Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 20:54 It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 20:54
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
Ekland
Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Last visit: 30 Apr 2023
Posts: 355
Own Kudos:
878
 [35]
Given Kudos: 342
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GPA: 3.93
WE:Account Management (Education)
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
32
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,754
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,823
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,754
Kudos: 810,691
 [15]
12
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ENGRTOMBA2018
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Last visit: 01 Dec 2021
Posts: 2,319
Own Kudos:
3,889
 [7]
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: 3,889
 [7]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
shukiPortal12
Joined: 21 Dec 2016
Last visit: 29 Dec 2016
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can you please explain how did you get from (\frac{3^{-11}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{-12}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{-13}}{6}) to (\frac{2*3^{-10}+3^{-11}+2*3^{-13}}{12})
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,754
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,823
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,754
Kudos: 810,691
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
shukiPortal12
Can you please how did you get from (\frac{3^{-11}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{-12}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{-13}}{6}) to (\frac{2*3^{-10}+3^{-11}+2*3^{-13}}{12})

There are TWO steps between those two equations, which one is unclear?

\(\frac{(\frac{3^{-11}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{-12}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{-13}}{6})}{3^{-14}}=\)

\(=(\frac{3^{3}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{2}}{4}) + (\frac{3}{6})=\)

\(=(\frac{3^{3}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{2}}{4}) + (\frac{1}{2})=\)

\(=(\frac{2*3^{3}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{2}}{4}) + (\frac{2}{4})=\frac{65}{4}\)


Also, please format properly so that it's clear what you mean: rules-for-posting-please-read-this-before-posting-133935.html#p1096628
avatar
shukiPortal12
Joined: 21 Dec 2016
Last visit: 29 Dec 2016
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
from the 1st, (3−112)+(3−124)+(3−136)3−14=(3−112)+(3−124)+(3−136)3−14
to
(332)+(324)+(36)

I never get to understand whether there's a way to add distinct powers with distinct bases (such as 3^7 + 2^11)

Sorry about my English. It's not so good...
avatar
mcrimmin
Joined: 26 Oct 2016
Last visit: 10 Jul 2017
Posts: 5
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 5
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dumb question but how do we go from (3^-11)/2 to (3^3)/2? That's not totally clear to me.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,754
Own Kudos:
810,691
 [4]
Given Kudos: 105,823
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,754
Kudos: 810,691
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
shukiPortal12
from the 1st, (3−112)+(3−124)+(3−136)3−14=(3−112)+(3−124)+(3−136)3−14
to
(332)+(324)+(36)

I never get to understand whether there's a way to add distinct powers with distinct bases (such as 3^7 + 2^11)

Sorry about my English. It's not so good...

Added few more steps:

\(\frac{(\frac{3^{-11}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{-12}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{-13}}{6})}{3^{-14}}=\)

\(=\frac{3^{-11}}{2*3^{-14}} + \frac{3^{-12}}{4*3^{-14}} + \frac{3^{-13}}{6*3^{-14}}=\)

\(=\frac{3^{-11-(-14)}}{2} + \frac{3^{-12-(-14)}}{4} + \frac{3^{-13-(-14)}}{6}=\)

\(=(\frac{3^{3}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{2}}{4}) + (\frac{3}{6})=\)

\(=(\frac{3^{3}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{2}}{4}) + (\frac{1}{2})=\)

\(=(\frac{2*3^{3}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{2}}{4}) + (\frac{2}{4})=\frac{65}{4}\).

Hope it's clear.
avatar
shukiPortal12
Joined: 21 Dec 2016
Last visit: 29 Dec 2016
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Very clear. Thank you very much.
User avatar
Nunuboy1994
Joined: 12 Nov 2016
Last visit: 24 Apr 2019
Posts: 554
Own Kudos:
126
 [1]
Given Kudos: 167
Location: United States
Schools: Yale '18
GMAT 1: 650 Q43 V37
GRE 1: Q157 V158
GPA: 2.66
Schools: Yale '18
GMAT 1: 650 Q43 V37
GRE 1: Q157 V158
Posts: 554
Kudos: 126
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In order to solve this question we need to set up an algebraic expression:

3^(-11)/2 + 3^(-12)/4 + 3^(-13)/6= x (3^-14)

Trick* if remember that any fraction divided by a number is that fraction multiplied by the reciprocal of that number ( e.x (1/2)/3=(1/2) * (1/3)) then we can rewrite the expression as so:

3^(-11)/2(3^-14) + 3^(-12)/4(3^-14) + 3^(-13)/6(3^-14)= x
3^3/2 + 3^2/2^2 + 3/6=
27/2 + 9/4 + 3/6 = 65/4
User avatar
Basshead
Joined: 09 Jan 2020
Last visit: 07 Feb 2024
Posts: 907
Own Kudos:
323
 [1]
Given Kudos: 431
Location: United States
Posts: 907
Kudos: 323
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Ekland
\((\frac{3^{-11}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{-12}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{-13}}{6})\) is how many times \(3^{-14}\) ?

A. 1/3
B. 21
C. 65/4
D. 24
E. 251/6

= \(\frac{(\frac{3^{-11}}{2}) + (\frac{3^{-12}}{4}) + (\frac{3^{-13}}{6})}{3^{-14}}=\)

= \(\frac{3^{11-(-14)}}{2} + \frac{3^{-12-(-14)}}{4} + \frac{3^{-12-(-14)}}{6}\)

= \(\frac{3^3}{2} + \frac{3^2}{4} + \frac{3}{6}\)

= \(\frac{65}{4}\)
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,964
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,964
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
109754 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts