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Bunuel
\(\frac{a + \frac{b}{c}}{\frac{d}{e}}\)

If the value of the expression above is to be halved by doubling exactly one of the five numbers a, b, c, d, or e, which should be doubled?

A) a

B) b

C) c

D) d

E) e

We need to halve this expression:
\(\frac{a + \frac{b}{c}}{\frac{d}{e}}\)

So we multiply by 1/2:

\(\frac{a + \frac{b}{c}}{\frac{d}{e}}*\frac{1}{2}\)

Which number gets doubled? d

Answer: D
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Bunuel
\(\frac{a + \frac{b}{c}}{\frac{d}{e}}\)

If the value of the expression above is to be halved by doubling exactly one of the five numbers a, b, c, d, or e, which should be doubled?

A) a

B) b

C) c

D) d

E) e

Notice that (a + b/c)/(d/c) = (a + b/c)(c/d) = ac/d + b/d.

If we double d we have:

(a + b/c)/(2d/c) = (a + b/c)(c/(2d)) = ac/(2d) + b/(2d) = (1/2)(ac/d) + (1/2)(b/d) = (1/2)(ac/d + b/d)

So we see that by doubling d, the entire expression is halved.

Alternate Solution:

Let’s initially set all five variables equal to 1. We would have:

[1+ (1/1)] /(1/1) = 2/1 = 2

Our goal is to determine which of the 1’s must be doubled so that the value of the entire expression is halved (i.e., equal to 1 instead of 2).

If a is doubled, we have: [2+ (1/1)] /(1/1) = 3/1 = 3 This is not correct.

If b is doubled, we have [1+ (2/1)] /(1/1) = 3/1 = 3 This is not correct.

If c is doubled, we have [1+ (1/2)] /(1/1) = (1.5/1 = 1.5 This is not correct.

If d is doubled, we have [1+ (1/1)] /(2/1) = 2/2 = 1 This is correct.

If e is doubled, we have [1+ (1/1)] /(1/2) = 2/(1/2) = 4 This is not correct.

Answer: D
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if D is doubled, then the expression d/e is also doubled, meaning the denominator is doubled, therefore halving the whole expression.
Ans=D
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