Search found 2630 matches
For D to be the largest, it'd have to be bigger than B. To compare two fractions, we could test an inequality:
7/30 > 13/56
7*56 > 13*30
392 > 390
Success! This is true, so 7/30 IS > 13/56.
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:56 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: Which of the following fractions is the largest?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3703
The trick is converting the problem to the units given. We want fifths of the mile, so 8 miles = 40 fifths of a mile.
From there, our first fifth costs $3.10 and our remaining 39 fifths cost 40¢ each. That gives us a fare of $3.10 + 39*40¢, or $18.70.
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:54 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: A certain taxi company charges $3.10
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4640
When we've got three groups A, B, and C with some overlap, we can say that Total = A + B + C + (people in no groups) - (people in exactly two groups) - 2*(people in exactly three groups) We're told that the total = 144, A = (144 - 100), B = (144 - 89), and C = (144 - 91). (Remember that A, B, C are ...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:28 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: A survey was conducted to find out how many people in...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2280
yeah
One last approach that's slow but almost foolproof is backsolving. I'll use two answers to show what the right answer should look like and what a wrong answer could look like. Suppose I try answer A, and make the race an hour long. If the race is 40 meters long, then A runs 40 meters, B runs 20, and...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:18 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: Three runners A, B and C run a race with A finishing...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2508
An approach with less algebra would go something like this: When A finishes the race, we know A has run D meters B has run D - 20 meters C has run D - 34 meters At this point, B has 20 meters left to go and C has 34 meters left to go . When B finishes the race, we know C still has 21 meters left to ...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:08 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: Three runners A, B and C run a race with A finishing...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2508
Let's start with a technical approach: Distance = Rate * Time We'll call t A's time to finish the race, and a, b, c the rates of the three runners. We know that D = a * t D - 20 = b * t D - 34 = c * t Now let's look at what happens after A finishes. Let's say that the time between A's finishing the ...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:56 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: Three runners A, B and C run a race with A finishing...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2508
A simple way: Start by treating the two I's as one unit grafted together. If we then arrange the "nine" letters (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and II), we've got 9! arrangements, so there are 9! ways to put the I's together. But if we have no restrictions at all, we have 10!/2! ways of arranging...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:41 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: A random 10-letter code is to be formed using the letters...
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1664
Another approach would be finding the weighted average.
If X is 20% sugar, Y is 40% sugar, and X + Y = 25% sugar, then
.2x + .4y = .25(x + y)
.2x + .4y = .25x + .25y
.15y = .05x
3y = x
We were told y = 150, so x = 3y = 3*150 = 450.
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:35 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: Solution Y is 40 percent sugar by volume, and solution X...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4285
If we've got 150 gallons of solution Y, then 40% of 150, or 60 gallons of it are sugar. From here, we're adding x gallons of Solution X. 20% of that is sugar, so sugar / total = (60 + 0.2x ) / (150 + x ) is our ratio. We need that to equal 25%, or 1/4, so (60 + 0.2x) / (150 + x) = 1/4 Then just cros...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:34 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: Solution Y is 40 percent sugar by volume, and solution X...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4285
Another approach could use combinatorics: p(rotten) = (# of pairs with the rotten apple) / (total # of pairs) # of pairs with the rotten apple = 4, since the rotten apple could be paired with any of the other four apples total # of pairs = (5 choose 2) = 5!/(3! * 2!) = 10 So our ratio is 4/10, or 2/5.
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:31 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: A basket contains 5 apples of which one is rotten...
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3576
Another approach: p( getting the rotten apple ) + p( not getting the rotten apple ) = 1, since one of those two things MUST happen. Subtracting from both sides, we have p( getting the rotten apple ) = 1 - p( not getting the rotten apple ) and p( not getting the rotten apple ) = p(apple 1 fresh) * p(...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:29 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: A basket contains 5 apples of which one is rotten...
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3576
Here's another way of thinking about it: Henry could select the rotten apple FIRST or SECOND. The probability that he selects it first = p(rotten apple) * p(fresh apple) = 1/5 * 4/4 = 1/5 The probability that he selects it second = p(fresh apple) * p(rotten apple) = 4/5 * 1/4 = 1/5 Adding those up, ...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:27 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: A basket contains 5 apples of which one is rotten...
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3576
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:26 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: A gardener is going to plant 2 red rosebushes
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3979
Another approach (not quite as good, but you never know what's helpful!): pull the integers roots out of 1575K. √1575K => √1575 * √K => √(25*9*7) * √K => √25 * √9 * √7 *√K => 5 * 3 * √7 * √K => 5 * 3 * √7K So if √7K = an integer, we're set. If K = 7, then √7K = √49 = 7,...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:25 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: What is the smallest positive integer K such that the...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 18523
Here's a trick: break 1575K into two identical square roots. For instance, say we have 36. 36 = 2 * 2 * 3 * 3 = (2 * 3) * (2 * 3) , or two identical square roots . Now let's try that with 1575K. 1575K => 25 * 63 * K => 5 * 5 * 3 * 3 * 7 * K => (5 * 3 * 7) * (5 * 3 * K) So if K = 7, we'll have two id...
- by Matt@VeritasPrep
Thu Dec 07, 2017 4:23 pm- Forum: Problem Solving
- Topic: What is the smallest positive integer K such that the...
- Replies: 4
- Views: 18523