Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 03:45 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 03:45
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
Sub 505 (Easy)|   Arithmetic|                        
User avatar
Walkabout
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Last visit: 04 Feb 2026
Posts: 172
Own Kudos:
29,257
 [46]
Given Kudos: 51
Products:
Posts: 172
Kudos: 29,257
 [46]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
37
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,774
Own Kudos:
810,738
 [2]
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,774
Kudos: 810,738
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
mbaiseasy
Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Last visit: 29 Dec 2013
Posts: 316
Own Kudos:
2,095
 [3]
Given Kudos: 11
Concentration: Marketing, Finance
GPA: 3.23
Posts: 316
Kudos: 2,095
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,278
Own Kudos:
26,529
 [4]
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: 22,278
Kudos: 26,529
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Walkabout
1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =

(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0

We need to simplify the expression using PEMDAS.

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication and Division
Addition and Subtraction

The calculation of an equation or expression must be carried out in the following order:

1) Operations within parentheses (or absolute value bars or radicals)
2) Exponents
3) Multiplication and division from left to right
4) Addition and subtraction from left to right



The answer is E.
avatar
Shiv2016
Joined: 02 Sep 2016
Last visit: 14 Aug 2024
Posts: 509
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 277
Posts: 509
Kudos: 215
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel what difference does it make if we do not follow PEMDAS rule for addition?

For example:
1/2+1/16-9/16
= 1/2-8/16
=0


Or

1/2+1/16-9/16
= (8+1-9)/16
=Still 0
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,774
Own Kudos:
810,738
 [1]
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,774
Kudos: 810,738
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Shiv2016
Bunuel what difference does it make if we do not follow PEMDAS rule for addition?

For example:
1/2+1/16-9/16
= 1/2-8/16
=0


Or

1/2+1/16-9/16
= (8+1-9)/16
=Still 0

Neither of those violates any rule and both are correct:

\(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16}\)

You can treat it as \((\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16})-\frac{9}{16}\) or \(\frac{1}{2}+(\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16})\) or \((\frac{1}{2}-\frac{9}{16})+\frac{1}{16}\). This is because of commutative law, which says that any finite sum (or product) is unaltered by reordering its terms or factors. Simply put a + b = b + a and ab = ba.

Of course yo can simply transform all fractions having the same common denominator and proceed: \(\frac{8+1-9}{16}\).

Check for more HERE.

Hope it helps.
avatar
onyx12102
Joined: 25 Feb 2016
Last visit: 07 May 2020
Posts: 11
Given Kudos: 146
Posts: 11
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi guys

Can someone please show how they got the 1/16 part, I'm still getting the wrong answer trying to work this out.


1/2+1/16−9/16
avatar
royharmon4
Joined: 22 Jul 2018
Last visit: 11 Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
Posts: 4
Kudos: 1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone help me understand why [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] doesn't equal 1? I multiplied the fractions in the numerator, and then multiplied them by the reciprocal of 1/4. Clearly that is incorrect, but I thought that was how dividing fractions worked.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,956
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,956
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
109774 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts