A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If

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BTGmoderatorDC: Moderator; Posts: 7187; Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:43 pmFollowed by: 23 members

by BTGmoderatorDC » Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:45 pm

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A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If the plane's altitude after these two changes was 1/3 its original altitude, then the solution of which of the following equations gives the plane's original altitude, in feet ?

(A) x + 2000 = 1/3*(x - 3000)
(B) 1/3*(x - 3000) = x
(C) x + 3000 = 1/3*x
(D) x - 7000 = 1/3*x
(E) x - 3000 = 1/3*x

OA E

Source: Princeton Review

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:45 pm

swerve: Legendary Member; Posts: 2604; Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:04 pmFollowed by: 6 members

Re: A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If

by swerve » Sun Jul 24, 2022 2:44 pm

BTGmoderatorDC wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:45 pm
A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If the plane's altitude after these two changes was 1/3 its original altitude, then the solution of which of the following equations gives the plane's original altitude, in feet ?

(A) x + 2000 = 1/3*(x - 3000)
(B) 1/3*(x - 3000) = x
(C) x + 3000 = 1/3*x
(D) x - 7000 = 1/3*x
(E) x - 3000 = 1/3*x

OA E

Source: Princeton Review

The plane starts at altitude $x$.
The altitude then increases $2000 \,\text{ft}\, (x+2000)$.
It then decreases $5000\, \text{ft}$ from there $((x+2000)-5000))$. Net change$= x-3000$
This is equal to $\dfrac{1}{3}$ of $x$. Set both equations equal:
$x-3000=\dfrac{1}{3}x$

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Re: A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Wed Dec 28, 2022 5:43 pm

BTGmoderatorDC wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 13, 2022 6:45 pm
A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If the plane's altitude after these two changes was 1/3 its original altitude, then the solution of which of the following equations gives the plane's original altitude, in feet ?

(A) x + 2000 = 1/3*(x - 3000)
(B) 1/3*(x - 3000) = x
(C) x + 3000 = 1/3*x
(D) x - 7000 = 1/3*x
(E) x - 3000 = 1/3*x

OA E

Source: Princeton Review

Solution:

The plane’s original altitude was x. After ascending 2,000 feet and descending 5,000 feet; the altitude of the plane became x + 2000 - 5000 = x - 3000. We are given that this was equal to 1/3 of its original altitude, so x - 3000 must equal 1/3*x. Thus, the equation that gives the plane’s original altitude is x - 3000 = 1/3*x.

Answer: E

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