Algebra; The variable x is inversely proportional..

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 97
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 5:39 pm
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:2 members
Hello BTG

Would appreciate some help to the following question:

The variable x is inversely proportional to the square of the variable y. If y is divided by 3a, then x is multiplied by which of the following:

a) 1/9a
b) 1/(9a^2)
c) 1/3a
d) 9a
e) 9a^2

Thanks in advance. :-)
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2135
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:26 am
Location: https://martymurraycoaching.com/
Thanked: 955 times
Followed by:140 members
GMAT Score:800

by MartyMurray » Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:07 am
Translate what the question says into math.

x is inversely proportional to y²: x decreases as y² increases, and x increases as y decreases, and there is a constant, k, such that x * y² = k or x = k/y²

Now continue translating to math.

y is divided by 3a: If y is divided by 3a we get x = k/(y/3a)² or x = k(3a)²/y² or x = k(9a²)/y².

So initially x = k/y² and after dividing y by 3a, x = k(9a²)/y².

The correct answer is E.

Hacking tip: If you didn't know exactly what inversely proportional means, you could still have gotten this one right by figuring out that if directly proportional means that there is some constant ratio of x and y that holds such that when x increases y increases, then inversely proportional means that there is something going on such the when y² decreases x increases somehow.

If y is divided by 3a, then y² is divided by (3a)²= 9a². So if y was divided by 9a², then it makes sense that 9a² would have something to do with the increase in x. So of all the answer choices E seems to make the most sense.
Marty Murray
Perfect Scoring Tutor With Over a Decade of Experience
MartyMurrayCoaching.com
Contact me at [email protected] for a free consultation.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Apr 07, 2016 7:51 am
lucas211 wrote:The variable x is inversely proportional to the square of the variable y. If y is divided by 3a, then x is multiplied by which of the following:

a) 1/9a
b) 1/(9a^2)
c) 1/3a
d) 9a
e) 9a^2
a and b are INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL if their product is always THE SAME:
ab = k, where k is a constant.

The variable x is inversely proportional to the square of the variable y.
Since x and y² are inversely proportional, we get:
xy² = k, where k is a constant.

Let x� = 1 and y� = 6.
Plugging x� = 1 and y� = 6 into (x�)(y�)² = k, we get:
(x�)(y�)² = (1)(6²) = 36, implying that k=36.

If y is divided by 3a, then x is multiplied by which of the following?
Let a=2.
Dividing y� by 3a, we get;
y₂ = y�/3a = 6/(3*2) = 1.

Plugging y₂ = 1 and k=36 into (x₂)(y₂)² = k, we get:
(x₂)(1²) = 36
xâ‚‚ = 36.

Since x� = 1 and x₂ = 36, the value of x is multiplied by 36. This is our target.
Now plug a=2 into the answer choices to see which yields our target of 36.
Only E works:
9a² = (9)(2²) = 36.

The correct answer is E.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3