Algebra

Question

Hello guys, I have just practiced the GMAT, as we can see on this image , I get confused to solve this. I have seen the answer explanation , but I don't understand well. I don't know whether because I don't get the question well or not.
In the answer explanation ( OG 2016) page 245, it states
=10,000(0.0012)-100(0.0012)
=12,12 - 0,12

I don't know why it's 12,12, not 12.

I do need your help to make me understand. Thanks in advance

Brent@GMATPrepNow · Answer

A bar over a sequence of digits in a decimal indicates that the sequence repeats indefinitely. What is the value of (10^4 - 10^2) (0.0012)?

Note: There is a bar over "12" in 0.0012.

(A) 0
(B) 0.12 (with the bar over the 12)
(C) 1.2
(D) 10
(E) 12

We can also apply some number sense here.

(10� - 10²)(0.00121212...) = (10,000 - 100)(0.00121212...)
= 9900(0.00121212...)
= (a bit less than 10,000)(0.00121212...)

Well, (10,000)(0.00121212...) = 12.121212
So, (a bit less than 10,000)(0.00121212...) = a bit less than 12.121212...

Check the answer choices:
A) 0
B) 0.121212...
C) 1.2
D) 10
E) 12

E is the best match

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

Brent@GMATPrepNow · Answer

A bar over a sequence of digits in a decimal indicates that the sequence repeats indefinitely. What is the value of (10^4 - 10^2) (0.0012)?

Note: There is a bar over "12" in 0.0012.

(A) 0
(B) 0.12 (with the bar over the 12)
(C) 1.2
(D) 10
(E) 12

Remember that the notation [12] means there is a bar over the 12, indicating that the decimal is non-terminating.

Now, let’s start the problem by factoring out 10^2 from (10^4 – 10^2). This gives us:

(10^4 – 10^2) (0.00[12])

10^2 (10^2 – 1)(0.00[12])

We can distribute 0.00[12] with the two quantities in the parentheses. This gives us:

10^2(0.[12] - 0.00[12])

100(0.[12] - 0.00[12])

12.[12] – 0.[12] = 12

Answer: E

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

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John fran kennedi · Answer

Wow, I really do understand now. Thank you so much

Matt@VeritasPrep · Answer

Another idea here: since (xy/99) = .xyxyxyxy..., we can say that

.0012121212... =

.12121212... * (1/100) =

12/99 * 1/100 =

12/9900

Now we have

(10� - 10²) * 12/9900 =

9900 * 12/9900 =

12

and we're set!

ceilidh.erickson · Answer

A common mistake that students make on a problem like this is to subtract the exponents. But of course we cannot subtract the exponents when we're subtracting terms with the same base.

More on this here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/fdp-problem- ... tml#763953

Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education

Scott@TargetTestPrep · Answer

A bar over a sequence of digits in a decimal indicates that the sequence repeats indefinitely. What is the value of (10^4 - 10^2) (0.0012)?

Note: There is a bar over "12" in 0.0012.

(A) 0
(B) 0.12 (with the bar over the 12)
(C) 1.2
(D) 10
(E) 12

Remember that the notation [12] means there is a bar over the 12, indicating that the decimal is non-terminating.

Now, let’s start the problem by factoring out 10^2 from (10^4 – 10^2). This gives us:

(10^4 – 10^2) (0.00[12])

10^2 (10^2 – 1)(0.00[12])

We can distribute 0.00[12] with the two quantities in the parentheses. This gives us:

10^2(0.[12] - 0.00[12])

100(0.[12] - 0.00[12])

12.[12] – 0.[12] = 12

Answer: E

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

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