Last visit was: 01 Sep 2026, 22:52 It is currently 01 Sep 2026, 22:52
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
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 01 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,028
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 111,264
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,028
Kudos: 838,498
 [24]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
20
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
shashankism
Joined: 13 Mar 2017
Last visit: 29 Jun 2026
Posts: 612
Own Kudos:
723
 [8]
Given Kudos: 88
Affiliations: IIT Dhanbad
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.8
WE:Engineering (Energy)
Posts: 612
Kudos: 723
 [8]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Lucky2783
Joined: 07 Aug 2011
Last visit: 08 May 2020
Posts: 415
Own Kudos:
2,146
 [3]
Given Kudos: 75
Concentration: International Business, Technology
GMAT 1: 630 Q49 V27
GMAT 1: 630 Q49 V27
Posts: 415
Kudos: 2,146
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
peachfuzz
Joined: 28 Feb 2014
Last visit: 27 Jan 2018
Posts: 266
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 132
Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Products:
Posts: 266
Kudos: 375
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Rank the following quantities in order, from smallest to biggest.

I. 2^60

II. \((2\sqrt{2})^{35}\)

III. 3^42

(A) I, II, III
(B) I, III, II
(C) II, I, III
(D) II, III, I
(E) III, II, I


Kudos for a correct solution.


II. This is the smallest as it equates to 8^(35/2) or 2^(24.5)

We can compare I and III
I. 2^66 = 1024^6
III. 3^42 = 2187^6

Answer : C
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 01 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,028
Own Kudos:
838,498
 [3]
Given Kudos: 111,264
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,028
Kudos: 838,498
 [3]
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Rank the following quantities in order, from smallest to biggest.

I. 2^60

II. \((2\sqrt{2})^{35}\)

III. 3^42

(A) I, II, III
(B) I, III, II
(C) II, I, III
(D) II, III, I
(E) III, II, I


Kudos for a correct solution.

MAGOOSH OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

The exponent of 3, which is 42, is close to 40. If 2 and 3 had exponents of 60 and 40, respectively, those would be in a ratio easy to reduce — 60:40 = 3:2. Clearly 2^3 = 8 and 3^2 = 9, so 2^3 < 3^2.

Raise both sides of that inequality to the power of 20.
2^60 < 3^40 < 3^42.

Therefore, III is bigger than I.

Now, let’s think about II. The square root of 2 is 2 to the power of 1/2, so 2 times the square root of two, the contents of the parentheses, would be 2 to the power of 1.5. Multiply the exponents: 1.5*35 = 35 + 17.5 = 52.5 — that would be the resultant exponent of 2. Clearly, this is a lower power of 2 than given in statement I. So, II is less than I.

From smallest to biggest is II, I, III.

Answer = (C).
User avatar
giuseppemvn
Joined: 15 Jan 2023
Last visit: 30 Apr 2025
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 64
Location: Italy
Concentration: Strategy, Finance
GMAT Focus 1: 625 Q81 V84 DI78 (Online)
GPA: 3.41
GMAT Focus 1: 625 Q81 V84 DI78 (Online)
Posts: 22
Kudos: 22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A different solution:

Since we know that \(2^{10} < 3^{7}\)

And

I: \(2^{60}=(2^{10})^{6}\)
III: \(3^{42}=(3^7)^{6}\)

We know that I < III.

II: 2^{52.5}

Therefore II < I < III.

Answer C.
User avatar
CruelForm
Joined: 27 Jul 2026
Last visit: 01 Sep 2026
Posts: 6
Given Kudos: 14
Products:
Posts: 6
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let's use this concept for positive numbers(>1), that if 5 is greater than 4, we can also say \(5^2 \)is greater than \(4^2\),:

I vs II:
Squaring both sides :
\(\\
I^2= (2)^{120}\\
II^2= ([2\sqrt{}2]^2)^{35} = (2)^{105}\\
\)
Therefore II<I

I vs III:
Write both with the same power:
\(\\
I=(2^{10})^6, III=(3^7)^6\\
I=(1024)^6, III=(729*3)^6\\
\)

Clearly 1024<729*3 (no need to calculate the exact value as 700*3 is 2100 which is greater than 1024)

Therefore I<III

C.II<I<III
Moderator:
Math Expert
113028 posts