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Which of the folowing is equal to N?

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by AleksandrM » Mon May 19, 2008 5:26 pm
I have a question about the following problem

When N is divided by T, the quotient is S and the remainder is V. Which of the following expressions is equal to N?

A) ST
B) S + V
C) ST + V
D) T(S+V)
E) T(S - V)

I am interested in your approach to this problem. Here is how I solved it:

I used long division and plugged in the numbers

9/2 gives you a remainder of 1 and a quotient of 4. Therefore N = 9; T = 2; V = 1; and S = 4 [I kept a track of the numbers just like that, by equating the variables to their corresponding values]. Then, I just plugged in the values into the answer choices to get the right answer.

I am curious to know if anyone else has another approach.
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by VP_Jim » Mon May 19, 2008 6:32 pm
I don't have another approach to offer you, but that is how I would've solved it. In my professional opinion, I really don't think there's an easier way than plugging in on this one. Nice work.
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
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by senthil » Mon May 19, 2008 9:26 pm
as long as u get the right answer , it doesnt matter what approach u use!
but this question is based on basic division concept ,The general concept behind Division is that

When a number N is divided by A leaving R remainders and Q as quotient .
It means that number N contains Q times of A and R more .
N= QA+R !

Hope its clear

Thanks
Senthil
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by VP_RedSoxFan » Tue May 20, 2008 7:45 am
You can also quickly write out what you know in algebraic form:

"When N is divided by T" means N/T

"the quotient is" means 'equals'

"S and the remainder is V" means S + V/T.

Here is the point that senthil means when it is remarked that this question is testing your understanding of division. A "remainder" is simply the numerator in a fraction where the divisor is the denominator. In your example, 9/2 = 4 R1 is really 4 1/9.

Making the equation from the words:

N/T = S +V/T then solve for N = TS + V

Plugging numbers gets you the right answer and that's the key. Under some answer choice circumstances, however, it could become cumbersome and prone for error in the computation. Understanding the division properties of remainders gets the right answer a little faster.
Ryan S.
| GMAT Instructor |
Elite GMAT Preparation and Admissions Consulting
www.VeritasPrep.com

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by briantime » Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:44 am
VP_RedSoxFan wrote:In your example, 9/2 = 4 R1 is really 4 1/9.
Is 4 1/9 correct?

I would think it is 4+1/2.

Another example:
5/2 = 2 R: 1 = 2.5 = 2+1/2

Am I confusing something?
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