Register    Login    Search    Rss Feeds

Forums Home » Ask An Instructor » GMAT Math » GMAT Prep Math


 Page 1 of 1 [ 4 posts ] 



  Print view Print view Previous topic Previous topic | Next topic Next topic
 

Fraction/Exponent Q

Author Message
dtloxy
 Post subject: Fraction/Exponent Q
 Post Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:18 pm 
Offline
Course Students


Posts: 2
(1/5)^m (1/4)^18 = 1/2(10)^35...

in essence figure out what m is...

-17
-18
-34
-35
-36

Hell of a way to start a practice test... I guessed (wrong). Afterward, I saw the right answer, but can't rationalize what was provided. Clearly, I'm missing some basic rule that will relieve my confusion. Any guidance?
Top 
satyaking
 Post subject: Re: Fraction/Exponent Q
 Post Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:51 pm 
Offline
Students


Posts: 9
dtloxy wrote:
(1/5)^m (1/4)^18 = 1/2(10)^35...

in essence figure out what m is...

-17
-18
-34
-35
-36

Hell of a way to start a practice test... I guessed (wrong). Afterward, I saw the right answer, but can't rationalize what was provided. Clearly, I'm missing some basic rule that will relieve my confusion. Any guidance?


for such problems ,try to bring the numbers into their prime factors in both the sides of equality and then equate the exponents of respective prime factors to get the unknown value(e.g. m).

in this instance,
1/(5^m . 2^36)=1/(2^36 . 5^35)

comparing the exponents of 5, we get m=35

hope it hepls
Top 
dtloxy
 Post subject: Re: Fraction/Exponent Q
 Post Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 7:49 pm 
Offline
Course Students


Posts: 2
Yes, Satyaking, that does help a lot, and I'm slapping my forehead. Thank you very much.
Top 
RonPurewal
 Post subject: Re: Fraction/Exponent Q
 Post Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:01 am 
Offline
ManhattanGMAT Staff


Posts: 7146
please search the forum

gmat-prep-1-5-m-1-4-18-1-2-10-35-t1976.html
Top 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
 
 Page 1 of 1 [ 4 posts ] 





Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

 
 

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: