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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Ratios

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 385
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:40 amFollowed by: 29 members
Location: Pune, India
Thanked: 186 times

by aneesh.kg » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:58 pm
satyavegi wrote:Q)If 3/(p+q)=l/(q+r)=m/(r-p),then which of the follwoing pairs of values for(l,m) is not possible?

A(0,3)
B(0,-3)
C(6,3)
D(4,1)
E(5,2)

OA-A
l = 3(q + r)/(p + q) -- (1)
m = 3(r - p)/(p + q) -- (2)
Subtracting (2) from (1),
l - m
= 3[(q + r) - (r - p)]/(p + q)
= 3[(p + q)/(p + q)]
= 3

l - m has to be equal to 3.
All options, except (A) for which l - m = -3, yield l - m = 3.

[spoiler](A)[/spoiler] is correct.
Aneesh Bangia
GMAT Math Coach
[email protected]

GMATPad:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GMATPad
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 1:07 am

by satyavegi » Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:16 pm
Aneesh

Can you explain me the concept of arriving the methodology of working out the problem

regards
Vegi
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 385
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:40 amFollowed by: 29 members
Location: Pune, India
Thanked: 186 times

by aneesh.kg » Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:34 pm
satyavegi wrote:Aneesh

Can you explain me the concept of arriving the methodology of working out the problem

regards
Vegi
Hi Vegi,

I will try to articulate my thought-process.

Given: 3/(p+q)=l/(q+r)=m/(r-p)
I can see a lot of unnecessary variables - p, q, r - in the equations above. The question is about 'l' and 'm', which can be written in the form of the unnecessary variables as follows:
l = 3*(q + r)/(p + q)
m = 3*(r - p)/(p + q)

Pause for a few seconds here. Remember this is a problem that is expected to be solved inside two minutes. We've to manipulate the equations above such that p,q and r vanish.

Adding and Subtracting the two equations are two very common approaches.

If you try adding them:
l + m
= 3*(q + 2r - p)/(p + q)
p, q and r don't vanish.

Try subtracting them:
l - m
= 3*(p + q)/(p + q)
= 3
First r vanishes, and them (p + q) vanishes.

Now, look for the option for which l - m is not equal to 3.

Having said all of that, there is no substitute to practice. When you have solved a lot of similar problems, it becomes easier for you anticipate what will work out and what will not.

Does that help?
Aneesh Bangia
GMAT Math Coach
[email protected]

GMATPad:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GMATPad
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1