Official Guide Explanation:
Problem Solving #222

 

 

Background

This is just one of hundreds of free explanations I've created to the quantitative questions in The Official Guide for GMAT Review (12th ed.). Click the links on the question number, difficulty level, and categories to find explanations for other problems.

These are the same explanations that are featured in my "Guides to the Official Guide" PDF booklets. However, because of the limitations of HTML and cross-browser compatibility, some mathematical concepts, such as fractions and roots, do not display as clearly online.

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Solution and Metadata

Question: 222
Page: 184
Difficulty: 5 (Moderate)
Category 1: Arithmetic > Fractions >
Category 2: Algebra > Linear Equations-One Unk >

Explanation: First, simplify the equation by multiplying both sides by x in order to eliminate the fraction:

x(5 - (6/(x))) = x(x)

5x - 6 = x2

That looks like a quadratic--move everything to one side:

x2-5x + 6 = 0

(x - 3)(x - 2) = 0

There are two possible values of x (3 and 2), so choice (C) is correct.

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