GMAT Prep Arithmetic Sequence??

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 519
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:56 am
Location: India
Thanked: 31 times

by Neo2000 » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:58 pm
Simple Equations!!

We know that 7X +77Y = 350 and they want you to find X+Y
Or X +11Y = 50

If Y = 1, X = 39 Right here, you realise this is present in the answer options.
if Y = 2, X = 28 The sum of X&Y is less than answer options. Stop here!!

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:25 am
Thanked: 2 times

by dalwow » Thu May 01, 2008 9:59 am
Another way to answer this is...

350 - 77 = 273

273/7 = 39

39 + 1 (which is for the one 77 term we have) = 40
Still Learning

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:01 am
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:580

by codesnooker » Thu May 01, 2008 11:30 pm
Neo2000 wrote:Simple Equations!!

We know that 7X +77Y = 350 and they want you to find X+Y
Or X +11Y = 50

If Y = 1, X = 39 Right here, you realise this is present in the answer options.
if Y = 2, X = 28 The sum of X&Y is less than answer options. Stop here!!
I guess, everyone here missing one important check.

in X + 11Y = 50, X can be ZERO also.

Fortunately 50 is not present in the choices. (However, in real GMAT, you would not find ambiguous answers).

But point to note that, you must always check the equation with ZERO rather than ONE.

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 519
Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:56 am
Location: India
Thanked: 31 times

by Neo2000 » Thu May 01, 2008 11:34 pm
codesnooker wrote: I guess, everyone here missing one important check.
in X + 11Y = 50, X can be ZERO also.
Fortunately 50 is not present in the choices. (However, in real GMAT, you would not find ambiguous answers).
But point to note that, you must always check the equation with ZERO rather than ONE.
If X = 0 then 11Y = 50 what value would Y take for an ODDxEven = Even?

I believe you are asking what if Y = 0? Fair enough but in that case it would mean there are no 77 which according to the question is not possible. There has to be atleast 1 77

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 543
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:01 am
Thanked: 43 times
GMAT Score:580

by codesnooker » Thu May 01, 2008 11:53 pm
:D Nope I never asked what is the value of Y when X = 0. I guess I know simple calculation.

Secondly, if we read question again, it said that the terms present in the equation is either 7 or 77. It doesn't mean that there must be at least one term which must be 77 or 7. It can be all 7s or all 77s. No offense, but the question is stated in simple English.

The whole idea of my post is to remember that in such cases, we must check the equation with keeping either of the variable = 0. If there is no matching answer, then only should proceed further.

So yes, if instead of 39, if 50 was not present in the choices, then we have chosen 50.

In software technology, this kind of the test is called as "Boundary Value Testing". That to check the condition at Boundary first rather any intermediate values. As most of the errors/problems occurred at boundaries.

The idea is just to share the knowledge and not to offend anyone. I hope you take my point in right spirit. Sorry in case, if I hurt you by any means.