Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 20:46 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 20:46
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: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,785
Own Kudos:
810,880
 [6]
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,785
Kudos: 810,880
 [6]
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
CounterSniper
Joined: 20 Feb 2015
Last visit: 14 Apr 2023
Posts: 611
Own Kudos:
859
 [1]
Given Kudos: 74
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Posts: 611
Kudos: 859
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Skywalker18
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Last visit: 15 Nov 2023
Posts: 1,973
Own Kudos:
10,166
 [1]
Given Kudos: 171
Status:Greatness begins beyond your comfort zone
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GPA: 3.2
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Products:
Posts: 1,973
Kudos: 10,166
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
whitehalo
Joined: 21 Jul 2013
Last visit: 14 Oct 2018
Posts: 97
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 142
WE:Securities Sales and Trading (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 97
Kudos: 91
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hi!

i don't understand the solutions given by CounterSniper and Skywalker18.
why is A= 2x-1 when B= x ?

shouldn't it be A= x-1 when B= x ?
User avatar
ENGRTOMBA2018
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Last visit: 01 Dec 2021
Posts: 2,319
Own Kudos:
3,890
 [1]
Given Kudos: 816
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44
GPA: 3.7
WE:Engineering (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44
Posts: 2,319
Kudos: 3,890
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
whitehalo
hi!

i don't understand the solutions given by CounterSniper and Skywalker18.
why is A= 2x-1 when B= x ?

shouldn't it be A= x-1 when B= x ?

No. You are not reading the statement properly.

The question is:

A board of length L feet is cut into two pieces such that the length of piece A is 1 foot less than twice the length of piece B. Which of the following is the length, in feet, of piece A ?

A. (L - 1)/2
B. (2L + 1)/3
C. (L + 1)/3
D. (2L + 2)/3
E. (2L - 1)/3


If you look closely at the text in red above, you see that A is 1 foot less than TWICE the length of B. Thus, if B = x , then A = 2*B-1 = 2x-1.

Once you figure this out, you get L=x+2x-1=3x-1. ---> x=(L+1)/3 and A=2x-1 = 2(L+1)/3 -1 = (2L-1)/3. E is the correct answer.

Hope this helps.
User avatar
whitehalo
Joined: 21 Jul 2013
Last visit: 14 Oct 2018
Posts: 97
Own Kudos:
91
 [2]
Given Kudos: 142
WE:Securities Sales and Trading (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 97
Kudos: 91
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Engr2012
whitehalo
hi!

i don't understand the solutions given by CounterSniper and Skywalker18.
why is A= 2x-1 when B= x ?

shouldn't it be A= x-1 when B= x ?

No. You are not reading the statement properly.

The question is:

A board of length L feet is cut into two pieces such that the length of piece A is 1 foot less than twice the length of piece B. Which of the following is the length, in feet, of piece A ?

A. (L - 1)/2
B. (2L + 1)/3
C. (L + 1)/3
D. (2L + 2)/3
E. (2L - 1)/3


If you look closely at the text in red above, you see that A is 1 foot less than TWICE the length of B. Thus, if B = x , then A = 2*B-1 = 2x-1.

Once you figure this out, you get L=x+2x-1=3x-1. ---> x=(L+1)/3 and A=2x-1 = 2(L+1)/3 -1 = (2L-1)/3. E is the correct answer.

Hope this helps.

Oh I see. Careless mistake. Thanks for pointing that out, Engr2012!
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,047
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

While this prompt can be approached algebraically, it can be solved rather easily by TESTing VALUES.

We're told that a board of length L feet is cut into two pieces and that Piece A is 1 foot LESS than TWICE the length of Piece B.

IF....
B = 2 feet
A = 2(2) - 1 = 3 feet

L = 2+3 = 5 feet

We're asked for the length of PIECE A, so we're looking for an answer that equals 3 when L=5... There's only one answer that fits:

Final Answer:
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,283
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,283
Kudos: 26,531
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A board of length L feet is cut into two pieces such that the length of piece A is 1 foot less than twice the length of piece B. Which of the following is the length, in feet, of piece A ?

A. (L - 1)/2
B. (2L + 1)/3
C. (L + 1)/3
D. (2L + 2)/3
E. (2L - 1)/3

We can let b= the length of piece B and (2b - 1) = the length of piece A and create the equation:

b + 2b - 1 = L

3b - 1 = L

3b = L + 1

b = (L + 1)/3

So the length of piece A is:

2(L + 1)/3 - 1

(2L + 2)/3 - 1

(2L + 2)/3 - 3/3 = (2L - 1)/3

Answer: E
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,960
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,960
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109785 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts