Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 16:51 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 16:51
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
abhi758
Joined: 16 Jul 2009
Last visit: 05 Oct 2016
Posts: 137
Own Kudos:
2,967
 [42]
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 137
Kudos: 2,967
 [42]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
36
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
avatar
PareshGmat
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,531
Own Kudos:
8,271
 [34]
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,531
Kudos: 8,271
 [34]
26
Kudos
Add Kudos
8
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 17 Dec 2025
Posts: 5,903
Own Kudos:
5,452
 [5]
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,903
Kudos: 5,452
 [5]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,451
 [4]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,451
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
abhi758
Which of the following is equal to \(\frac{2^{12} - 2^6}{2^6 - 2^3}\)?

A. \(2^6 + 2^3\)
B. \(2^6 - 2^3\)
C. \(2^9\)
D. \(2^3\)
E. 2

If we recognize the numerator is a difference of squares, we can solve this question quickly...

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

Answer: A
General Discussion
avatar
neo4897
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
Last visit: 18 May 2013
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
5
 [1]
Given Kudos: 6
Posts: 4
Kudos: 5
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
2^12 = 2^6 * 2^6

1. 2^12 - 2^6 = 2^6 * 2^6 - 2^6 = 2^6 (2^6 -1)
2. 2^6 - 2^3 = 2^3 * 2^3 - 2^3 = 2^3 (2^3 -1)

2^6 / 2^3 = 2^(6-3)=2^3
2^6 -1 = (2^3)^2 – (1)^2 =(2^3 +1) (2^3 – 1) [Hint a^2 - b^2]

Dividing
2^3(2^3 +1) = 2^6 + 2^3

Answer A.
User avatar
sidhu4u
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Last visit: 02 May 2011
Posts: 111
Own Kudos:
1,118
 [3]
Given Kudos: 13
Concentration: Consulting
Products:
Posts: 111
Kudos: 1,118
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
abhi758
Which of the following is equal to \(\frac{2^1^2 - 2^6}{2^6 - 2^3}\)?

A. \(2^6 + 2^3\)
B. \(2^6 - 2^3\)
C. \(2^9\)
D. \(2^3\)
E. 2

Kindly show your working. OA to be posted soon..

(2^12 - 2^6)/(2^6 - 2^3)
= (2^6*(2^6 - 1))/(2^3*(2^3-1))
=2^3 * (2^3+1) * (2^3 - 1) / (2^3 - 1)
=2^3 * (2^3 + 1) = 2^6 + 2^3

Answer is A
User avatar
mustdoit
Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Last visit: 23 Feb 2011
Posts: 102
Own Kudos:
779
 [1]
Concentration: Finance
Schools:ISB
Posts: 102
Kudos: 779
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
abhi758
Which of the following is equal to \(\frac{2^1^2 - 2^6}{2^6 - 2^3}\)?

A. \(2^6 + 2^3\)
B. \(2^6 - 2^3\)
C. \(2^9\)
D. \(2^3\)
E. 2

Kindly show your working. OA to be posted soon..

Using the formula a^2 - b^2 = (a+b) (a-b) we can easily get the answer as A
avatar
Nadiuska
Joined: 28 Oct 2015
Last visit: 18 Mar 2016
Posts: 21
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 218
Posts: 21
Kudos: 25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I did it a slightly different. and I was unable identify the solution. But the answer is correct.

2^6(2^6-1)/2^3(2^3-1)= 2^3*9= 72. Which is equal ro 2^6+2^3
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 11,229
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 335
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,229
Kudos: 45,002
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Nadiuska
I did it a slightly different. and I was unable identify the solution. But the answer is correct.

2^6(2^6-1)/2^3(2^3-1)= 2^3*9= 72. Which is equal ro 2^6+2^3

it is good that you have done it by a different method..
But the best is to use a^2-b^2 formula whenever you see a Q in that format..

\(\frac{(2^{12} - 2^6)}{(2^6 - 2^3)}\)....

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

= \(2^6 + 2^3\)
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
abhi758
Which of the following is equal to \(\frac{2^{12} - 2^6}{2^6 - 2^3}\)?

A. \(2^6 + 2^3\)
B. \(2^6 - 2^3\)
C. \(2^9\)
D. \(2^3\)
E. 2

Notice that the numerator is a difference of two squares, so let’s simplify the given expression:

(2^12 - 2^6)/(2^6 - 2^3)

(2^6 + 2^3)(2^6 - 2^3)/(2^6 - 2^3)

2^6 + 2^3

Answer: A
avatar
Esguitar
Joined: 26 May 2015
Last visit: 05 May 2022
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 6
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi,

Could someone tell me! what is wrong with my approach. I did that:

( 2^12 - 2^6 ) / ( 2^6 - 2^3 ) =
2^6 ( 2^2 - 1 ) / 2^3( 2^2 - 1 ) =
2^6 / 2^3 =
2^3
Answer D
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,258
Own Kudos:
37,727
 [2]
Given Kudos: 9,464
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,258
Kudos: 37,727
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Esguitar
Hi,

Could someone tell me! what is wrong with my approach. I did that:

( 2^12 - 2^6 ) / ( 2^6 - 2^3 ) =
2^6 ( 2^2 - 1 ) / 2^3( 2^2 - 1 ) =
2^6 / 2^3 =
2^3
Answer D
Esguitar ,when you factored out \(2^6\) and \(2^3\), you divided the exponents instead of subtracting them. Easy mistake to make.

\(\frac{a^{12}}{a^{6}} = a^{12-6} = a^{6}\), and

\(\frac{2^{12}}{2^{6}} = 2^{12-6} = 2^{6}\)

So first factoring would be \(2^{6}(2^{6} - 1)\)

\(2^{12}\) = 4,096
\(2^6\) = 64
\(2^2\) = 4

64*4= 256, not 4,096

Hope it helps. :-)
avatar
Esguitar
Joined: 26 May 2015
Last visit: 05 May 2022
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 6
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi genxer123

Yes, easy mistake to avoid. Thank you for your help. I got it.
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
109785 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts