Problem Solving

When a certain tree was first planted, it was 4 feet tall, and the height of the tree increased by a constant amount each year for the next 6 years. At the end of 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of 4th year. By how many feet the height of the tree increase each year?

1) 3/10
2) 2/5
3) 1/2
4) 2/3
5) 6/5

Height of tree on day 0 = 4
Let d = the height increase each year
Height of tree at the end of the 1st year = 4+d
Height of tree at the end of the 2nd year = 4+d+d = 4 + 2d
Height of tree at the end of the 3rd year = 4+d+d+d = 4 + 3d
Height of tree at the end of the 4th year = 4+d+d+d+d = 4 + 4d
Height of tree at the end of the 5th year = 4+d+d+d+d+d = 4 + 5d
Height of tree at the end of the 6th year = 4+d+d+d+d+d+d = 4 + 6d

At the end of the 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of the 4th year
In other words, 6th year height = 4th year height + 1/5(4th year height)
Or we can write 4 + 6d = (4 + 4d) + 1/5(4 + 4d)
Simplify: 4 + 6d = 6/5(4 + 4d)
Multiply both sides by 5 to get: 5(4 + 6d) = 6(4 + 4d)
Expand: 20 + 30d = 24 + 24d
Simplify: 6d = 4
d = 4/6 = [spoiler]2/3[/spoiler] = D

Cheers,
Brent

Hi lucas211,

TESTing the ANSWERS is a great way to tackle this question. The "fast" way to solve a problem can still sometimes take time, but regardless of how you approach a prompt, you still need to take notes and stay organized.

From the screen capture, you chose answer C (1/2). If you jot down some quick notes, here's what you'd have:

Start = 4 ft
Yr. 1 = 4 1/2
Yr. 2 = 5
Yr. 3 = 5 1/2
Yr. 4 = 6
Yr. 5 = 6 1/2
Yr. 6 = 7

It doesn't make much time/effort to take these notes. Now, compare Year 6 to Year 4....Is it 1/5 greater? 7 to 6 is 1/6 greater, so answer C is not what we're looking for. It also gives us a "nudge" in the right direction. We need a 1/5 increase, but we only have a 1/6 increase right now....so we need a bigger increase.....so we need a bigger absolute increase each year. The correct answer has to be D or E.

Looking at all 5 choices as a group, I'm pretty sure the answer is D, but we can certainly prove it...

Start = 4 ft
Yr. 1 = 4 2/3
Yr. 2 = 5 1/3
Yr. 3 = 6
Yr. 4 = 6 2/3
Yr. 5 = 7 1/3
Yr. 6 = 8

This comparison requires a bit more math, but isn't "crazy" by any definition.

6 2/3 = 20/3
8 = 24/3

Ignore the denominators....24 to 20..... 1/5 of 20 = 4.....24 IS 1/5 greater than 20.

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich