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Simplify..

by vzzai » Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:38 pm
Image
OA D

Please let me know if 3 of 4 should be considered 3*4 or 3/4 or 4^3
Thank you,
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by cans » Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:49 pm
3 of 4 = 3*4
what is 3-2 (bar above this)??
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by Frankenstein » Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:55 pm
cans wrote:3 of 4 = 3*4
what is 3-2 (bar above this)??
Hi,
the bar above that is called vinculum (just like a bracket. So that operation should be done before multiplication).
Last edited by Frankenstein on Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by vzzai » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:05 pm
Frankenstein is right. That 3-2 (bar above this)/vinculum should be dealt with first.
I did try 3*4 for 3 of 4 but I did not get the right answer. That's why I posted it for responses. Please help to clarify.
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by Frankenstein » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:22 pm
vzzai wrote:Frankenstein is right. That 3-2 (bar above this)/vinculum should be dealt with first.
I did try 3*4 for 3 of 4 but I did not get the right answer. That's why I posted it for responses. Please help to clarify.
Hi,
Even I am getting a value, which is not in the given options.
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by cans » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:23 pm
but don't we consider 'of' as multiplication??
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by Frankenstein » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:40 pm
cans wrote:but don't we consider 'of' as multiplication??
Hi,
Not sure about this. As I keep exploring more about 'Of', I am getting more doubts on it. Will post about it when I am clear.
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by Frankenstein » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:56 pm
vzzai wrote:Image
OA D

Please let me know if 3 of 4 should be considered 3*4 or 3/4 or 4^3
Can you post the Source or OE ?
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by cans » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:57 pm
2 - 3of4 + 4/(3-2)*4 + 1/2of4 -6*4/2of7
solving brackets and of first
2 - 12 + 4/1*4 +1/8 - 6*4/14
2 - 12 + 4*4 + 1/8 - 24/14
2 - 12 + 16 + 1/8 - 12/7
6 + (-89)/56
(336-89)/56
247/56
IMO D
3of 4 means 3*4
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by cans » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:58 pm
2 - 3of4 + 4/(3-2)*4 + 1/2of4 -6*4/2of7
solving brackets and of first
2 - 12 + 4/1*4 +1/8 - 6*4/14
2 - 12 + 4*4 + 1/8 - 24/14
2 - 12 + 16 + 1/8 - 12/7
6 + (-89)/56
(336-89)/56
247/56
IMO D
3of 4 means 3*4
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by vzzai » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:01 pm
Sorry mate, I only have OA but no explanation.
I'm googled for answers but no luck. I grabbed it from a question bank.
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by Frankenstein » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:08 pm
Hi,
Good that we arrived at the answer but I am still not convinced about 'of' being a multiplication symbol as well as having more priority than normal multiplication. I will edit my opinion about 'of' in my earlier post else it could mislead viewers. I see spammed posts in many threads. I humbly request everyone not to post the same thing twice.
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by cans » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:22 pm
BODMAS rule - Bracket, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction
Thus of has higher priority then normal multiplication.
And I didn't post the same thing twice. (some problem with my connection)
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by Frankenstein » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:31 pm
cans wrote:BODMAS rule - Bracket, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction
Thus of has higher priority then normal multiplication.
And I didn't post the same thing twice. (some problem with my connection)
Hi,
I agree with you about the BODMAS rule for priority of 'Of'. But, everywhere I have come across, I see 'Of' as 'Orders'(exponents) and not multiplication. That was my point. If you can reveal any source that states 'Of' as multiplication in BODMAS, it would be really helpful.
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by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Sat Jun 04, 2011 10:38 pm
vzzai wrote:Image
OA D

Please let me know if 3 of 4 should be considered 3*4 or 3/4 or 4^3
You will NEVER see that language on the GMAT - so don't worry about it.

Pretty much the only time you'll see "of" and need to translate into math will be with fractions or percents, e.g.

"What number is 20% of 90?"; or

"What number is 1/5 of 90?"

"of" does translate as multiplication, but you'll never see it between two integers (at least on the GMAT or, to the best of my knowledge, in any North American math).

Also, in North America the order of operations mnemonic is BEDMAS, with "E" standing for "exponents". (Another variation is PEMDAS - parenthesis/brackets are the same thing.)

So, the moral of the story is: don't use this source when studying for the GMAT, since it contains language that will confuse GMAT takers (and since the authors didn't properly research the GMAT before constructing their questions).
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