Word problem problem - Tree height in 6 years

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:45 pm
When a certain tree was first plated 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 the 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of the 4th year. By how many feet did the height of the tree increase per year?

A) 3/10
B) 2/5
C) 1/2
D) 2/3
E) 6/5
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue May 13, 2014 9:24 am
gdshamain wrote:When a certain tree was first plated 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 the 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of the 4th year. By how many feet did the height of the tree increase per year?

A) 3/10
B) 2/5
C) 1/2
D) 2/3
E) 6/5
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

---------------------
Here's a similar question to practice with: https://www.beatthegmat.com/linear-growt ... 73800.html

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:45 pm

by gdshamain » Tue May 13, 2014 9:39 am
Thanks Brent. It is clear now.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Tue May 13, 2014 10:57 pm
Hi gdshamain,

This question can also be solved by TESTing THE ANSWERS.

We're told that a tree grows the same length in each year. It starts of at 4ft and grows for 6 years. At the end of the 6th year, the tree is EXACTLY 1/5 taller than it was at the end of the 4th year. We're asked for the growth per year, in feet.

If you tried answer C first, you'd have the following measurements (representing the starting value and each of the 6 years that follow:

Start = 4ft
Yr. 1 = 4.5ft
Yr. 2 = 5ft
Yr. 3 = 5.5ft
Yr. 4 = 6ft
Yr. 5 = 6.5ft
Yr. 6 = 7ft

Comparing Year 4 to Year 6, we see that the tree was 1/6 bigger, which is NOT what we're looking for. We need a bigger fraction (1/5), so we'll need to tree to grow faster.

Testing D, we'd have:

Start = 4 ft
Yr. 1 = 4 2/3 ft
Yr. 2 = 5 1/3 ft
Yr. 3 = 6 ft
Yr. 4 = 6 2/3 ft
Yr. 5 = 7 1/3 ft
Yr. 6 = 8 ft

Now, comparing Year 4 to Year 6, we have (1 1/3) / (6 2/3) = (4/3)/(20/3) = 4/20 = 1/5. This is the exact match for what we're looking for.

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3650
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:27 am
Location: India
Thanked: 267 times
Followed by:80 members
GMAT Score:760

by sanju09 » Fri May 23, 2014 12:20 am
gdshamain wrote:When a certain tree was first plated 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 the 6th year, the tree was 1/5 taller than it was at the end of the 4th year. By how many feet did the height of the tree increase per year?

A) 3/10
B) 2/5
C) 1/2
D) 2/3
E) 6/5
Let's try plugging in the answers, starting from (C) as usual.

If the height of the tree increases @ ½ feet per year, then at the end of the 4th year, it would be 6 feet, and at the end of the 6th year, it would 7 feet. We can justify that 7 is not 1/5 taller than 6, it's even less in fact. This is because we picked a choice that is too small to make it true.

Eliminate (C) and the smaller choices, (A) and (B).

Take one more attempt, say try (D).

If the height of the tree increases @ 2/3 feet per year, then at the end of the 4th year, it would be 20/3 feet, and at the end of the 6th year, it would 24/3 feet. We can justify that 24/3 is 1/5 taller than 20/3, hence [spoiler](D)[/spoiler] is the right choice, take it!
The mind is everything. What you think you become. -Lord Buddha



Sanjeev K Saxena
Quantitative Instructor
The Princeton Review - Manya Abroad
Lucknow-226001

www.manyagroup.com