For integers a, b, c, a/(b - c)=1 what is the value of (b-c)

This topic has expert replies
Moderator
Posts: 7187
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:43 pm
Followed by:23 members

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

For integers a, b, c, a/(b - c)=1 what is the value of (b-c)/b ?

(1) a/b=3/5
(2) a and b have no common factors greater than 1

OA A

Source: Veritas Prep

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Mon Oct 29, 2018 6:19 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

BTGmoderatorDC wrote:For integers a, b, and c, a/(b - c)=1 what is the value of (b-c)/b ?

(1) a/b=3/5
(2) a and b have no common factors greater than 1
Given: a/(b - c) = 1

Target question: What is the value of (b-c)/b ?
This is a good candidate for rephrasing the target question.
Aside: Here's a video with tips on rephrasing the target question: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... cy?id=1100
If a/(b - c) = 1, then we know that a = b - c
The target question asks "What is the value of (b-c)/b ?"
Since a = b - c, we can replace b - c with a to get:
REPHRASED target question: What is the value of a/b ?

Statement 1: a/b = 3/5
Perfect!
The answer to the REPHRASED target question is a/b = 3/5
Since we can answer the REPHRASED target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: a and b have no common factors greater than 1
There are several values of a and b that satisfy statement 2. Here are two:
Case a: a = 1 and b = 2. In this case, the answer to the REPHRASED target question is a/b = 1/2
Case b: a = 2 and b = 3. In this case, the answer to the REPHRASED target question is a/b = 2/3
Since we cannot answer the REPHRASED target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer: A

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1449
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:16 pm
Thanked: 59 times
Followed by:33 members

by fskilnik@GMATH » Mon Oct 29, 2018 7:40 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

BTGmoderatorDC wrote:For integers a, b, c, a/(b - c)=1 what is the value of (b-c)/b ?

(1) a/b=3/5
(2) a and b have no common factors greater than 1
Source: Veritas Prep
\[\left\{ \begin{gathered}
\,a,b,c\,\,{\text{ints}}\,\, \hfill \\
\,\frac{a}{{b - c}} = 1 \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,a = b - c\,\,\,\,\,\left( * \right)\]
\[? = \frac{{b - c}}{b}\]
\[\left( 1 \right)\,\,\frac{a}{b} = \frac{3}{5}\,\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{\left( * \right)} \,\,\,\,\,\left( {? = } \right)\,\,\frac{{b - c}}{b} = \frac{3}{5}\,\,\,\]
\[\left( 2 \right)\,\,\,GCF\left( {a,b} \right) = 1\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {1,2,1} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,{\text{?}}\,\, = \frac{1}{2} \hfill \\
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {1,3,2} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,{\text{?}}\,\, = \frac{1}{3}\,\, \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.\]
Important: to offer a viable BIFURCATION, we must also control the value of c, so that all restrictions are shown to be obeyed.


This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
English-speakers :: https://www.gmath.net
Portuguese-speakers :: https://www.gmath.com.br