GMAT Math : Understanding measurement

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Measurement Problems

Convert \(\displaystyle 45 ^{\circ }\textrm{ C}\) to Fahrenheit (to the nearest tenth).

\(\displaystyle F = \frac{9}{5} C + 32\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7.2 ^{\circ } \textrm{ F}\)

\(\displaystyle 57^{\circ } \textrm{ F}\)

\(\displaystyle -7 ^{\circ } \textrm{ F}\)

\(\displaystyle 113 ^{\circ } \textrm{ F}\)

\(\displaystyle 138.6 ^{\circ } \textrm{ F}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 113 ^{\circ } \textrm{ F}\)

Explanation:

The Celsius-to-Fahrenheit conversion formula is:

\(\displaystyle F = \frac{9}{5} C + 32\)

Substitute 45 for \(\displaystyle C\):

\(\displaystyle F = \frac{9}{5} \cdot 45+ 32 = 81 +32 = 113\)

The answer is \(\displaystyle 113 ^{\circ } \textrm{ F}\).

Example Question #52 : Word Problems

Convert \(\displaystyle 80 ^{\circ } F\) to degrees Celsius (nearest whole degree).

\(\displaystyle F = \frac{9}{5} C + 32\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 27 ^{\circ }C\)

\(\displaystyle 202^{\circ }C\)

\(\displaystyle 12^{\circ }C\)

\(\displaystyle 44^{\circ }C\)

\(\displaystyle 176^{\circ }C\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 27 ^{\circ }C\)

Explanation:

If \(\displaystyle F\) is the Fahrenheit temperature, then the equivalent Celsius temperature is 

\(\displaystyle C = \frac{5}{9} (F - 32)\).

Substitute \(\displaystyle F = 80\) into the equation.

\(\displaystyle C = \frac{5}{9} (80 - 32)\)

\(\displaystyle C = \frac{5}{9} \cdot 48 = \frac{5}{9} \cdot \frac{48}{1} = \frac{5}{3} \cdot \frac{16}{1} = \frac{80}{3} =26 \frac{2}{3}\)

This rounds up to \(\displaystyle 27 ^{\circ }C\).

Example Question #51 : Problem Solving Questions

Using the conversion factor 2.54 centimeters = 1 inch, rewrite 100 square inches in square centimeters (nearest tenth).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1,550.0 \textrm{ cm}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 6,45 1.6 \textrm{ cm}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 64.5 \textrm{ cm}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 645.2 \textrm{ cm}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 155.0 \textrm{ cm}^{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 645.2 \textrm{ cm}^{2}\)

Explanation:

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters, so 1 square inch = \(\displaystyle 2.54 ^{2} = 6.4516\) square centimeters.

100 square inches are equal to \(\displaystyle 6.4516 \times 100 = 645.16\) square centimeters, which rounds to 645.2 square centimeters.

Example Question #52 : Problem Solving Questions

Jason skips a rock across the surface of a pond.  The rock bounces three times over the pond's surface.  If the second bounce is half the distance of the first bounce, and the third bounce is one quarter of the second bounce, and the total distance between bounces is 65 inches, how many inches did the rock travel on the first bounce?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 27\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 42\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 40\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 40\)

Explanation:

We need to translate the words into a mathematical equation.  Since we need to solve for the distance the rock travels on the first bounce, let's use a variable to represent that distance.

Let "\(\displaystyle x\)" = distance traveled on the first bounce.

Notice that we can describe the distances traveled on the 2nd and 3rd bounces in terms of \(\displaystyle x\):

Distance traveled on the 2nd bounce is half the distance of the 1st bounce, so 2nd bounce = \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}x\)

Distance traveled on the 3rd bounce is 1/4 of the 2nd bounce, so, 3rd bounce = \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}*\frac{1}{2}x=\frac{1}{8}x\)

The total distance, then, is:

\(\displaystyle x+\frac{1}{2}x+\frac{1}{8}x=65\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{8}x=65\)

\(\displaystyle x=65\bigg(\frac{8}{13}\bigg)\)

\(\displaystyle x=40\)

 

Example Question #53 : Problem Solving Questions

 

 

Three years ago, Anna was four times as old as Jeff. Today Anna is three times as old as Jeff.

