Quick way to solve this?

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 613
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:17 am
Location: madrid
Thanked: 171 times
Followed by:64 members
GMAT Score:790

by kevincanspain » Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:59 pm
GHong14 wrote:If n is an integer, what is the least possible value of n such that 40,000,000 < 5n ?

a 7
b 8
c 9
d 10
e 11

Correct Answer is e
All I can think of is the following:

5^10 = 10^10/ 2^10

2^10=1024 approx 10^3

Thus 5^10 is approx 10^7 =10,000,000

5^11 is approx 50,000,000
Kevin Armstrong
GMAT Instructor
Gmatclasses
Madrid

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 » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:07 pm
GHong14 wrote:If n is an integer, what is the least possible value of n such that 40,000,000 < 5n ?

a 7
b 8
c 9
d 10
e 11

Correct Answer is e
Another approach is try to get similar bases on each side of the inequality:

5^n > 40,000,000

5^n > 4 * 10^7

5^n > 2^2 * 2^7* 5^7

5^n > 2^9 * 5^7

5^n > 512 * 5^7

Rewriting the left side to look like the right side, we get:

5^x * 5^7 > 512 * 5^7.

Since on the right side we have 512, on the left side we need 5^x = 5^4 = 625 in order to make the left side larger:

5^4 * 5^7 > 512 * 5^7

5^11 > 512 * 5^7

Thus, n = 11.

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