Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 06:42 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 06:42
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Darden2010
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Last visit: 22 Jul 2020
Posts: 493
Own Kudos:
Schools: Darden '15
GMAT Date: 12-07-2011
Schools: Darden '15
Posts: 493
Kudos: 30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
tarek99
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Last visit: 15 Feb 2026
Posts: 765
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 765
Kudos: 5,109
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
walker
Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Last visit: 25 May 2025
Posts: 2,396
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 362
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Other
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2011
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V40
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2011
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V40
Posts: 2,396
Kudos: 10,845
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ian7777
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Last visit: 24 Jan 2010
Posts: 227
Own Kudos:
Posts: 227
Kudos: 178
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Darden2010
walker,

if you use that method
isn't 81 = [243]?

because [m] = 3 * m; if you plug in 81 for m you get 243


No - you've got to think like the gmat. The answer to the question is 81. But they are not giving you the answer. They're giving you five functions, one of which will BE 81. only 27 in the box = 3(27) = 81.
User avatar
walker
Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Last visit: 25 May 2025
Posts: 2,396
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 362
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Other
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2011
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V40
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2011
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V40
Posts: 2,396
Kudos: 10,845
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Darden2010
walker,

if you use that method
isn't 81 = [243]?

because [m] = 3 * m; if you plug in 81 for m you get 243


[x]=81 ==> [x]=3*27 ==>[27]
User avatar
GMAT TIGER
Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Last visit: 17 Aug 2011
Posts: 1,012
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 19
Posts: 1,012
Kudos: 1,796
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
tarek99
9*6= 54

since 54 is even, divide 54 by 2, therefore 54/2= 27 :)


is it coincide or work for all values?


lets see:

9 and 10 = (3x9) x (1/2 x 10) = 135
9x10/2 = 45x3 = 135

yah it works.

thanks.
User avatar
tarek99
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Last visit: 15 Feb 2026
Posts: 765
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 765
Kudos: 5,109
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Darden2010,

yeah i know, the gmat guys are just evil pricks...hehe...they have overly complicated this question, while the principle that they have asked is so rediculously simple. I really wonder what they're testing people on with such a question. it's not like you don't know how to solve such a simple arithmatic concept. and, in the real world, people normally ask for clearification when they're not clear about anything. here, they purposely trick you into getting a question wrong with their knowledge of human psychology. i just don't agree with their attempt to create such questions. totally pointless and irrelevant when learning business.
User avatar
walker
Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Last visit: 25 May 2025
Posts: 2,396
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 362
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Other
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2011
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V40
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2011
GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V40
Posts: 2,396
Kudos: 10,845
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Darden2010
I totally agree!

The GMAT is not about how much you know, but about how many of their tricks you can recognize in a question! I just hope I have learned enough of their tricks to get a score that starts with a 7 :)
:-D
User avatar
tarek99
Joined: 21 Jul 2006
Last visit: 15 Feb 2026
Posts: 765
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 765
Kudos: 5,109
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
and what does recognizing their tricks has anything to do with learning business? when you become a general manager of a company, are you ever going to be surrounded by department heads who are psychology freeks, endlessly trying to fool you professionally into taking wrong decisions rather than trying to impress you so that they can win both your support and their promotions? when they try to fool you, you simply FIRE THEM! and i don't think any department head would be that stupid to jeapordize his or her career, unless if they're trying to be cute on april fools day, but for every single day of your life, constantly and unmercifully facing such a tricky life that is out there with the only ONE purpose that is to get you ALL THE TIME????...come on, seriously and totally pointless and irrelevant...wow, what a stressful life we all are trying to get ourselves into....they better have a "stress management" course in the grad school we end up choosing....hahaha!



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.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
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.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!