Assume set of forst 4 cons odd numbers.
1,3,5,7.
1+3=4
5+7=12.
12-4=8
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Source: Beat The GMAT — Quantitative Reasoning |
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shankar.ashwin
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Brent@GMATPrepNow
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shankar.ashwin's solution is perfect.
That said, I'd like to mention that, with some consecutive odd integer questions, it helps to know that consecutive odd integers can be represented algebraically as k, k+2, k+4, k+6, etc (where each value is 2 greater than the one before it.
So, to solve this question, we can first make the following observations:
- w is the smallest integer.
- Since x is the next odd integer, we can say that x = w+2
- Since y is the next odd integer, we can say that y = w+4
- Since z is the next odd integer, we can say that z = w+6
The question asks, "w + x is how much less than y + z?"
In other words, [w + w+2] is how much less than [w+4 + w+6]?
When we simplify, we get [2w+2] is how much less than [2w+10]?, and we can see that the answer is 8
Cheers,
Brent
That said, I'd like to mention that, with some consecutive odd integer questions, it helps to know that consecutive odd integers can be represented algebraically as k, k+2, k+4, k+6, etc (where each value is 2 greater than the one before it.
So, to solve this question, we can first make the following observations:
- w is the smallest integer.
- Since x is the next odd integer, we can say that x = w+2
- Since y is the next odd integer, we can say that y = w+4
- Since z is the next odd integer, we can say that z = w+6
The question asks, "w + x is how much less than y + z?"
In other words, [w + w+2] is how much less than [w+4 + w+6]?
When we simplify, we get [2w+2] is how much less than [2w+10]?, and we can see that the answer is 8
Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
