A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If the

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A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If the plane's altitude after these two changes was 1/3 its original altitude, then the solution of which of the following equations gives the plane's original altitude, in feet ?

(A) x + 2000 = 1/3*(x - 3000)
(B) 1/3*(x - 3000) = x
(C) x + 3000 = 1/3*x
(D) x - 7000 = 1/3*x
(E) x - 3000 = 1/3*x



OA E

Source: Princeton Review
Last edited by BTGmoderatorDC on Fri Feb 21, 2020 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2020 5:45 pm
A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If the plane's altitude after these two changes was 1/3 its original altitude, then the solution of which of the following equations gives the plane's original altitude, in feet ?

(A) x + 2000 = 1/3*(x - 3000)
(B) 1/3*(x - 3000) = x
(C) x + 3000 = 1/3*x
(D) x - 7000 = 1/3*x
(E) x - 3000 = 1/3*x

OA E

Source: Princeton Review
The plane's altitude after the first change = x + 2,000;
Again, the plane's altitude after the second change = x + 2,000 – 5,000 = x – 3,000;

=> x/3 = x – 3,000

The correct answer: E

Hope this helps!

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:
Thu Feb 20, 2020 5:45 pm
A plane was originally flying at an altitude of x feet when it ascended 2,000 feet and then descended 5,000 feet. If the plane's altitude after these two changes was 1/3 its original altitude, then the solution of which of the following equations gives the plane's original altitude, in feet ?

(A) x + 2000 = 1/3*(x - 3000)
(B) 1/3*(x - 3000) = x
(C) x + 3000 = 1/3*x
(D) x - 7000 = 1/3*x
(E) x - 3000 = 1/3*x



OA E

Source: Princeton Review
The plane’s original altitude was x. After ascending 2,000 feet and descending 5,000 feet; the altitude of the plane became x + 2000 - 5000 = x - 3000. We are given that this was equal to 1/3 of its original altitude, so x - 3000 must equal 1/3*x. Thus, the equation that gives the plane’s original altitude is x - 3000 = 1/3*x.

Answer: E

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