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# Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If

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Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Posts: 4471
Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If  [#permalink]

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03 May 2016, 10:46
2
6
00:00

Difficulty:

95% (hard)

Question Stats:

35% (02:06) correct 65% (01:55) wrong based on 130 sessions

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Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If the number is positive, what is the value of the number?

(A) 1

(B) 1/2

(C) 1/3

(D) 2/3

(E) 3/2

Word problems are tricky, and it can be especially tricky to translate from words to math. For a discussion of this topic, as well as the OE for this particular question, see:
Intro to GMAT Word Problems, Part 1: Translating from Word to Math

Mike

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Mike McGarry
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Re: Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If  [#permalink]

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03 May 2016, 11:21
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mikemcgarry wrote:
Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If the number is positive, what is the value of the number?

(A) 1

(B) 1/2

(C) 1/3

(D) 2/3

(E) 3/2

Word problems are tricky, and it can be especially tricky to translate from words to math. For a discussion of this topic, as well as the OE for this particular question, see:
Intro to GMAT Word Problems, Part 1: Translating from Word to Math

Mike

$$2x$$ = $$1$$ - $$3x^2$$

Now, try to solve using the options , its only a 30 seconds job..

$$\frac{2}{3}$$ = $$1$$ -$$\frac{1}{3}$$

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Re: Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If  [#permalink]

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02 Sep 2018, 22:53
Hi Mike.
Why can't it be interpreted as :
2x = 3(1-x^2)

Thanks.
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Re: Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If  [#permalink]

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03 Sep 2018, 08:47
apoorvasharma13 wrote:
Hi Mike.
Why can't it be interpreted as :
2x = 3(1-x^2)

Thanks.

It is given - 3 times the square of the number less than one.
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Abhishek....

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Re: Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If  [#permalink]

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19 Nov 2019, 03:45
In such problems, addition, multiplication are not issues. The core issue is with subtraction.

The first entity is to be subtracted with the second entity. For Eg....

A less than B means B-A

Three times the number less than 1 means 1-3x (X being the number)
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Re: Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If  [#permalink]

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22 Nov 2019, 12:58
mikemcgarry wrote:
Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If the number is positive, what is the value of the number?

(A) 1

(B) 1/2

(C) 1/3

(D) 2/3

(E) 3/2

The rather odd wording “3 times the square of the number less than one” actually means to subtract 3 times the square of the number from one. Thus, we can create the equation:

2n = 1 - 3n^2

3n^2 + 2n - 1 = 0

(3n - 1)(n + 1) = 0

n = -1 or n = 1/3

Since n is positive, n = 1/3.

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Re: Twice a number is 3 times the square of the number less than one. If   [#permalink] 22 Nov 2019, 12:58
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