BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Simple Strategy Question

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:33 am

Simple Strategy Question

by rmvsds02 » Tue Jul 05, 2011 10:38 am
If 2(x-3)=2(x/2-1/3), x=?

I have the kaplan online course, and through most explanations of fraction problems, I am finding that they don't use mixed terms in their work.. .i.e. 7x=16/3 as opposed to 7x=5 1/3..

Should I always use non-mixed terms when working with fractions? Any other simple tips that will help?

Thanks!
Top
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2623
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 am
Location: Montreal
Thanked: 1090 times
Followed by:355 members
GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Tue Jul 05, 2011 3:03 pm
If you need to do any arithmetic (especially any division or multiplication), you'd always want to use the expression '16/3', and not '5 1/3', unless you're only concerned with getting an estimate. I can't see how you'd easily go about dividing, say, 5 1/3 by 7 1/5, but if you write those fractions as 16/3 and 36/5 it's straightforward enough:

(16/3)/(36/5) = (16/3)*(5/36) = 20/27

You infrequently see mixed fractions on the GMAT, typically only in word problems.
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1