GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE PS – If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice…

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Last Updated on May 3, 2023

If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice…

Solution:

This problem can be solved as a simple word problem in which we must convert words to math. Before we create our equations, we want to define some variables.

J = Jake’s current weight, in pounds

S = Sister’s current weight, in pounds

We are told that “If Jake loses 8 pounds, he will weigh twice as much as his sister”. We put this into an equation:

J – 8 = 2S

We can isolate J by adding 8 to 2S:

-J = 2S + 8 (Equation 1)

Next, we are told that “Together they now weigh 278 pounds.” We can also put this into an equation.

J + S = 278 (Equation 2)

To solve this equation, we can substitute 2S + 8 from Equation 1 for the variable J in Equation 2:

2S + 8 + S = 278

3S = 270

S = 90.

We now know that the sister weighs S =90 pounds, and we can plug that value into either equation to determine J.

J + 90 = 278

J = 188

Answer: E

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