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Sub 505 (Easy)|   Exponents|      
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shakticnb
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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = Updated on: 02 Sep 2015, 03:20
Originally posted by shakticnb on 02 Sep 2015, 03:16.
Last edited by Bunuel on 02 Sep 2015, 03:20, edited 1 time in total.
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A
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89% (00:23) correct 11% (00:42) wrong based on 358 sessions

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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 =


A. 4^4
B. 4^6
C. 4^8
D. 4^9
E. 4^12
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A
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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 02 Sep 2015, 03:21
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shakticnb
4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 =


A. 4^4
B. 4^6
C. 4^8
D. 4^9
E. 4^12
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\(4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 4*4^3 = 4^4\).

Answer: A.
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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 02 Sep 2015, 08:10
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shakticnb
4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 =


A. 4^4
B. 4^6
C. 4^8
D. 4^9
E. 4^12
Show more

Responding to a pm:

I am not sure what's tripping you but here is an explanation:

We know the rules of exponents. If terms with same bases are multiplied, we add the powers. If terms with same bases are divided, we subtract the powers.
But if terms with same bases are added/subtracted, you cannot modify the powers. The only thing to do in such cases is "take common".

\(4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3\)

What is common in each term? Each term has \(4^3\). So take it common. You get

\(4^3 * ( 1 + 1 + 1 + 1) = 4^3 * 4 = 4^3 * 4^1\)

Now, the two terms 4^3 and 4^1 are multiplied and they have the same base 4. So you will add the powers.

\(4^3 * 4^1 = 4^(3 +1) = 4^4\)

This is the answer.

Similarly, if you are given \(4^2 + 4^3\), we see that both terms have \(4^2\). The second term has an extra 4.

\(4^2 + 4^3 = 4^2 * ( 1 + 4) = 4^2 * 5\)
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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 03 Sep 2015, 22:33
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Hi shakticnb,

Certain Quant questions on the GMAT are just about 'organizing' the information in a specific way. If you find yourself getting confused by a prompt, think about how you might change the way that the information is presented to you.

Here, for example, we're asked for....

4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 =

Now, the GMAT doesn't really expect us to calculate this sum (but we could if we had to), but we are expected to find a way to organize this information... If, instead of all of those exponents, we had...

X + X + X + X =

What would the sum be?

Clearly, it would be 4(X) = 4X.....since we're just combining 'like' terms. Take that same idea with this prompt and you have...

4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 =

4(4^3)

This can be re-written as...

(4^1)(4^3)

...and now we can use exponent rules; since we're MULTIPLYING 'bases' that are the same, we ADD the exponents...

(4^1)(4^3) = 4^4

Final Answer:
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A

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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 04 Sep 2016, 12:29
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shakticnb
4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 =


A. 4^4
B. 4^6
C. 4^8
D. 4^9
E. 4^12
Show more

4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3

= 4^3 ( 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 )

= 4^3 (4^1 )

= 4^4

Hence answer will be (A)
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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 15 Oct 2020, 00:22
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\(4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 4^3 (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ) = 4^3 * 4 = 4^4\)

Answer A
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4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 + 4^3 = 25 Sep 2024, 17:06
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