How old was Anna three years ago?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 21\)

\(\displaystyle 27\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 24\)

Explanation:

First, we set up the variables and the equations. Let:

\(\displaystyle A\)= Anna's age three years ago

\(\displaystyle J\) = Jeff's age three years ago. So:

\(\displaystyle A+3\) = Anna's age today

\(\displaystyle J+3\) = Jeff's age today

 

Therefore: \(\displaystyle A = 4J\) and \(\displaystyle (A+3) = 3 (J+3)\). Then we solve for the system of equations:

\(\displaystyle A - 4J = 0\)

\(\displaystyle (A+3) - 3 (J+3) = 0\) or \(\displaystyle A - 3J = 6\)

When we solve for J first we get \(\displaystyle J = 6\).

Then we solve for A using the first equation of the system:

\(\displaystyle A = 4J = 4 (6) = 24\)

Therefore Anna was 24 years old three years ago.

Example Question #56 : Word Problems

\(\displaystyle 1\) kilometer is approximately \(\displaystyle 3.9\times10^4\) inches. How many kilometers are there in \(\displaystyle 1,170,000\) inches?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{39}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{117}{39}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{171}{39}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 30\)

Explanation:

Since

\(\displaystyle 1 \text{ km}=3.9\times10^4 \text{ inches}\),

\(\displaystyle 1 \text{ inch}= \frac{1}{(3.9\times10^4)} \text{ km}\)

Therefore we multiply 1,170,000 by 1/(3.9*104) to obtain the number of kilometers in 1,170,000 inches.

\(\displaystyle \frac{1170000}{3.9\times 10^{4}}=\frac{1170}{39}=30\)

Example Question #57 : Word Problems

If one liter of gasoline costs \(\displaystyle \$1.50\), how much would eighteen gallons of gasoline cost? (One gallon is approximately \(\displaystyle 3.8\) liters.)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \$96.20\)

\(\displaystyle \$108.40\)

\(\displaystyle \$100.80\)

\(\displaystyle \$102.60\)

\(\displaystyle \$88.90\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \$102.60\)

Explanation:

One gallon of gasoline is about \(\displaystyle 3.8\) liters of gasoline. The number of liters in eighteen gallons is:

\(\displaystyle 18\times 3.8=68.4\)

One liter costs \(\displaystyle \$1.50\). Therefore, eighteen gallons (\(\displaystyle 68.4\) liters) will cost:

\(\displaystyle 68.4\times 1.50=68.4\times 1 +\frac{68.4}{2}=68.4+34.2=102.6=\$102.60\)

Example Question #58 : Word Problems

If an object travels at a speed of 10 feet per second, how many feet does it travel in half an hour?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18,000\:ft\)

\(\displaystyle 6000\:ft\)

\(\displaystyle 3000\:ft\)

\(\displaystyle 30,000\:ft\)

\(\displaystyle 1800\:ft\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18,000\:ft\)

Explanation:

If an object travels at 10 feet per second, then in half an hour it will travel 10 feet for every second there is in 30 minutes. We can set this multiplication up as follows:

\(\displaystyle 10\frac{feet}{sec}\cdot60\frac{sec}{min}\cdot30\:min=18,000\:ft\)

Here we can see that the units of seconds are cancelled after the first operation, and the units of minutes are cancelled after the second operation, leaving us with the unit of feet for our answer.

Example Question #12 : Measurement Problems

Fill in the blank:

\(\displaystyle 3\frac{1}{4} \textup{ pounds } = \underline{ \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: }\textup{ounces}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 78\)

\(\displaystyle 39\)

\(\displaystyle 45\)

\(\displaystyle 52\)

\(\displaystyle 65\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 52\)

Explanation:

One pound is equal to 16 ounces. 

Multiply: 

\(\displaystyle 3 \frac{1}{4} \times 16 = 52\)

52 ounces is the correct choice.

Example Question #61 : Gmat Quantitative Reasoning

Fill in the blank:

\(\displaystyle 13 \textup{ square yards} = \underline{\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; } \textup{ square inches}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 468\)

\(\displaystyle 1,872\)

\(\displaystyle 24,336\)

\(\displaystyle 16,848\)

\(\displaystyle 219,024\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 16,848\)

Explanation:

One yard is equal to 36 inches; one square yard is equal to \(\displaystyle 36^{2} = 1,296\).

Multiply this conversion factor by 13:

\(\displaystyle 13 \times 1,296 = 16,848\), the correct choice.

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