Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
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.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 563 reviewsTarget Test Prep

GMAT Question:

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Subscribe topic
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:58 pm
Thanked: 1 times
by ngbrian85 » Sun Apr 01, 2012 2:29 pm
M is the sum of the reciprocals of the consecutive integers from 201 to 300, inclusive. Which of the following is true?

(A) 1/3 < M < 1/2
(B) 1/5 < M < 1/3
(C) 1/7 < M < 1/5
(D) 1/9 < M < 1/7
(E) 1/12 < M < 1/9

Stuck on this one. Can any of you quant quru's help ?
Top
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:56 pm
Thanked: 8 times

by seal4913 » Sun Apr 01, 2012 2:39 pm
Answer is posted here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/good-ps-t161 ... cityevent=
Top
Join the discussion
Legendary Member
Posts: 1084
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:33 pmFollowed by: 21 members
Thanked: 158 times

by pemdas » Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:43 pm
ngbrian85 wrote:M is the sum of the reciprocals of the consecutive integers from 201 to 300, inclusive. Which of the following is true?

(A) 1/3 < M < 1/2
(B) 1/5 < M < 1/3
(C) 1/7 < M < 1/5
(D) 1/9 < M < 1/7
(E) 1/12 < M < 1/9

Stuck on this one. Can any of you quant quru's help ?
i must say after looking up the post copied/pasted solution is so-so
not satisfied and solved with my own

this is simple series of consecutive just reciprocal, the sum will be (first+last)/2 *no of values
(1/201 + 1/300)/2 *100 = (300+201)/300*201 *(50) = ~0.4

a
Success doesn't come overnight!
Top
Join the discussion
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:56 pm
Thanked: 8 times

by seal4913 » Sun Apr 01, 2012 3:57 pm
Stuart Kovinsky's answer in the link above is the best way it can be explained. Your way has way too much unnecessary work. Why give an answer as a decimal when all the choices are in fractions?
pemdas wrote:
ngbrian85 wrote:M is the sum of the reciprocals of the consecutive integers from 201 to 300, inclusive. Which of the following is true?

(A) 1/3 < M < 1/2
(B) 1/5 < M < 1/3
(C) 1/7 < M < 1/5
(D) 1/9 < M < 1/7
(E) 1/12 < M < 1/9

Stuck on this one. Can any of you quant quru's help ?
i must say after looking up the post copied/pasted solution is so-so
not satisfied and solved with my own

this is simple series of consecutive just reciprocal, the sum will be (first+last)/2 *no of values
(1/201 + 1/300)/2 *100 = (300+201)/300*201 *(50) = ~0.4

a
Top
Join the discussion

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16206
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:45 am
ngbrian85 wrote:M is the sum of the reciprocals of the consecutive integers from 201 to 300, inclusive. Which of the following is true?

(A) 1/3 < M < 1/2
(B) 1/5 < M < 1/3
(C) 1/7 < M < 1/5
(D) 1/9 < M < 1/7
(E) 1/12 < M < 1/9

Stuck on this one. Can any of you quant quru's help ?
Here's another approach.

We want to find 1/201 + 1/202 + 1/203 + . . . + 1/299 + 1/300

NOTE: there are 100 fractions in this sum, since 300-201+1 = 100.

Let's examine the extreme values (1/201 and 1/300)

First consider a case where all of the values are equal to the smallest fraction (1/300)
We get: 1/300 + 1/300 + 1/300 + ... + 1/300 = 100/300 = 1/3
So, the original sum must be greater than 1/3

Now consider a case where all of the values are equal to the biggest fraction (1/201)
In fact, let's go a little bigger and use 1/200
We get: 1/200 + 1/200 + 1/200 + ... + 1/200 = 100/200 = 1/2
So, the original sum must be less than 1/2

Combine both cases to get 1/3 < M < 1/2 = A

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Join the discussion

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 511
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:47 amFollowed by: 86 members
Location: Delhi, India
Thanked: 344 times

by Anju@Gurome » Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:42 pm
pemdas wrote:this is simple series of consecutive just reciprocal, the sum will be (first+last)/2 *no of values
katerina.ajtova wrote:I think his approach of getting 0.4 is much easier than the OA.
He got lucky in this case as that method of getting the sum is only valid for uniformly distributed numbers.

In this case 1/201, 1/202, ..., 1/300 are not uniformly distributed as the distance between any two consecutive terms is not a constant.

For example, consider the following problem
If M = 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4, which of the following is true?
A. 0.9 < M < 1.0
B. 1.0 < M < 1.1
C. 1.1 < M < 1.2
D. 1.2 < M < 1.3
E. 1.3 < M < 1.4
Actual sum of the terms = (1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4) = (6 + 4 + 3)/12 = 13/12 ≈ 1.08
Hence, the correct solution is B.

But sum of the term misusing this formula = [(1/2 + 1/4)/2]*3 = (3/8)*3 = 9/8 = 1.125
And according to this the answer should be C.

Hope that helps.
Anju Agarwal
Quant Expert, Gurome

Backup Methods : General guide on plugging, estimation etc.
Wavy Curve Method : Solving complex inequalities in a matter of seconds.

§ GMAT with Gurome § Admissions with Gurome § Career Advising with Gurome §
Top
Join the discussion
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:48 am
Location: Pune, India
Thanked: 6 times

by abhijitlandge » Thu Apr 25, 2013 10:01 am
pemdas wrote:del
+1 Thank to you for your signature line

Success doesn't come overnight

great line for those who are always in search of shortcuts and tricks

Abhijit
When it rains, All birds occupy shelters. But Eagle is the only bird that avoids the rain by flying above the clouds.
Problems common to all. Attitude makes the difference


https://www.beatthegmat.com/co-ordinate- ... tml#609851

https://www.beatthegmat.com/time-speed-a ... 13760.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/permutations ... 25328.html
Top
Join the discussion