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gmat prep exponents

Expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

by arzanr » Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:36 pm
You cannot add exponents when doing addition, but only during multiplication. Therefore:

(2^2)(2^2) = 2^4
but
(2^2)+(2^) != 2^4

As far as I know, you simply have to work out this problem, there is no quick solution -

2+2+4+8+16+32+64+128+256 = 512 = 2^9
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by pandeyvineet24 » Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:13 pm
Another way to solve the problem.

2 + 2 + 2^2 + 2^3 + 2^4 .... + 2^8.

= 4 + 2^2 + 2^3 ....

= 2 (2^2) + 2 ^ 3 + 2^4 + 2^5... + 2^8

= 8 + 2^3 + 2^4 ... + 2^8

= 2(2^3) + 2^4 + ....2^8

trend continues. and finally you will be left with 2(2^8) = 2^9
Which is answer A
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by logitech » Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:20 pm
arzanr wrote:You cannot add exponents when doing addition, but only during multiplication. Therefore:

(2^2)(2^2) = 2^4
but
(2^2)+(2^) != 2^4

As far as I know, you simply have to work out this problem, there is no quick solution -

2+2+4+8+16+32+64+128+256 = 512 = 2^9
There is a quick solution:

If you multiply both side with 2

LEFT side = ANSWER

2 x LEFT SIDE = 2 x ANSWER

you will realize that left side can also be arranged as:

ANSWER + 2^9 = 2x ANSWER

so ANSWER = 2^9
LGTCH
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by abhijeetsinghai » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:52 pm
there's another quick soln:---2 + (2 + 2^2 + 2^4 +......)

the nom in bracket can be taken as sum of GP(geo metric progr.)

now the sumof terms of GP is: a(r^n-1)/ (r-1)

where a=first term which is 2 in this case
r= general ration or diff
so, answer will be sum + first term i.e 2

2 + 2(2^8-1)/2-1
2 + 2 x 255
2 + 510
512
2^9
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by mrsmarthi » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:09 pm
abhijeetsinghai wrote:there's another quick soln:---2 + (2 + 2^2 + 2^4 +......)

the nom in bracket can be taken as sum of GP(geo metric progr.)

now the sumof terms of GP is: a(r^n-1)/ (r-1)

where a=first term which is 2 in this case
r= general ration or diff
so, answer will be sum + first term i.e 2

2 + 2(2^8-1)/2-1
2 + 2 x 255
2 + 510
512
2^9
No need of solving it.

2 + 2(2^8-1)/2-1 = 2 + 2^9 -2 = 2^9 is the answer.
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by aroon7 » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:42 pm
Really good one...
Logitech u r cool
logitech wrote:
arzanr wrote:You cannot add exponents when doing addition, but only during multiplication. Therefore:

(2^2)(2^2) = 2^4
but
(2^2)+(2^) != 2^4

As far as I know, you simply have to work out this problem, there is no quick solution -

2+2+4+8+16+32+64+128+256 = 512 = 2^9
There is a quick solution:

If you multiply both side with 2

LEFT side = ANSWER

2 x LEFT SIDE = 2 x ANSWER

you will realize that left side can also be arranged as:

ANSWER + 2^9 = 2x ANSWER

so ANSWER = 2^9
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