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GMAT Boost Challenge Question #2

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by gmatboost » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:15 am
[EDIT: Sorry, this is a DS question, is there anyway to move it to the other forum?]
[EDIT2: I'll just leave it in PS, I'll be more careful in the future]

Here is a GMAT Boost Challenge Question. If you have any questions, let me know.

The solution to last week's question is available here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/post395822.html#395822
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In a certain sequence, each term after the first is equal to the product of the previous term and -2. What is the seventh term in the sequence?

1. The sum of the first three terms is 27 more than the sum of the 4th, 5th and 6th terms
2. The sum of the 4th, 5th and 6th terms is -24
Last edited by gmatboost on Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by Touseef » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:35 am
The Sequence is{n,-2n,4n,-8n,16n,-32n,64n)

Hence,the 7th number in the series is 64n.

Statement 1:n-2n+4n=-8n+16n-32n+27
n can be calculated.
SUFFICIENT

Statement 2:-8n+16n-32n=24
n=1 i.e 7th term=64
SUFFICIENT

Either statement alone is sufficient.
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by rppala90 » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:43 am
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by saketk » Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:11 pm
Let the first term = a,

as per the condition given:--

the series will look like

a, -2a, 4a, -8a, 16a, -32a , 64a.

1. The sum of the first three terms is 27 more than the sum of the 4th, 5th and 6th terms

3a = 27- 24a
a = 1. SUFFICIENT

2. The sum of the 4th, 5th and 6th terms is -24

-24a = -24
a =1. SUFFICIENT.

IN both cases, we get the answer as 64.

Either statement alone is sufficient
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by force5 » Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:14 pm
Let the first term = x,
Hence the series is a GP

x, -2x, 4x, -8x, 16x, -32x , 64x

statement 1:

3x = 27- 24x
x = 1.
sufficient

statement 2:

-24x = -24
x =1.
sufficient

Answer D
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by gmatboost » Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:28 am
The answer to this question was D.
Check out the next challenge question, it will be posted in a couple of minutes.
Greg Michnikov, Founder of GMAT Boost

GMAT Boost offers 250+ challenging GMAT Math practice questions, each with a thorough video explanation, and 100+ GMAT Math video tips, each 90 seconds or less.
It's a total of 20+ hours of expert instruction for an introductory price of just $10.
View sample questions and tips without signing up, or sign up now for full access.


Also, check out the most useful GMAT Math blog on the internet here.
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by winniethepooh » Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:00 am
Hey Greg if you could post a simple solution to the question too, that would be great.

It will be helpful to match the math!
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by navami » Tue Aug 30, 2011 7:07 am
1st term x, 2nd = -2x
3rd = 4x
4th = -8x
5th = 16x
6th = -32x
7th = 64x


now consider the option 1 and option 2 both would yield the ans. You will be able to find x = 1

D
This time no looking back!!!
Navami
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by AN24 » Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:24 am
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by cans » Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:59 am
Nth term = (-2)^n * a (where a is first term)
B) a*[(-2)^3 + (-2)^4 + (-2) ^5 ] = -24.
We can find a, and thus 7th term
Sufficient
A) again we will get one equation in a, which can be solved. Sufficient
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Cans!!
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by sl750 » Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:41 am
a1
a2=a1*(-2)
a3=a1*4
a4=a1*(-8)
a5=a1*16
a6=a1*(-32)
a7=a1*64 ?
Statement 1
a1+a2+a3=27+a4+a5+a6. This is solvable for a1. Sufficient

Statement 2
a4+a5+a6=24. Solvable for a1. Sufficient
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