work life is challenging, but with the right strategy, it's absolutely possible. Discover the ultimate GMAT study strategy designed exclusively for working professionals.
Are you ready to take your career to the next level but unsure whether to pursue an MBA or MIM degree? Well, you're in luck because today we're diving deep into this massive decision that could shape your future in the business world!
Do RC/MSR passages scare you? e-GMAT is conducting a masterclass to help you learn – Learn effective reading strategies Tackle difficult RC & MSR with confidence Excel in timed test environment
Is hitting the 100th percentile on GMAT Focus an impossible dream? Let Piyush's journey to a remarkable 735 score (100th Percentile) change your mind! Gain invaluable insights and actionable tips to elevate your own GMAT performance.
The Target Test Prep team is excited to announce multiple live online classes for GMAT Focus test-takers in May. Our 40-hour LiveTeach program will take your GMAT Focus score to the next level.
Think a 100% GMAT Focus Verbal score is out of your reach? TTP will make you think again! Our course uses techniques such as topical study and spaced repetition to maximize knowledge retention and make studying simple and fun.
HELP - I FORGOT ALGEBRA
[#permalink]
04 Aug 2010, 18:28
Show timer
00:00
A
B
C
D
E
Difficulty:
(N/A)
Question Stats:
100%
(02:59)
correct
0%
(00:00)
wrong
based on 4
sessions
HideShow
timer Statistics
I can set up the equation for GMAT CLUB TEST 15 problem 20 but cannot seem to solve. Is there anyone that can break this down for me? I am banging my head up against the wall in frustration. (see below).
Tom read a book containing 480 pages by reading the same number of pages each day. If he would have finished the book 5 days earlier by reading 16 pages a day more, how many days did Tom spend reading the book?
(C) 2008 GMAT Club - m15#20
10 12 15 16 18
Any help is much appreciated!
Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Re: HELP - I FORGOT ALGEBRA
[#permalink]
04 Aug 2010, 21:23
I would work backwards.
1) You are given number of days, so divide 480 by one of the choices to get the number of pages read per day. 2) Add 16 to that. 3) Divide 480 by that total, see if that gets to the 5 less than number of days you used.
Re: HELP - I FORGOT ALGEBRA
[#permalink]
05 Aug 2010, 07:24
If you wish to formally set it up, you could write two equations with two unknowns. In this case, we do not know how many pages per day he was reading (I will call this rate r), and we don't know how many days it took him to read the book (I will call this d).
Using dimensional analysis we know that
total # of pages * # of days per page = # of days spent
(pgs) * (days/pg) = (days)
\(480 * \frac{1}{pgs/day} = d\)
\(480 * \frac{1}{r} = d\)
Similarly, we can write a second equation for the additional piece of given information (that we could have finished 5 days sooner reading at a rate of 16 more pages a day).
\(480 * \frac{1}{(r+16)} = d-5\)
Now we have two equations with two unknowns. I would solve one of the two for r and then substitute into the other equation for r. This will give you a single equation that you can solve for d, the desired quantity.
In this case the final equation is a quadratic that can be factored to yield two solutions, one of which is negative and thus can be ignored (it didn't take him negative days to complete the book).
\((d-15)(d+10) = 0\)
Hence d must be 15.
As you can see, this process is likely more time consuming than using the multiple choices to work backwards.
Re: HELP - I FORGOT ALGEBRA
[#permalink]
05 Aug 2010, 22:09
1
Kudos
toddrud wrote:
I can set up the equation for GMAT CLUB TEST 15 problem 20 but cannot seem to solve. Is there anyone that can break this down for me? I am banging my head up against the wall in frustration. (see below).
Tom read a book containing 480 pages by reading the same number of pages each day. If he would have finished the book 5 days earlier by reading 16 pages a day more, how many days did Tom spend reading the book?
(C) 2008 GMAT Club - m15#20
10 12 15 16 18
Any help is much appreciated!
Better work with choices....
E is out straightaway because 480/18 is not an integer....Tom can not read pages in fractions....
Now With choices...
A
480/10 = 48 pages add 16 pages 64 480/64 doesnt gives 5 days (not an integer)
B
480/12 = 40 pages add 16 pages 56 480/56 doesnt gives 7 days (not an integer)
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.