BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

og ps 200 math translations

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 789
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 1:25 am
Location: Southern California, USA
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:6 members

og ps 200 math translations

by resilient » Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:52 pm
A store currently charges the same price for each towel that it sells. If the current price for each towel were increased by 1, 10 fewer of the towels could be bought for $120, excluding sales tax. What is the current price of each towel?

a.1
b.2
c.3
d.4
e.12


stumped on how to translate this into two equations of
1st equation : pn = 120 (this part i understand)
2nd equation : (p=1)(n-10) = 120

how do i come to the second equation. where can i learn some tranlsations basics?


qa s c
Appetite for 700 and I scraped my plate!
Top
Source: — Problem Solving |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 111
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:05 pm
Thanked: 18 times
Followed by:1 members

by xilef » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:54 pm
you get 2 equations:

pn = 120 or n = 120/p
(p+1)(n-10) = 120 or (p+1)(120/p-10)=120

solving for p:

(p+1)(120/p-10)=120
(p+1)(12/p-1)=12
(12-p)+(12/p-1)=12
12p-p^2+12-p=12p
p^2+p-12=0
(p+4)(p-3)=0

p= -4 or 3 since we can't have negative towels the answer is 3

I think for this particular problem the best strategy is to look at the answers provided and see that 3 is the best choice. $120 buys you 40 towels at $3 each and 30 (10 less) at 4$ (+1) each.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 789
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 1:25 am
Location: Southern California, USA
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:6 members

translation perspective

by resilient » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:49 pm
the algebra is the easier part the harder part. THe harder part of this is the english to algebraic translation. How to do that is puzzling me!?
Appetite for 700 and I scraped my plate!
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun May 20, 2007 10:29 am
Thanked: 3 times

Re: translation perspective

by mleviko » Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:43 am
Enginpasa1 wrote:the algebra is the easier part the harder part. THe harder part of this is the english to algebraic translation. How to do that is puzzling me!?
Hi Enginpasa1, like xilef said, I think that this problem is meant to puzzle you while you try to resolve two equations . The best and most effefctive way IMO to solve this question is by using the answer choices and seeing what fits.

you start with 12$ a shirt for example, see how many you can buy for 120$ (that's 10) and how many you can buy for one dollar more, or 13$ (that's less than 10) incorrect answer. move on to 4$ a shirt, you can buy 30 shirts for 120$, and 22 shirts for 5$, we're looking for a difference of 10 shirts so [D] isn't it either. try [C] and see that it fits.

Try working this way instead of building complicated equations.
Smashed the GMAT: 760
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 5:51 pm

by gmat765 » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:51 pm
still confused which one is the correct answer
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1