Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 563 reviewsTarget Test Prep

2 min question again :)

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Subscribe topic
Previous Topic Next Topic
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 12:56 pm
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Thanked: 24 times
GMAT Score:750+

by VP_RedSoxFan » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:41 am
Not sure I want to get in the middle of this, but, literally, I'm in the middle of this. I consider myself a realist and teach students both methods. Admittedly, I strongly urge students to learn the math, do the math accurately and learn why something is correct mathematically. I really feel that it has the biggest payoff on test day.

However, I'm a realist and will expose my students to backsolving techniques so that on test day, when they're staring at the screen and the algebra escapes them, they have something to lean on. Like Ian, I believe that elite scores go to those who do the math quickly and accurately.

I think it is akin to Sentence Correction questions. Eliminations strategies are better than nothing, but the best scores go to those students with a strong command of grammatical and idiomatic rules.
Ryan S.
| GMAT Instructor |
Elite GMAT Preparation and Admissions Consulting
www.VeritasPrep.com

Learn more about me
Top
Join the discussion

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2623
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 amFollowed by: 355 members
Location: Montreal
Thanked: 1090 times
GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:36 am
VP_RedSoxFan wrote:Not sure I want to get in the middle of this, but, literally, I'm in the middle of this.
Don't mean to start anything serious here(!)- I only hope to have a good-natured discussion of how to best succeed on the test.
VP_RedSoxFan wrote: I consider myself a realist and teach students both methods. Admittedly, I strongly urge students to learn the math, do the math accurately and learn why something is correct mathematically. I really feel that it has the biggest payoff on test day.

However, I'm a realist and will expose my students to backsolving techniques so that on test day, when they're staring at the screen and the algebra escapes them, they have something to lean on. Like Ian, I believe that elite scores go to those who do the math quickly and accurately.

I think it is akin to Sentence Correction questions. Eliminations strategies are better than nothing, but the best scores go to those students with a strong command of grammatical and idiomatic rules.
I think the advice above is the best advice for the GMAT. I teach backsolving as well, but as a fallback strategy, not as a first port of call.
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 566
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:01 am
Location: Philadelphia
Thanked: 31 times
GMAT Score:640

by AleksandrM » Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:51 am
Thanks, that is an excellent application of algebra.
Top
Join the discussion
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:33 am

by athinabean » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:40 am
area of walkway = (3x+5)^2 - (x+5)^2 = 132

solving we get x = 3

Can somebody please show me how you got x=3 from the above? I cannot do ir for some reason and it is driving me crazy.
thanks.
Top
Join the discussion

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2623
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 amFollowed by: 355 members
Location: Montreal
Thanked: 1090 times
GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:05 am
athinabean wrote:area of walkway = (3x+5)^2 - (x+5)^2 = 132

solving we get x = 3

Can somebody please show me how you got x=3 from the above? I cannot do ir for some reason and it is driving me crazy.
thanks.
Note that the left side is a difference of squares: a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b).

So,
(3x+5)^2 - (x+5)^2 = 132

[(3x + 5) + (x + 5)][(3x + 5) - (x + 5)] = 132

(4x + 10)(2x) = 132

8x^2 + 20x = 132

2x^2 + 5x - 33 = 0

(2x + 11)(x - 3) = 0

x = 3, -5.5

Discard the negative solution; distances can't be negative.
Top
Join the discussion
Legendary Member
Posts: 631
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:57 pmFollowed by: 3 members
Thanked: 29 times

by netigen » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:28 am
BTW roots for the e.q. can be found using the formula

x = [-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac)]/2a

for an eq of the form ax^2+bx+c = 0
Top
Join the discussion