Last visit was: 22 Nov 2024, 00:17 It is currently 22 Nov 2024, 00:17

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 Jan 2016
Posts: 142
Own Kudos [?]: 187 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Jun 2016
Posts: 37
Own Kudos [?]: 136 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 02 Jul 2016
Posts: 25
Own Kudos [?]: 17 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 Jan 2016
Posts: 142
Own Kudos [?]: 187 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Very confused [#permalink]
@phoenixio

thanks a lot, stupid of me...
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Apr 2018
Posts: 44
Own Kudos [?]: 20 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Very confused [#permalink]
phoenixio wrote:
@Sonalika,
in your 2nd case a-b=-4 => b= a+4
therefore b>a

I would have solved this way

\(3^{a-b}\)= \(\frac{1}{81}\)
=> \(\frac{1}{3^{b-a}}\) = \(\frac{1}{81}\)
therefore b>a

Does this mean the answer is B? The question still carries the answer as D. I mean, it is intuitive that is a-b = -4, then a has to be less than b for it to be negative, right?
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 10 Apr 2018
Posts: 17
Own Kudos [?]: 19 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Given that (3)^(a-b) = 1/81 [#permalink]
@emike56

yup,you're right.
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Apr 2018
Posts: 44
Own Kudos [?]: 20 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Given that (3)^(a-b) = 1/81 [#permalink]
1
ste133 wrote:
@emike56

yup,you're right.


@carcass please change the answer to show B and not D. Otherwise, please provide the working solution that suggests its D.
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30003
Own Kudos [?]: 36341 [0]
Given Kudos: 25927
Send PM
Re: Given that (3)^(a-b) = 1/81 [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Fixed. Thank you.
avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 27 Feb 2017
Posts: 188
Own Kudos [?]: 148 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Given that (3)^(a-b) = 1/81 [#permalink]
Okay, this is what I did. 1/81 = 1/(3^4)= 3^-4.
a-b=-4 which means B should be greater. Is this approach correct?
User avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Jun 2018
Posts: 6
Own Kudos [?]: 9 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Given that (3)^(a-b) = 1/81 [#permalink]
1
Correct approach :

3^(a-b) = 1/81
=3^(a-b) = 3^(-4)
comparing bases,
a-b = -4
hence, a = b - 4
which proves, a is 4 units smaller than b , no matter what.
Hence, B.

Cheers !
avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 22 Feb 2018
Posts: 163
Own Kudos [?]: 214 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Given that (3)^(a-b) = 1/81 [#permalink]
1
Answer: B

3^(a-b) = 1/81
3^(a-b) = 3^-4
a - b = -4
b - a = 4 and because b-a is positive, b is bigger than a.
Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: Given that (3)^(a-b) = 1/81 [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
84 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1111 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne