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# 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 =

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Manager
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
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26 Dec 2012, 07:36
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Question Stats:

56% (02:09) correct 44% (02:08) wrong based on 2547 sessions

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$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) $$10^{(-8)}$$

(B) $$3*10^{(-8)}$$

(C) $$3*10^{(-4)}$$

(D) $$2*10^{(-4)}$$

(E) $$10^{(-4)}$$
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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26 Dec 2012, 07:39
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$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)

$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=\frac{1-10^{-8}}{1+10^{-4}}-\frac{1-9*10^{-8}}{1+3*10^{-4}}$$

Now apply $$a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)$$:

$$\frac{1-10^{-8}}{1+10^{-4}}-\frac{1-9*10^{-8}}{1+3*10^{-4}}=\frac{(1+10^{-4})(1-10^{-4})}{1+10^{-4}}-\frac{(1+3*10^{-4})(1-3*10^{-4})}{1+3*10^{-4}}=(1-10^{-4})-(1-3*10^{-4})=2*10^{-4}$$.

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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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02 Jul 2013, 01:16
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Bumping for review and further discussion*. Get a kudos point for an alternative solution!

*New project from GMAT Club!!! Check HERE

DS questions on Arithmetic: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=30
PS questions on Arithmetic: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=51

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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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22 Jul 2013, 22:16
101
30
$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)

Responding to a pm:
To be honest, I can't think of an alternative method. The fractions are really complicated and need to be simplified before proceeding. For simplification, I think you will need to use a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b)

All I can suggest is that you can try to solve it without the exponents if that seems easier e.g.

$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{.99999991}{1.0003}$$

$$\frac{{1 - .00000001}}{{1 + .0001}}-\frac{{1 - .00000009}}{{1 + .0003}}$$

$$\frac{{1^2 - .0001^2}}{{1 + .0001}}-\frac{{1^2 - 0.0003^2}}{{1 + .0003}}$$

$$\frac{{(1 - .0001)(1 + .0001)}}{{(1 + .0001)}}-\frac{{(1 - .0003)(1 + .0003)}}{{(1 + .0003)}}$$

$$(1 - .0001) - (1 - .0003)$$

$$.0002 = 2*10^{-4}$$
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Verbal Forum Moderator Joined: 10 Oct 2012 Posts: 620 Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink] ### Show Tags 22 Jul 2013, 23:00 23 4 Walkabout wrote: $$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$ (A) 10^(-8) (B) 3*10^(-8) (C) 3*10^(-4) (D) 2*10^(-4) (E) 10^(-4) The best solution is already outlined by Bunuel/Karishma. Because this is an Official Problem, I was sure there might be another way to do this. So i did spend some time and realized that 0.99999999 might be a multiple of 1.0001 because of the non-messy options and found this : 9*1.0001 = 9.0009 ; 99*1.0001 = 99.0099 and as because the problem had 9 eight times, we have 9999*1.0001 = 9999.9999. Again, looking for a similar pattern, the last digit of 0.99999991 gave a hint that maybe we have to multiply by something ending in 7, as because we have 1.0003 in the denominator. And indeed 9997*1.0001 = 9999.9991. Thus, the problem boiled down to $$9999*10^{-4} - 9997*10^{-4} = 2*10^{-4}$$ D. Maybe a bit of luck was handy. _________________ Intern Joined: 28 May 2012 Posts: 26 Concentration: Finance, General Management GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V35 GPA: 3.28 WE: Analyst (Investment Banking) Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink] ### Show Tags 23 Jul 2013, 00:25 19 3 Here is my alternative solution for this problem (not for all problems): $$\frac{A}{B} - \frac{C}{D}= \frac{(AD-BC)}{BD}$$. So $$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001} - \frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}= \frac{(0.99999999*1.0003-0.99999991*1.0001)}{(1.0001*1.0003)}$$. For this case, the ultimate digit of 0.99999999*1.0003-0.99999991*1.0001 is 6 In the denominator, the ultimate digit of 1.0001*1.0003 is 3 Therefore, the ultimate digit of the final result is 2. So it should be 2 * 0.00...01 --> Only D has the last digit of 2. Alternatively, we can calculate each fraction, $$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}$$ has last digit of 9, and $$\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}$$ has last digit of 7, so the final last digit is 2 --> D This is a special problem. For example $$\frac{...6}{4}$$ can have a result of ...4 or ...9. Therefore, in this case we have to calculate as Bunuel did. In general, we can only apply this strategy only if the last digit of divisor is 1, 2 or 3. Intern Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Posts: 16 Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink] ### Show Tags 09 Oct 2013, 17:50 How did we even know to apply a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b) to this problem? I understand the math, but if I saw this problem on the test I would have never guessed to apply that method. Thanks, C Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 8102 Location: Pune, India Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink] ### Show Tags 09 Oct 2013, 21:36 runningguy wrote: How did we even know to apply a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b) to this problem? I understand the math, but if I saw this problem on the test I would have never guessed to apply that method. Thanks, C (a^2 - b^2) is the "mathematical" method i.e. a very clean solution that a Math Prof will give you. With enough experience a^2 - b^2 method will come to you. But since most of us are not Math professors, we could get through using brute force. Two alternative approaches have been given by mau5 and lequanftu26. You may want to give them a thorough read. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Manager
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Posts: 59
Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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01 Mar 2014, 23:48
5
I just rounded it up, did some questionable math and got lucky, it would seem.

1/1.0001 - 1/1.0003 = ?
1/1.0001 = 1/1.0003
1.0003(1) = 1.0001(1)
1.0003-1.0001=?
0.0002

Manager
Joined: 24 Mar 2013
Posts: 59
Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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03 Mar 2014, 00:59
The decision to use the method I used was based on a lack of knowledge to apply any other method. I don't know how to elaborate my method that much more. I rounded both the 0.9999999 up to 1, then cross multiplied, then subtracted to get to the answer. As per my post above, was luck more than anything that I got the correct answer.
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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29 Aug 2014, 20:02
15
6
This is a crazy question eventhough I got the correct answer...

