The useful life of a certain piece of equipment is...

This topic has expert replies
Moderator
Posts: 2246
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:08 pm
Followed by:2 members
The useful life of a certain piece of equipment is determined by the following formula: u=(8d)/h^2, where u is the useful life of the equipment, in years, d is the density of the underlying material, in g/cm3, and h is the number of hours of daily usage of the equipment. If the density of the underlying material is doubled and the daily usage of the equipment is halved, what will be the percentage increase in the useful life of the equipment?

A. 300%
B. 400%
C. 600%
D. 700%
E. 800%

The OA is D.

Is there a strategic approach to this PS question? Can any experts help me please? Thanks!

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 » Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:22 am
AAPL wrote:The useful life of a certain piece of equipment is determined by the following formula: u=(8d)/h^2, where u is the useful life of the equipment, in years, d is the density of the underlying material, in g/cm3, and h is the number of hours of daily usage of the equipment. If the density of the underlying material is doubled and the daily usage of the equipment is halved, what will be the percentage increase in the useful life of the equipment?

A. 300%
B. 400%
C. 600%
D. 700%
E. 800%
Original values:
Let d=1 and h=2, with the result that u = 8d/h² = (8*1)/2² = 2.

New values:
When d is doubled to 2 and h is halved to 1, u = 8d/h² = (8*2)/1² = 16.

Percent increase from 2 to 16 = Difference/Smaller * 100 = (16-2)/2 * 100 = 700.

The correct answer is D.
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

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 7243
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times
Followed by:29 members

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Mon Feb 05, 2018 9:34 am
AAPL wrote:The useful life of a certain piece of equipment is determined by the following formula: u=(8d)/h^2, where u is the useful life of the equipment, in years, d is the density of the underlying material, in g/cm3, and h is the number of hours of daily usage of the equipment. If the density of the underlying material is doubled and the daily usage of the equipment is halved, what will be the percentage increase in the useful life of the equipment?

A. 300%
B. 400%
C. 600%
D. 700%
E. 800%
We can let d = 1 and h = 2; thus, u = (8 x 1)/2^2 = 2.

Now, let's double d and make h half, so the new d = 2 and the new h = 1 and thus the new u = (8 x 2)/1^2 = 16.

So the percentage increase in u is:

(16 - 2)/2 x 100% = 7 x 100% = 700%

Answer: D

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