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
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
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.

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 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

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

Help me please.

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Source: — Problem Solving |

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 Jul 28, 2016 10:15 pm
Hi Jheisra,

What is the source of this question? Is it from a GMAT source or a 'math book?' I ask because the wording is clunky and you have not included the 5 answer choices. The math is based on Quadratic Algebra, so there are actually 2 solutions. As it stands, having those 5 answers would make solving this question REALLY easy. Without them though, we're almost forced to take a 'math heavy' approach.

With the information that we've been given, we can form the following equation (we can refer to the numbers as X and 3X):

(X)(3X) = (X+3X) + 55

3X^2 = 4X + 55

From here, we can solve Algebraically or use 'brute force' (and if we had 5 answer choices, then we could TEST THE ANSWERS).

Algebraically:
3X^2 - 4X - 55 = 0
(X - 5)(3X + 11) = 0
X = 5 or - 11/3

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
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 416
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:52 am
Thanked: 27 times

by regor60 » Fri Jul 29, 2016 6:56 am
And it seems likely by the wording that the "number" requested is then 15 or -11
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pmFollowed by: 119 members
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu Aug 04, 2016 8:56 pm
[email protected] wrote:a 'math book?'
Do we mean an actual math book, or a phony math book? Seems like real math to me, no quotations required.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pmFollowed by: 119 members
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu Aug 04, 2016 8:59 pm
We've got

a = 3b

and

a*b = a + b + 55

so

3b² = 4b + 55

3b² - 4b - 55 = 0

(3b + 11)(b - 5) = 0

b = 5 or b = -11/3

from which

a = 15 or a = -11
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1