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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

very simple task

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
Expert replies
by Lattefah84 » Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:53 am
This is a very simple task, but when I checked the results, I realized that I probably missed something.

If x=-1
y=-2
z=4

Find the value of (x-2)/5y + z

My way :

(-1-2)/5*(-2) + 4 = -3/-10 + 4 = 3/10 + 4 = 3 + 40/ 10 = 43/10 = 4 3/10 (four and three tenths)


Book:

(-1-2)/5(-2) + 4 = -3/5* -2 + 4 = 6/5 + 4 = 6/5 + 20/5 = 26/5 = 5 1/5 (five and one fifth)



It is impossible that -3/5(-2) to write like -3/5 * -2 (-2 in the same plane as -3)

so, I just want to hear that I'm right :)
Join the discussion
Source: — Quantitative Reasoning |

by mjsobo » Sun Dec 20, 2009 9:31 pm
hi,
i see the way you did it, but i also see where you might have gone wrong....

if the book has (x-2)/5y + z, then it could also be written as (x-2)/(5)*y + z, which is very different than the way you interpret it as (x-2)/(5y) + z. I'm supposing that the book had the parentheses there for a reason and that is why they didn't have them on the bottom.

In the book's case, (x-2)/5y + z is indeed equal to five and 1/5th, although the way you see it, it is indeed equal to four and three tenths.

it is always good to follow the same format that the book has...in this case, they want only to divide by 5 AND THEN multiply by -2....which could also be written as (x-2)/5*(y)/(1) + z. In this case, i must agree with the book, even though i can agree with how you see it...this is a good moral that parenthesis do matter!!

great question and good luck!
Martin
GMAT Instructor with Grockit
Join the discussion

by Lattefah84 » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:22 am
But +z is actually apart from the (x-2)/(5y) + z - Z is not under the fraction bar, it is in same level of the fraction bar -so it should be added to result of the fraction , right?
Join the discussion