If you're experiencing a roadblock with one of the Manhattan Prep GMAT math strategy guides, help is here!
TonyS120
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6th Edition: Fractions, Decimals, Percents, p.18

by TonyS120 Mon Jan 11, 2016 1:13 pm

Try something a bit harder:

A dress is marked up (16 2/3 %) to a final price of $140. What is the original price of the dress?

(16 2/3 %) is on the memorization list; it is equal to 1/6. Adding 1/6 of a number to itself is the same thing as multiplying by 1+ 1/6 = 7/6. Call the original price x and set up and equation to solve.

x + (1/6x) = 140

(7/6x) = 140

x = (6/7) 140

= (6/7) 140 [divide by denominator to get (6 * 20)]

= 120

Therefore, the original price is $120.



My question is:

The book moves from

x + (1/6x) = 140

to

(7/6x) = 140

without explanation.

What are the steps to make that jump?
RonPurewal
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Re: 6th Edition: Fractions, Decimals, Percents, p.18

by RonPurewal Thu Jan 14, 2016 8:47 am

you get how 2x + 3x = 5x, right?

same thing, except it's 1 + 1/6 = 7/6 instead of 2 + 3 = 5. you just have to remember how to add together an integer and a fraction (least common denominator, etc.)