Arthematic Sequence

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Arthematic Sequence

by singhmaharaj » Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:19 am
When a certain tree was first planted, it was 4 feet tall, and the height of the tree increased by a constant amount each year for the next 6 years. At the end of 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of 4th year. By how many feet the height of the tree increase each year?

1) 3/10
2) 2/5
3) 1/2
4) 2/3
5) 6/5
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:59 am
singhmaharaj wrote:When a certain tree was first planted, it was 4 feet tall, and the height of the tree increased by a constant amount each year for the next 6 years. At the end of 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of 4th year. By how many feet the height of the tree increase each year?

1) 3/10
2) 2/5
3) 1/2
4) 2/3
5) 6/5
Looks like you accidentally posted this question twice.

Height of tree on day 0 = 4
Let d = the height increase each year
Height of tree at the end of the 1st year = 4+d
Height of tree at the end of the 2nd year = 4+d+d = 4 + 2d
Height of tree at the end of the 3rd year = 4+d+d+d = 4 + 3d
Height of tree at the end of the 4th year = 4+d+d+d+d = 4 + 4d
Height of tree at the end of the 5th year = 4+d+d+d+d+d = 4 + 5d
Height of tree at the end of the 6th year = 4+d+d+d+d+d+d = 4 + 6d

At the end of the 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of the 4th year
In other words, 6th year height = 4th year height + 1/5(4th year height)
Or we can write 4 + 6d = (4 + 4d) + 1/5(4 + 4d)
Simplify: 4 + 6d = 6/5(4 + 4d)
Multiply both sides by 5 to get: 5(4 + 6d) = 6(4 + 4d)
Expand: 20 + 30d = 24 + 24d
Simplify: 6d = 4
d = 4/6 = [spoiler]2/3[/spoiler] = D

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Brent
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by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:57 am
An alternative approach that you could have used in this case is working backwards from the answer choices. Since all of the answer choices are fractions, this approach isn't quite as smooth on this problem as it might be on others, but it's still helpful if you get stuck on the algebra.

When working backwards, it's often a good idea to start with C, and then choose to go bigger or smaller from there.

C. 1/2
If the tree increased by 1/2 each year, we can create a chart for the values each year:
year 1: 4.5 ft
year 2: 5 ft
year 3: 5.5 ft
year 4: 6 ft
year 5: 6.5 ft
year 6: 7 ft

Is 7 1/5 taller than 6? No, it's 1/6 taller. Clearly we need to increase by more each year. Try D:

D. 2/3
Again, create a chart:
year 1: 4 and 2/3 ft
year 2: 5 and 1/3
year 3: 6
year 4: 6 and 2/3
year 5: 7 and 1/3
year 6: 8

Is 8 1/5 greater than 6 and 2/3? First, turn 6 and 2/3 into an improper fraction, then multiply by 6/5 (an increase of 1/5):
(20/3)(6/5) = 24/3 = 8
Correct! The answer is D.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education