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# The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost

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Senior RC Moderator
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The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost  [#permalink]

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05 Feb 2020, 08:53
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55% (hard)

Question Stats:

67% (02:36) correct 33% (02:18) wrong based on 48 sessions

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The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost of a radio. The total of an air conditioner and a radio is v dollars. Which of the following is the cost of an air conditioner, in dollars?

A. $$\frac{v-b}{4}$$

B. $$\frac{v-b}{3}$$

C. $$\frac{2y+b}{3}$$

D. $$\frac{v+3b}{4}$$

E. $$\frac{3y+b}{4}$$

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Re: The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost  [#permalink]

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06 Feb 2020, 23:51
1
Let the cost of a radio be $100. Let the value of ‘b’ be$50. Then,

Cost of an air-conditioner = 3* 100 + 50 = $350. The total cost of an air-conditioner and a radio, v = 350 + 100 =$450

Now, the only thing left is to figure out is which option will give us 350 when we substitute the respective values of the variables.

Option A is $$\frac{(v-b) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{(450 – 50) }{ 4}$$ = 100, which is the cost of the radio and not the air-conditioner. Option A can be eliminated.

Option B can be eliminated since $$\frac{(v-b) }{ 3}$$ gives us $$\frac{400}{3}$$, which doesn’t represent the cost of anything in this situation.

I’m assuming that the 2y in option C is actually 2v (there’s no variable y mentioned in the question). sajjad Ahmad, please clarify.

$$\frac{(2v+b) }{ 3}$$ = $$\frac{950 }{ 3}$$, which is not the cost of the air conditioner. Option C can also be eliminated.

$$\frac{(v+3b) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{600 }{ 4}$$ which is not the cost of the air conditioner. Option D can be eliminated.

The only option left is E, that has to be the right answer. $$\frac{(3v + b) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{(1350 + 50) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{1400 }{ 4}$$ = 350 which is definitely the price of the air conditioner.

When there are variables in the options and the question, plug in simple values and use those values to evaluate options and eliminate the wrong answers. Of course, you can also develop expressions and solve the question, but sometimes this may require more time and effort. Dealing with numbers is always easier.

Hope that helps!
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Re: The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost  [#permalink]

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07 Feb 2020, 00:05
ArvindCrackVerbal wrote:
Let the cost of a radio be $100. Let the value of ‘b’ be$50. Then,

Cost of an air-conditioner = 3* 100 + 50 = $350. The total cost of an air-conditioner and a radio, v = 350 + 100 =$450

Now, the only thing left is to figure out is which option will give us 350 when we substitute the respective values of the variables.

Option A is $$\frac{(v-b) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{(450 – 50) }{ 4}$$ = 100, which is the cost of the radio and not the air-conditioner. Option A can be eliminated.

Option B can be eliminated since $$\frac{(v-b) }{ 3}$$ gives us $$\frac{400}{3}$$, which doesn’t represent the cost of anything in this situation.

I’m assuming that the 2y in option C is actually 2v (there’s no variable y mentioned in the question). sajjad Ahmad, please clarify.

$$\frac{(2v+b) }{ 3}$$ = $$\frac{950 }{ 3}$$, which is not the cost of the air conditioner. Option C can also be eliminated.

$$\frac{(v+3b) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{600 }{ 4}$$ which is not the cost of the air conditioner. Option D can be eliminated.

The only option left is E, that has to be the right answer. $$\frac{(3v + b) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{(1350 + 50) }{ 4}$$ = $$\frac{1400 }{ 4}$$ = 350 which is definitely the price of the air conditioner.

When there are variables in the options and the question, plug in simple values and use those values to evaluate options and eliminate the wrong answers. Of course, you can also develop expressions and solve the question, but sometimes this may require more time and effort. Dealing with numbers is always easier.

Hope that helps!

Mate wtf, that was too long

Just make 2 equations

3R+b=A 1(1)
and
A+R=v (2)
Here in (2) R=v-A and substitute this in (1) and you are ready most 45 sec to answer this if you are in the zone otherwise 1 min which is still more efficient
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Re: The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost  [#permalink]

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09 Feb 2020, 05:22
1
The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost of a radio. The total of an air conditioner and a radio is v dollars. Which of the following is the cost of an air conditioner, in dollars?

A. $$\frac{v-b}{4}$$

B. $$\frac{v-b}{3}$$

C. $$\frac{2y+b}{3}$$

D. $$\frac{v+3b}{4}$$

E. $$\frac{3y+b}{4}$$

[Note: y in both choices C and E should be v.]

Let a = the cost of an air conditioner and r = the cost of a radio. We can create the equation:

a = b + 3r

and

a + r = v

r = v - a

Substituting (v - a) for r, we have:

a = b + 3(v - a)

a = b + 3v - 3a

4a = b + 3v

a = (b + 3v)/4

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Re: The cost of an air conditioner is b dollars more than 3 times the cost   [#permalink] 09 Feb 2020, 05:22
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