Two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S. Which of the following is the gr

Question

Two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S. Which of the following is the greater of the numbers in terms of S ?

A.  \frac{S}{2} -1

B.  \frac{S}{2}

C.  \frac{S}{2} + \frac{1}{2}

D.  \frac{S}{2} +1

E.  \frac{S}{2} +2

OG Q 2017 (Book Question: 139)

JeffTargetTestPrep · Accepted Answer

We are given that two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S.

We can let the smaller number = x and the larger number = x + 2.

Since the two numbers sum to S, we have:

x + x + 2 = S

2x + 2 = S

2x = S - 2

x = (S - 2)/2 = S/2 -1

Thus, the greater number is x + 2 = S/2 - 1 + 2 = S/2 + 1

Answer: D

Kurtosis · Answer

Let the two numbers be a and b. 
Assume greater number = a.

a - b = 2.........(1)
a + b = S........(2)
(1) + (2) --> 2a = 2 + S --> a = 1 + S/2

Answer: D

Abhishek009 · Answer

a - b = 2
a + b = s

So, 2a = 2 + s

Or, a =  \frac{( 2 + s )}{2}

Or, a = 1 + s/2
  
Hence answer will be (D)

sashiim20 · Answer

Two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S.
(Let a and b be the two numbers) ;

a - b = 2
a + b = S
(Solving by combination) 2a = 2 + S 
 a = (2+ S )/ 2 
 a = 2/2 + S/2
 a = 1 + S/2 or S/2 +1

Solving for b; 
Substituting a in equation a - b = 2 
 S/2 +1 - b = 2 
 b = S/2 +1-2 
 b = S/2 - 1

Therefore "a" is greater than "b" . Hence Answer is D = (S/2 +1)...

Joc456 · Answer

The easiest way to do this is just to pick numbers. Lets say the numbers are 4 and 2. S=6. So then We're looking for the answer to yield w/ 4.

ramlala · Answer

Lets have two numbers a and b, Sum is "S", Average is S/2
Differance between b & a is 2

b=S/2 + 1
and 
a=S/2 - 1

Larger is b

Ans  d

kwizzical · Answer

Ugh, the actual math here wasn't the problem for me.

Understanding that the question was asking for the numbers in relation to the previous terms did not click for me on first blush.

Time and time again I find myself taking math questions literally and verbal questions figuratively. It's maddenning!

If the question had worded the problem "Which of the following is the greater of the   two   numbers in terms of S?" it would have been obvious what to solve. But the wording stresses  the following  numbers, which just seems diabolical.

Is this just a lack of having a deeper knowledge of the question types and how they might appear? Does this type of trip-up get any easier to overcome? Honestly, I feel like it's just an arms race of finding cheat codes sometimes.

Posted from my mobile device

ShilpiAgnihotrii · Answer

So true its maddenning at times :lol:

e3thekid · Answer

x - y = 2 ——> we can assume that x is the greater of the two numbers

x + y = s —-> y = s - x

x - (s - x) = 2
2x - s = 2
2x = s + 2

x = s/2 + 1

Option D

Posted from my mobile device

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

Let’s say the two numbers are "x" and "y" respectively and that x is greater than y.

Based on the provided info, we can create two expressions:

x – y = 2
x + y = S

The question basically asks us what x is in terms of S.

By rearranging the first expression, we get:

x = 2 + y

By rearranging the second expression, we can see that y = S – x

If we replace y with (S – x) in  x = 2 + y , we get:

x = 2 + (S – x)
x = 2 + S – x
2x = 2 + S
x = 1 + S/2

(D) is your answer.

Two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S. Which of the following is the gr

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GMAT Problem Solving (PS) Questions

Two numbers differ by 2 and sum to S. Which of the following is the gr

Prep Toolkit

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