how many points

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how many points

by ramyaravindran » Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:30 am
Need help with this question

A line connects points A ( 1,1) and B ( 100,1000). How many other points with integer coordinates are on the line between A and B?

A. 0 B. 2 C. 3 D. 8 E. 9

Answer is D
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by kstv » Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:14 pm
The slope of the line is (1000-1)/100-1) = 999/99 = 111/11
Any point on the line will have to maintain this ratio.
So x y coordinates will be such that y-1/x-1 = 111/11
(y-1)11 = 111(x-1) the first point is (1,1) and the last point is (100,1000)
the possible 8 values in between are (12,112), (23,223) (34,334) ...to (89,889)

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by sana.noor » Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:09 pm
experts is this a gmat type question?
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by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:00 pm
Seems GMAT-worthy to me - definitely a good question.

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by vishugogo » Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:26 am
Dear kstv,

How will one find points in a faster way

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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:13 am
ramyaravindran wrote:Need help with this question

A line connects points A (1,1) and B (100,1000). How many other points with integer coordinates are on the line between A and B?

A. 0 B. 2 C. 3 D. 8 E. 9

Answer is D
Slope = (1000-1)/(100-1) = 999/99.
To make the math easier, SHIFT the line so that it passes through the origin.
Problem rephrased:
A line connects points A (0,0) and B (99,999). How many other points with integer coordinates are on the line between A and B?
The answer will be the same because the line that connects (0,0) and (99,999) has the SAME SLOPE as that in the original problem, points A and B still have INTEGER coordinates, and the DISTANCE between A and B is unchanged.

In the rephrased problem:
Slope = (999-0)/(99-0) = 999/99 = 111/11.
Since the y-intercept is 0, the equation of the line is as follows:
y = (111/11)x.
For y to be an integer, x must be a multiple of 11.
Since x=0 yields y=0 (the coordinates of point A), and x=99 yields y=999 (the coordinates of point B), x can be any multiple of 11 BETWEEN 0 and 99:
11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88.
Total options = 8.

The correct answer is D.
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