Help me to solve my math problem What least number must be subtracted from each of the numbers 14, 17 , 34 and 42, so that the remainders may be proportional?

Hi burgess, There are a couple of problems with this question. First, it's NOT a GMAT question. Second, this question seems incomplete. To calculate a remainder, we need to have some idea of what we're "dividing by." GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich

Let the required number be x. Then, (14 – x) : (17 – x) : : (34 – x) : (42 – x). (14 - x) * (42 - x) = (17 - x) * (34 - x) => x^2 - 56x + 588 = x^2 - 51x + 578 5x = 10 x = 2 Required number = 2.

But "TRUE", This is not a GMAT like question.

Hi Bhoopendra, I'm not sure that we can assume that "proportional remainders" necessarily means comparing the 2 ratios that you compared in your solution. Also, we typically don't use the word "remainder" to denote the difference between two values. On a different note (to burgess), if this were a (better written) GMAT question, there would be 5 answer choices, so it would be easy to simply test the options. I'm assuming that you aren't actually preparing for the GMAT. Is that correct? Cheers, Brent

Hi Brent, Yes you are right... This is not the term used by GMAT. In indian tests sometimes we use this word remainder for (A-B) if we have to refer to the result after B is subtracted from A. (Which linguistically correct however not used by GMAT in that scenario) Therefore I mentioned it already that this question doesn't represent a questions of GMAT.

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