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

Jack has a total of b hardback and paperback books in his...

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Subscribe topic
Previous Topic Next Topic
Moderator
Posts: 2650
Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:50 pmFollowed by: 6 members
by BTGmoderatorLU » Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:17 am
Jack has a total of b hardback and paperback books in his library. If the number of hardback books is 1/3 the number of paperback books, and 3/4 of the paperback books are biographies, how many biographies, in terms of b, are in Jack's library?

A) (1/9)b
B) (3/20)b
C) (3/16)b
D) (1/3)b
E) (9/16)b

The OA is E.

I'm really confused by this PS question. Experts, any suggestion about how can I solve it? I don't understand it. Thanks in advance.
Top
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2663
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:25 amFollowed by: 128 members
Location: Boston, MA
Thanked: 1153 times
GMAT Score:770

by DavidG@VeritasPrep » Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:27 am
LUANDATO wrote:Jack has a total of b hardback and paperback books in his library. If the number of hardback books is 1/3 the number of paperback books, and 3/4 of the paperback books are biographies, how many biographies, in terms of b, are in Jack's library?

A) (1/9)b
B) (3/20)b
C) (3/16)b
D) (1/3)b
E) (9/16)b

The OA is E.

I'm really confused by this PS question. Experts, any suggestion about how can I solve it? I don't understand it. Thanks in advance.
Call the number of paperbacks 12. (A multiple of the denominators in the given fractions.)
Hardbacks: 1/3 of 12 = 4
b: 12 + 4 = 16
Paperback biographies: (3/4) * 12 = 9 --> this is our target.

(Presumably, there are no hardback biographies. The prompt could have been a little clearer on this point.)

So now we want plug in 16 in place of b in the answer choices until we find a value equal to 9.

Answer Choice E: (9/16) * 16 = 9.
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2663
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:25 amFollowed by: 128 members
Location: Boston, MA
Thanked: 1153 times
GMAT Score:770

by DavidG@VeritasPrep » Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:30 am
LUANDATO wrote:Jack has a total of b hardback and paperback books in his library. If the number of hardback books is 1/3 the number of paperback books, and 3/4 of the paperback books are biographies, how many biographies, in terms of b, are in Jack's library?

A) (1/9)b
B) (3/20)b
C) (3/16)b
D) (1/3)b
E) (9/16)b

The OA is E.

I'm really confused by this PS question. Experts, any suggestion about how can I solve it? I don't understand it. Thanks in advance.
Algebraically:

If there are three times as many paperbacks as hardbacks, then 3/4 of the books will be paperback and 1/4 of the books will be hardbacks. (3/4 is three times the value of 1/4.)
Paperbacks: (3/4)b
Paperback biographies: (3/4)*(3/4) b = (9/16)b. E is the correct answer.
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor

Veritas Prep Reviews
Save $100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course
Top
Join the discussion

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 8246
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 amFollowed by: 29 members
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Thu Feb 15, 2018 10:39 am
LUANDATO wrote:Jack has a total of b hardback and paperback books in his library. If the number of hardback books is 1/3 the number of paperback books, and 3/4 of the paperback books are biographies, how many biographies, in terms of b, are in Jack's library?

A) (1/9)b
B) (3/20)b
C) (3/16)b
D) (1/3)b
E) (9/16)b
We are given that Jack has a total of b hardback and paperback books in his library. We can let h = the number of hardback books and p = the number of paperback books, and thus h + p = b.

We know that the number of hardback books is 1/3 the number of paperback books, and thus:

h = (1/3)p

We can now substitute (1/3)p for h in the equation h + p = b:

(1/3)p + p = b

Multiplying the entire equation by 3, we have:

p + 3p = 3b

4p = 3b

p = 3b/4

Finally, we are given that 3/4 of the paperback books are biographies. Since p = 3b/4, we have:

(3/4)(3b/4) = biographies

9b/16 = biographies

Answer: E

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

ImageImage
Top
Join the discussion