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Register now and save up to $200 Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Magoosh Study with Magoosh GMAT prep Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 5 Day FREE Trial Study Smarter, Not Harder Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 5-Day Free Trial 5-day free, full-access trial TTP Quant Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Veritas GMAT Class Experience Lesson 1 Live Free Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Practice Test & Review How would you score if you took the GMAT Available with Beat the GMAT members only code ## Couple IR Questions This topic has 2 expert replies and 0 member replies yousufa Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts Joined 24 Aug 2012 Posted: 20 messages #### Couple IR Questions Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:58 am Hey guys, I've been having some difficulties with IR questions. Some are easy and I can do them within a minute, others not so much. Heres a couple I can't seem to figure out (second one especially). I would appreciate some help on these. Thanks! (right click open in new window) Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums! ### GMAT/MBA Expert Mike@Magoosh GMAT Instructor Joined 28 Dec 2011 Posted: 768 messages Followed by: 137 members Thanked: 387 times Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:28 pm Dear yousufa, I'm happy to help with these. These are two bodacious questions, so I am going to treat each as a separate entry. First, the one about the architect and the spherical stones. This is a question screaming out for approximations. The answers are widely spaced, and the question even says "select the value that is closest to ...", which is practically an engraved invitation to approximate. See this blog: http://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/the-power-of-estimation-for-gmat-quant/ First of all, one tricky thing --- the formula for surface area is given in terms of radius, but they give us circumferences. We ourselves need to know c = 2(pi)r Rearrange this to r = c/[2(pi)] Substitute this into the surface area formula: SA = 4(pi)(r^2) = 4(pi)[(c^2)/[4((pi)^2)] = (c^2)/(pi) Now, multiply that surface area times$92 for the cost

Cost = (92)*(c^2)/(pi)

Right away, I am going to approximate --- pi = something a little over three, so 92 (a little over 90) divided by something a little over three is approximately 90/3 = 30, so we can approximate

Cost = 30*(c^2)

For c = 5.5
Avoid the temptation to use the calculator. The calculator is a waste of time. What is 5.5 squared? Well, 5^2 = 25, and 6^2 = 36. We are just approximating, so let's say (c^2) is about halfway between 25 and 36, around 30. (Good to pick a nice round number in estimating.)
Cost = 30*30 = 900
There's the answer for the first column.

For c = 7.85.
Well, 7^2 = 49 and 8^2 = 64, and 7.85 is much closer to 8 than to 7, so approximate (c^2) is closer to 64 than to 49, so around 60 (just to pick a nice round number).
Cost = 30*60 = 1800
There's the answer for the second column.

Does this approach make sense?
Mike

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Thanked by: Yusuf Mukiibi

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Mike@Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined
28 Dec 2011
Posted:
768 messages
Followed by:
137 members
Thanked:
387 times
Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:40 pm
Dear yousufa,

Now, let's go step by step through the flowchart. BTW, you can do another flowchart practice problem here:
http://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-ir-numerical-algorithm-flowchart-problems/
Also, you may find this useful:
http://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-integrated-reasoning-ebook/

Question #1:
(a = 24, b = 35)

We enter (a = 24, b = 35)
Is b odd? YES. Go up.
T = T + a = 0 + 24 = 24
Right there, that's the first non-zero value for T, T = 24

Question #2:
(a = 35, b = 27)

We enter (a = 35, b = 27)
Is b odd? YES. Go up.
T = T + a = 0 + 35 = 35
move right
b = b - 1 = 26
move down
a = 2a = 2*35 = 70
move right
b = b/2 = 26/2 = 13 (this is the first time we do the b/2 operation)
Does b = 1? NO. Follow the long arrow back
Is b odd? YES. Go up.
T = T + a = 35 + 70 = 105
move right
b = b - 1 = 12
move down
a = 2a = 2*70 = 140
move right
b = b/2 = 12/2 = 6
That was the second time we got to the b/2 box, so that's the answer, b = 6.

Does all this make sense?
Mike

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Magoosh GMAT Instructor
http://gmat.magoosh.com/

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