I simply think:
1. In fraction 1, we have 8 decimals devided by 4 decimals, so the result would be a number with 4 decimals
2. Fraction 2, same, so we should have another number with 4 decimals
3. Take these 2 numbers subtract each other, we should have another number with 4 decimals, so answer should be some thing 10^-4 --> eliminate A and B
4. We have an odd number - another odd number, the result should be van even number ---> eliminate C and E

IN real test, if I pump into this kind of question, I would just guess and move on
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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14 May 2015, 07:01
3
5
OR
Just do what a fifth grader would do!

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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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12 Jul 2015, 07:56
3
$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)

$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=\frac{1-10^{-8}}{1-10^{-4}}-\frac{1-9*10^{-8}}{1-3*10^{-4}}$$ (1)

Let $$a=10^{-4}$$ --> (1) equals $$\frac{1-a^{2}}{1-a}-\frac{1-(3a)^{2}}{1-3a}=\frac{(1-a)(1+a)}{1-a}-\frac{(1-3a)(1+3a)}{1-3a}=(1+a)-(1+3a)=1+a-1-3a=-2a=-2*10^{-4}$$
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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12 Jul 2015, 08:24
1
1
Beat720 wrote:
$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)

$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}$$=$$\frac{1-10^{-8}}{1-10^{-4}}-\frac{1-9*10^{-8}}{1-3*10^{-4}}$$ (1)

Let $$a=10^{-4}$$ --> (1) equals $$\frac{1-a^{2}}{1-a}-\frac{1-(3a)^{2}}{1-3a}=\frac{(1-a)(1+a)}{1-a}-\frac{(1-3a)(1+3a)}{1-3a}=(1+a)-(1+3a)=1+a-1-3a=-2a=-2*10^{-4}$$

Correct the denominators above with '-' in red to '+' and you will have the correct answer. $$1.0001 = 1+10^{-4}$$ and not $$1-10^{-4}$$. You have made a similar mistake for the second part.
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Joined: 22 Dec 2014
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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12 Jul 2015, 08:50
Engr2012 wrote:
Beat720 wrote:
$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)

$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}$$=$$\frac{1-10^{-8}}{1-10^{-4}}-\frac{1-9*10^{-8}}{1-3*10^{-4}}$$ (1)

Let $$a=10^{-4}$$ --> (1) equals $$\frac{1-a^{2}}{1-a}-\frac{1-(3a)^{2}}{1-3a}=\frac{(1-a)(1+a)}{1-a}-\frac{(1-3a)(1+3a)}{1-3a}=(1+a)-(1+3a)=1+a-1-3a=-2a=-2*10^{-4}$$

Correct the denominators above with '-' in red to '+' and you will have the correct answer. $$1.0001 = 1+10^{-4}$$ and not $$1-10^{-4}$$. You have made a similar mistake for the second part.

Oh, so true!! How come I made these stupid mistakes!! Many thanks, Engr2012!
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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04 Mar 2016, 12:15
11
3
$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)

2 minutes ain't gonna do this math. 3mins may with a high margin of error under exam condition.

Look at the options closely

A. 0.00000001
B. 0.00000003
C. 0.0003
D. 0.0002
E. 0.0001

Only one option is an even number, the rest odd (an esoteric sort of even/odd number)

both fractions in the question are odds
odd minus odd is always even.
Only D is even.

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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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04 Mar 2016, 12:21
Nez wrote:
$$\frac{0.99999999}{1.0001}-\frac{0.99999991}{1.0003}=$$

(A) 10^(-8)
(B) 3*10^(-8)
(C) 3*10^(-4)
(D) 2*10^(-4)
(E) 10^(-4)

2 minutes ain't gonna do this math. 3mins may with a high margin of error under exam condition.

Look at the options closely

A. 0.00000001
B. 0.00000003
C. 0.0003
D. 0.0002
E. 0.0001

Only one option is an even number, the rest odd (an esoteric sort of even/odd number)

both fractions in the question are odds
odd minus odd is always even.
Only D is even.

__________________________
Hit kudos for GMATclub's sake.

A conceptual mistake. Odd/even are ONLY for integers. You can not define a fraction to be odd or even, you were lucky in this question.

You do not need anything more than what Bunuel has mentioned in his post topic-144735.html#p1161158 (frankly you should know this method of attack for fractions to save yourself a lot of time!).

This is a straightforward question that can be solved within 2 minutes if you adopt proper strategies.
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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11 Mar 2016, 09:54
How about rounding up the numbers?

0.99999999 = 1 and 0.99999991 = 1

Then: 1/1.0001 - 1/1.0003 = X

>> 1.0003 - 1.0001 = X(1.0003*1.0001)
0.0002 = X(1.0004)
0.0002/1 = X >> X = 2(10^-4)
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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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15 Mar 2016, 12:27
I'm going to repost Ron's solution

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Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 = [#permalink]

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28 Mar 2016, 02:34
I just multiplied the numbers...
0.99999...*0.0001 that i equal to the 0.9999... but you just have to add 4 zeros so it would be 0.0000999...
then i multiplied the other number times 0.0003. you just have to multiply the number by 3 and then whatever number you get you add 3 zeros in front (given that you are multiplying by 0.0003) then you get 2 numbers that are almost the same except for the initial 0.0002. I took a little longer but it worked...
Re: 0.99999999/1.0001 - 0.99999991/1.0003 =   [#permalink] 28 Mar 2016, 02:34

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