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

Redeem

small easy questions

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 65
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:56 am
Followed by:1 members

small easy questions

by lukaswelker » Tue Apr 01, 2014 12:43 am
Hey Guys

A small easy question that made me doubt at first:

For all positive integers m, m=3m when m is odd and m= 0.5m when m is even. Which of the following is equivalent to 9X6?

81; 54; 36; 27;18

I first had the reflex to treat 9 and 6 separately, before figuring out that I needed to do the multiplication first.

Can anybody tell me what I should have looked for in the question to not make this mistake again?

let me know
Many thanks
Lukas
Top
Source: — Problem Solving |
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 » Tue Apr 01, 2014 2:10 am
For all positive integers m, @m=3m when m is odd and @m=(1/2)m when m is even. Which of the following is equivalent to @9 x @6?

A - @81
B - @59
C - @36
D - @27
E - @18
Since @m=3m when m is odd, @9 = 3*9 = 27.

Since @m=(1/2)m when m is even, @6 = (1/2)6 = 3.

Thus, @9 * @6 = 27*3 = 81.

Notice the @ symbol in the answer choices.
The correct answer must be the EQUIVALENT of 81.

Answer choice D: @27
Since @m=3m when m is odd, @27 = 3*27 = 81.

The correct answer is D.

Answer choice A is A TRAP.
Always beware of an answer choice that seems TOO EASY or TOO OBVIOUS.
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: 2095
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:22 pm
Thanked: 1443 times
Followed by:247 members

by ceilidh.erickson » Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:19 am
lukaswelker wrote:Hey Guys

A small easy question that made me doubt at first:

For all positive integers m, m=3m when m is odd and m= 0.5m when m is even. Which of the following is equivalent to 9X6?

81; 54; 36; 27;18

I first had the reflex to treat 9 and 6 separately, before figuring out that I needed to do the multiplication first.

Can anybody tell me what I should have looked for in the question to not make this mistake again?

let me know
Many thanks
Lukas
Make sure that when you transcribe questions with symbols in them, you indicate the symbols in both the question and the answer choices. As written, it would be impossible to answer your question!
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1