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

Redeem

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.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

130-point score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Formulas: On a scale that measures the intensity of a certai

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 400
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:35 pm
Location: London, UK
Thanked: 19 times
GMAT Score:680
by II » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:42 pm
On a scale that measures the intensity of a certain phenomenon, a reading of n+1 corresponds to an intensity that is 10 times the intensity corresponding to a reading of n. On that scale, the intensity corresponding to a reading of 8 is how many times as great as the intensity corresponding to a reading of 3 ?

(A) 5
(B) 50
(C) 10^5
(D) 5^10
(E) 8^10 - 3^10

I had trouble understanding and breaking down the question !
Thanks.
Last edited by II on Mon May 05, 2008 1:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
GMAT Score:800

Re: Formulas and functions ...

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:24 pm
II wrote:On a scale that measures the intensity of a certain phenomenon, a reading of n+1 corresponds to an intensity that is 10 times the intensity corresponding to a reading of n. On that scale, the intensity corresponding to a reading of 8 is how many times as great as the intensity corresponding to a reading of 3 ?

(A) 5
(B) 50
(C) 10^5
(D) 5^10
(E) 8^10 - 3^10

I had trouble understanding and breaking down the question !
Thanks.
The stem is basically telling us that each number on the scale is 10 times the intensity of the previous number.

For example, if a reading of 1 had a value of 10, then a reading of 2 would have a value of 10*10, a reading of 3 would have a value of 10*10*10 and so on.

So, if we want to compare a reading of 8 to a reading of 3, we've gone up by 5 "ranks" of intensity, which means we're multiplying by 10*10*10*10*10 = 10^5.

As an aside, this is how the Richter scale works for measuring earthquakes (which is why a reading of 7.0 is MUCH worse than a reading of 6.0) and, for the geeks in the crowd, how the Warp speed scale works on Star Trek!
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 6:23 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by richardwang6430 » Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:06 pm
I will go with C
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 447
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:08 pm
Location: Kolkata,India
Thanked: 7 times
GMAT Score:670

by uptowngirl92 » Tue May 05, 2009 12:18 am
My solution:
according to the stem:
READING.........................VALUE
n..................................x
n+1..............................10x
n+2..............................100x
n+3...............................1000x

so,let n=x=1.Therefore,following the above pattern:
1............................1
2.............................10
3..............................100
4...............................1000

Reading of 8=10^7
Reading of 3=10^2

QUERIE:How is 10^7 10^5 times greater than 10^2??should'nt the answer be 10^7-10^2.Seems to me that instead of substracting,we are dividing. why?this is not clear.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 139
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:36 am
Thanked: 17 times

by sacx » Tue May 05, 2009 3:01 am
uptowngirl92 wrote:My solution:
according to the stem:
READING.........................VALUE
n..................................x
n+1..............................10x
n+2..............................100x
n+3...............................1000x

so,let n=x=1.Therefore,following the above pattern:
1............................1
2.............................10
3..............................100
4...............................1000

Reading of 8=10^7
Reading of 3=10^2

QUERIE:How is 10^7 10^5 times greater than 10^2??should'nt the answer be 10^7-10^2.Seems to me that instead of substracting,we are dividing. why?this is not clear.
the question asks 'how many times' not 'by how much'. When it says 'times' you are looking for multiples.

eg. by how many times is 100 greater than 10. the answer to this would be 10. You can rephrase this question as, 100 = 10*x, what is the value of x?

BUT when you say by how much then you need to subtract.

by how much is 100 greater than 10. the answer is 90.
SACX
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:35 am

by rahatali » Thu Oct 31, 2013 5:23 pm
Stuart Kovinsky wrote:
II wrote:On a scale that measures the intensity of a certain phenomenon, a reading of n+1 corresponds to an intensity that is 10 times the intensity corresponding to a reading of n. On that scale, the intensity corresponding to a reading of 8 is how many times as great as the intensity corresponding to a reading of 3 ?

(A) 5
(B) 50
(C) 10^5
(D) 5^10
(E) 8^10 - 3^10

I had trouble understanding and breaking down the question !
Thanks.
The stem is basically telling us that each number on the scale is 10 times the intensity of the previous number.

For example, if a reading of 1 had a value of 10, then a reading of 2 would have a value of 10*10, a reading of 3 would have a value of 10*10*10 and so on.

So, if we want to compare a reading of 8 to a reading of 3, we've gone up by 5 "ranks" of intensity, which means we're multiplying by 10*10*10*10*10 = 10^5.

As an aside, this is how the Richter scale works for measuring earthquakes (which is why a reading of 7.0 is MUCH worse than a reading of 6.0) and, for the geeks in the crowd, how the Warp speed scale works on Star Trek!
If a reading of n+1 corresponds to an intensity that is 10 times the intensity corresponding to a reading of n, then how would I know that a reading of n+2 corresponds to an intensity that is 10×10 times, it can be 20 times. To me, this question does not provide sufficient information. Please help.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:49 pm
Hi rahatali,

The key to this question is understanding the different between "N" and "N+1"

We're told that these two values are "intensities" and that "N+1" is "10 times more intense" than "N"; this essentially means that IF you add 1 to any "intensity", then the intensity gets 10 times bigger.

So, let's say N = 3 has an intensity of 1....

N = 3 ---> intensity of 1
N = 4 ---> intensity of 10 (10 times the intensity of N = 3)
N = 5 ---> intensity of 100 (10 times the intensity of N = 4)
N = 6 ---> intensity of 1,000 (10 times the intensity of N = 5)
N = 7 ---> intensity of 10,000 (10 times the intensity of N = 6)
etc.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1