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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Why can't I get this answer??

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:55 pm
by farmergrover » Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:45 pm
If anyone can shed light on the following order of operations problem, I would greatly appreciate it! It seems like the most simple problem yet I am stuck..

10-3/4
______

2-1/2

According to the key, the answer is 7 3/4. Can you explain?
Top
Join the discussion
Log increate an account to reply.
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1560
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 amFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 137 times

by thephoenix » Mon Mar 29, 2010 7:51 pm
farmergrover wrote:If anyone can shed light on the following order of operations program, I would greatly appreciate it! It seems like the most simple problem yet I am stuck..

10-3/4
______

2-1/2

According to the key, the answer is 7 3/4. Can you explain?
10-3/4-x=2-1/22-1/2=3/2

10-3/4=37/4

x=37/4-3/2=(37-6)/4=31/4=7 3/4
Top
Join the discussion
Log increate an account to reply.
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:43 am
Thanked: 3 times
GMAT Score:680

by moliver » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:20 am
thephoenix wrote:
farmergrover wrote:If anyone can shed light on the following order of operations program, I would greatly appreciate it! It seems like the most simple problem yet I am stuck..

10-3/4
______

2-1/2

According to the key, the answer is 7 3/4. Can you explain?
10-3/4-x=2-1/22-1/2=3/2

10-3/4=37/4

x=37/4-3/2=(37-6)/4=31/4=7 3/4
Sorry theponenix but I don't understand where the x was in the original problem?


thanks
Top
Join the discussion
Log increate an account to reply.
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:55 pm

by farmergrover » Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:14 am
I think it is because if you follow order of operations, you cannot solve the problem as is. If you set it equal to x and then solve for x you can. Am I right?
Top
Join the discussion
Log increate an account to reply.
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:43 am
Thanked: 3 times
GMAT Score:680

by moliver » Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:25 am
ok farmergrover, so the problem has a typo
Top
Join the discussion
Log increate an account to reply.
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:13 am
farmergrover wrote:If anyone can shed light on the following order of operations problem, I would greatly appreciate it! It seems like the most simple problem yet I am stuck..

10-3/4
______

2-1/2

According to the key, the answer is 7 3/4. Can you explain?
I'm guessing it's supposed to be a division problem, as follows:

(10 - 3/4) / (2 - 1/2)

We can simplify the numerator to:

10 - 3/4 = 40/4 - 3/4 = 37/4

and the denominator to:

2 - 1/2 = 4/2 - 1/2 = 3/2

giving us:

(37/4) / (3/2)

= (37/4) * (2/3)

= (37*2)/(4*3)

= 74/12

= 37/6

= 6 1/6

However, that doesn't match the answer given, so there's a problem with the original post.
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course
Top
Join the discussion
Log increate an account to reply.
Legendary Member
Posts: 2326
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:54 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 173 times
GMAT Score:710

by gmatmachoman » Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:08 pm
moliver wrote:
thephoenix wrote:
farmergrover wrote:If anyone can shed light on the following order of operations program, I would greatly appreciate it! It seems like the most simple problem yet I am stuck..

10-3/4
______

2-1/2

According to the key, the answer is 7 3/4. Can you explain?
10-3/4-x=2-1/22-1/2=3/2

10-3/4=37/4

x=37/4-3/2=(37-6)/4=31/4=7 3/4
Sorry theponenix but I don't understand where the x was in the original problem?


thanks
Seriously Man, where does that X come from?? Even stuart is also perplexed!
Top
Join the discussion
Log increate an account to reply.
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1