GMAT - Quantitative Reasoning Sample Questions
Question #6
6a. Solve for x in the following equation: 3x - 1 = 44 and explain how you arrived at the answer.
6b. The variable x in this particular equation is equal to 15. The best way to determine the value of x for this equation is by isolating x, which can be done by moving the "3" and the "-1" to the other side of the equation by adding 1 to 44 and dividing that result by 3. Therefore the formula for determining x would be x = (44 + 1) / 3. The reason for this is 3 times x minus 1 is equal to 44 so 3 times x must be equal to 44 + 1 so 3x = 45. If 3x = 45, then x must be equal to 15 because 3 * 15 is equal to 45.