Last visit was: 28 Apr 2026, 15:27 It is currently 28 Apr 2026, 15:27
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: 28 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,950
Own Kudos:
811,784
 [1]
Given Kudos: 105,927
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,950
Kudos: 811,784
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
imeanup
Joined: 15 Jun 2017
Last visit: 24 Mar 2026
Posts: 452
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 8
Location: India
Posts: 452
Kudos: 636
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Chatenya
Joined: 05 Aug 2020
Last visit: 04 Sep 2021
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 5
Kudos: 16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Jainam24
Joined: 30 Dec 2020
Last visit: 18 Dec 2022
Posts: 96
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 332
Status:Enjoy the journey, love the process
Location: India
Posts: 96
Kudos: 59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
My approach was to go about eliminate options. This saved considerable time. I was done solving in 23 seconds!

A, B and C are incorrect as the length has increased, the width has to decrease to make the area equal.

We are left with options D and E.

E is incorrect as an increase in area doesn't need an equal decrease in area in % terms.
Why? Since the base value has increased, it needs a smaller % to compensate.

E.g. Price of a choclate increased by 10%. Earlier it was worth 100 bucks. So now it becomes worth 110. However now if the price becomes 100 bucks, the % decrease isn't 10% it is 9.09% as the base has increased to 110 and thus a smaller % is need for compensation

Option D is the answer


Rest At the End, Not in the Middle
- Kobe Bryant
User avatar
CrackverbalGMAT
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Oct 2013
Last visit: 28 Apr 2026
Posts: 4,846
Own Kudos:
9,188
 [1]
Given Kudos: 226
Affiliations: CrackVerbal
Location: India
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,846
Kudos: 9,188
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Solution:

For two quantities that are inversely related to each other, if there is an increase of x/y in one of the values there is a corresponding decrease of x/(x+y) in the other and if there is a decrease of x/y in one of the values there is a decrease of x/(|y-x)| on the other.

So here, there is an increase in the plot length by 10% which is 1/10 as a fraction( x=1 and y=10)

Length and breadth are inversely related when area is constant = > Breadth decreases by x/(x+y)

= 1/(1+10) =1/11 as a fraction that is 9.09 as a percentage . (option c)

Devmitra Sen
GMAT SME
User avatar
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,063
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,063
Kudos: 20,013
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let length be 10 and width be 11.

Area = 10 * 11 = 110

Length increased by 10%. Therefore new length: \(\frac{110}{100} * 10 = 11\)

Now for the area to be 110, the width should be 10.

Percent change in width: \(\frac{10 - 11 }{ 11} * 100\) = - 9.99% [minus sign shows decrease].

Answer D
Moderators:
Math Expert
109950 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts