{"id":53989,"date":"2024-11-27T12:46:42","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T07:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/?p=53989"},"modified":"2024-11-27T12:46:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T07:16:43","slug":"embracing-the-extra-in-gmat-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/embracing-the-extra-in-gmat-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Embracing the ‘EXTRA’ in GMAT questions"},"content":{"rendered":"A <\/span> 2<\/span> min read <\/span><\/span>\n

The difference 942 \u2212 249 is a positive multiple of 7<\/strong>. If a, b, and c are nonzero digits, how many 3-digit numbers abc are possible such that the difference abc \u2212 cba is a positive multiple of 7?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does the bolded<\/strong> part of this hard<\/strong> official question help you answer the question, or does it make it harder?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you were to ask me, this information helps you – since it helps you visualize the given scenario.  Now is it required information? Absolutely not; but is it there to scare you \u2013 absolutely not again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is why I say so:<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

We can solve this question by drawing the following inferences step by step and we do not really need the shaded information for the solution: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Translation –> \u201cabc-cba is + multiple of 7\u201d \u00e0 (100a + 10b + c) \u2013 (100c + 10b + a) is a multiple of 7.
    1. This leads to \u00e0 99 (a-c) is a multiple of 7.<\/li><\/ol><\/li>
    2. Inference –> a \u2013 c is a multiple of 7.<\/li>
    3. Processing
      1. Since a and c are single digits, possible values are (9,2), (8,1), (1,8), (2,9).<\/li>
      2. But since a \u2013 c is a positive multiple, only (9,2), (8,1) are possible values.<\/li><\/ol><\/li>
      3. Final Calculation
        1. b can take any of the 9 values<\/li>
        2. For a and c only 2 combinations are possible.<\/li>
        3. So total 9 x 2 = 18 sets.<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          As you can see, in the entire solution, we did not use the bolded<\/strong> \u201cThe difference 942 \u2212 249 is a positive multiple of 7<\/strong>\u201d part at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Now while some may say that this part adds to the difficulty level, I say that it actually helps since it helps you visualize the expression \u201cabc \u2013 cba<\/strong>\u201d.  Observe that it shows a case in which a = 9, b = 4, and c = 2<\/strong> so that you do not need to do that explicit step yourself to understand the expression abc – cba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          What is the takeaway?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

          So, whenever you see some information that may seem confusing, think a bit deeper \u2013 TRUST your skills and TRUST the test maker<\/strong>.  Process information one bit at a time.  Think about every bit of information in the question to have a purpose.  Sometimes that purpose may be to help you visualize information or puts things in context.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          The difference 942 \u2212 249 is a positive multiple of 7. If a, b, and c are nonzero digits, how many 3-digit numbers abc are possible such that the difference abc \u2212 cba is a positive multiple of 7? Does the bolded part of this hard official question help you answer the question, or does it make it harder? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102398,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","ub_ctt_via":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"sujeev","author_link":"https:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/author\/sujeev\/"},"yoast_head":"\nEmbracing the 'EXTRA' in GMAT questions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/embracing-the-extra-in-gmat-questions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Embracing the 'EXTRA' in GMAT questions\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The difference 942 \u2212 249 is a positive multiple of 7. 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