Hi Tommy,
My question is regarding a concept in number properties known as number line...
Question:
Points X,Y,Z,W lie on a number line though not necessarily in that order. The distance between x and y is 10; the distance between z and w is 7; and the distance between y and z is 4. what is the minimum possible distance between x and w?
My Question:
Now. for the question above/any similar questions which involves generating different scenarios on number line , i always end up drawing like ALL the possible scenarios...for the above problem (although,i finally got the answer, phew) i drew like 12 different possible scenarios.which is very time consuming..is there any strategy to limit the different possible scenarios for a number line?
Regards,
Manish A.Shetty
GRE Forum Archive
2 postsPage 1 of 1
- Videoorchard
- Prospective Students
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Thu Mar 06, 2014 2:58 am
- tommywallach
- Manhattan Prep Staff
- Posts: 1917
- Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:18 am
Re: Number Line
Hey Video,
Absolutely. You don't want to have to write out every possibility here because, as you noted, that will take you all freaking day. Instead, you just need to think about it logically. Think to yourself "How can I create the shortest possible distance," and then proceed logically, always keeping the QUESTION ITSELF in mind. In other words, focus your brain ENTIRELY on the distance between x and w. It should be fairly easy to see if the next placement is going to increase or decrease the eventual distance between x and w. That way, you can get to the answer.
That said, you won't see a ton of questions like this, so I wouldn't worry about having some kind of SUPER-codified method that you use every time. Always be flexible, is the best possible advice!
-t
Absolutely. You don't want to have to write out every possibility here because, as you noted, that will take you all freaking day. Instead, you just need to think about it logically. Think to yourself "How can I create the shortest possible distance," and then proceed logically, always keeping the QUESTION ITSELF in mind. In other words, focus your brain ENTIRELY on the distance between x and w. It should be fairly easy to see if the next placement is going to increase or decrease the eventual distance between x and w. That way, you can get to the answer.
That said, you won't see a ton of questions like this, so I wouldn't worry about having some kind of SUPER-codified method that you use every time. Always be flexible, is the best possible advice!
-t
2 posts Page 1 of 1