Hello Pros,
I realize that this is a relatively easy question; however, please let me know if my thinking process is correct
On a scale that measures the intensity of a certain phenomenon, a reading of n+1 corresponds to an intensity that is 10 times the intensity corresponding to a reading of n. On that scale, the intensity corresponding to a reading of 8 is how many times the intensity corresponding to a reading of 3?
A)5
B) 50
C) 10^5
D)5^10
E) 8^10 - 3^10
Here is what I did as i understood from the question:
n+1 = 10n --> then n = 1/9
from here i concluded that 10/9 is 10 times 1/9
so for example 8, which is 72/9 is how many times as great as 3, which is 27/9?
My thought process was that each leap of 9 is 10 times greater so 5 leaps of 9 would be 100,000 times greater since for example 37/9 is 10 times greater than 27/9 and 47/9 is 10 times greater than 37/9, so 47/9 would be 100 times greater than 27/9. Hence 8, which is 72/9, would be 100,000 times greater, or 10^5 greater than 3, which is 27/9.
Is this right?
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intensity of different readings
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Amrabdelnaby
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Hi Amrabdelnaby,
GMAT questions are often written in such a way that you can approach the question in a number of different ways and still get the correct answer. The level of 'complexity' with which you choose to approach each prompt is up to you, but you'd be surprised how often there's a 'simple' way to deal with a prompt.
The key to this question is understanding the different between "N" and "N+1"
We're told that these two values are "intensities" and that "N+1" is "10 times more intense" than "N"; this essentially means that IF you add 1 to any "intensity", then the intensity gets 10 times bigger.
So, let's say N = 3 has an intensity of 1....
N = 3 ---> intensity of 1
N = 4 ---> intensity of 10 (10 times the intensity of N = 3)
N = 5 ---> intensity of 100 (10 times the intensity of N = 4)
N = 6 ---> intensity of 1,000 (10 times the intensity of N = 5)
N = 7 ---> intensity of 10,000 (10 times the intensity of N = 6)
etc.
Thinking in those terms, it's not difficult to get to the correct answer.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
GMAT questions are often written in such a way that you can approach the question in a number of different ways and still get the correct answer. The level of 'complexity' with which you choose to approach each prompt is up to you, but you'd be surprised how often there's a 'simple' way to deal with a prompt.
The key to this question is understanding the different between "N" and "N+1"
We're told that these two values are "intensities" and that "N+1" is "10 times more intense" than "N"; this essentially means that IF you add 1 to any "intensity", then the intensity gets 10 times bigger.
So, let's say N = 3 has an intensity of 1....
N = 3 ---> intensity of 1
N = 4 ---> intensity of 10 (10 times the intensity of N = 3)
N = 5 ---> intensity of 100 (10 times the intensity of N = 4)
N = 6 ---> intensity of 1,000 (10 times the intensity of N = 5)
N = 7 ---> intensity of 10,000 (10 times the intensity of N = 6)
etc.
Thinking in those terms, it's not difficult to get to the correct answer.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
