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

Redeem

x – 1/16 greater than 5/8

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 510
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:24 am
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:5 members

x – 1/16 greater than 5/8

by j_shreyans » Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:26 am
Is x - 1/16 greater than 5/8?

(1) Four times the value of x is less than three.

(2) One third of two is less than the value of x.

Guys ,

If i don't rephrase the question so our target question is x-1/16 > 5/8?

Statement 1 - 4x < 3

x < 3/4 or x < 0.75

if i take x = 0.70 so the answer of our target question is NO.

if i take x = 0.65 still will get NO answer .

So this statement is sufficient right???

OA E
Top
Source: — Data Sufficiency |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Wed Oct 29, 2014 9:58 am
j_shreyans wrote:Is x - 1/16 greater than 5/8?

(1) Four times the value of x is less than three.

(2) One third of two is less than the value of x.
x - 1/16 > 5/8
x > 5/8 + 1/16
x > 11/16

Question stem, rephrased: Is x > 11/16?

Statement 1: Four times the value of x is less than three.
4x < 3.
x < 3/4
x < 12/16.
If x = 11/16, then the answer to the rephrased question stem is NO.
If x = (11.5)/16, then the answer to the rephrased question stem is YES.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2: One third of two is less than the value of x.
(1/3)(2) < x
x > 2/3.
Since 2/3 = 32/48, and 11/16 = 33/48, 11/16 > 2/3.
Thus, the two values used to satisfy statement 1 -- 11/16 and (11.5)/16 -- also satisfy statement 2.

Thus, even when both statements are satisfied, the answer to the rephrased question stem can be NO or YES.

The correct answer is E.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top

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 » Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:02 am
j_shreyans wrote:Is x - 1/16 greater than 5/8?

(1) Four times the value of x is less than three.

(2) One third of two is less than the value of x.

Guys ,

If i don't rephrase the question so our target question is x-1/16 > 5/8?

Statement 1 - 4x < 3

x < 3/4 or x < 0.75

if i take x = 0.70 so the answer of our target question is NO.

if i take x = 0.65 still will get NO answer .

So this statement is sufficient right???

OA E
If x = 0.70 then the answer to the target question is YES.

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

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 » Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:24 am
j_shreyans wrote:Is x - 1/16 greater than 5/8?

(1) 4 times the value of x is less than three.
(2) 1/3 of 2 is less than the value of x.
Some students might find it easier to convert all fractions to DECIMALS.

Target question: Is x - 1/16 greater than 5/8
In other words, "Is x - 0.0625 > 0.625?"
Add 0.0625 to both sides to get....
REPHRASED target question: Is x > 0.6875

Statement 1: 4 times the value of x is less than three.
In other words, 4x < 3
Divide both sides by 4 to get: x < 0.75
There are several values of x that satisfy this condition. Here are two:
Case a: x = 0.74 in which case x > 0.6875
Case b: x = 0.68 in which case x < 0.6875
Since we cannot answer the REPHRASED target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: 1/3 of 2 is less than the value of x
In other words, 2/3 < x
Or we can say: 0.6666.. < x
There are several values of x that satisfy this condition. Here are two:
Case a: x = 0.74 in which case x > 0.6875
Case b: x = 0.68 in which case x < 0.6875
Since we cannot answer the REPHRASED target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statements 1 and 2 combined
Statement 1 tells us that x < 0.75
Statement 2 tells us that 0.6666.. < x
COMBINED, we get: 0.6666.. < x < 0.75
There are several values of x that satisfy this condition. Here are two:
Case a: x = 0.74 in which case x > 0.6875
Case b: x = 0.68 in which case x < 0.6875
Since we cannot answer the REPHRASED target question with certainty, the combined statements are NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer = E

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1