misterJJ2u
Any suggestions for a
quicker answer?
I was taking too long determining sign changes and adding / subtracting between each item (1-10) and ended up just guessing in order to move onto the next problem.
Looking for ways to cut down time on easy questions like this.
Also D. 1 minute.
1. Find pattern. There has to be one, otherwise it wouldn't be a GMAT question. Very quickly see that this thing is just alternating positive and negative powers of 1/2:
1/2, -1/4, 1/8, -1/16....
2. Every change is smaller than the previous one. Classic GMAT game. I drew a number line:
-|---------------------|----------------------|
0
....................... 1/4
..................... 1/2
Numbers start at 1/2, then down 1/4, then up 1/8, then down 1/16. You basically bounce back and fourth, but you NEVER cross 1/4, and you never cross 1/2.
-|---------------------|----------------------|
0
....................... 1/4
..................... 1/2
...................................................... Start
............................ {----------------------
....(Back 1/4)
............................. ------------}
...............(forward 1/8)
......................................{-----
................(back 1/16)
.......................................---}
.................(forward 1/32)
....................................... {-
.................. (back 1/64)
Etc, etc. It's a lot here to type out, on paper, really simple. Either way, you can see the range you're in pretty clearly.