1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6 GMAT Problem Solving

Question: ½ + ⅓ + ¼ + ⅕ + ⅙ = ?

1. 11/4
2. 1(1/20)
3. 1¼
4. 1(9/20)
5. 1(29/60 )

“ 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6”- is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. GMAT quant section helps to explore the mathematical and logical skills of the students. The student chooses the correct option by correctly verifying the question on the basis of mathematical calculations. The students must grasp better qualitative knowledge in order to solve GMAT Problem Solving questions. The calculative mathematical problems of the GMAT Quant topic in the problem-solving part improve the student’s concept of maths. The candidates can upgrade their learning by answering more questions from the “GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review”.

Solution and Explanation:

Approach Solution 1:

The problem statement asks to find the value of the equation: 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6
In order to solve this problem, first the candidate must find out the lowest common factor of the denominators.
The L.C.M of the denominators 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 is 60.
Therefore the sum of the numbers that is 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6 will be
(30+20+15+12+10)/60

= 87/60
=29/20
=1(9/20)

Hence, D is the correct answer.

Approach Solution 2:

The problem statement questions to find the value of 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6

In order to make the process of calculation easier, we can proceed with the solution by making the sum of 1/3 and 1/6.
Since, the sum of 1/3 and 1/6 is equals to ½
Therefore, to find the value of the given equation, we can write,
1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6
= 1/2 + (1/3 + 1/6 ) + 1/5 +¼
= 1/2 + 1/2 + (4+5)/(5*4)
= 1 + 9/20

=1(9/20)

Hence, D is the correct option.

Approach Solution 3:

The problem statement questions to find the value of 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6
Another easier way of calculation is choosing the first 2 numbers that give the denominator 6 by doing the L.C.M of 2 and 3.

This can be combined with the last number with denominator 6 and then summing those numbers with the numbers that do not possess any common factor.
This will lead the process of calculation in easier way.

(1/2 + 1/3) + 1/4 + 1/5 + 1/6
= 5/6 +1/6 +1/4 + 1/5
=1+ (1/4 + 1/5)
= 1 + 9/20
=1(9/20)

Hence, D is the correct answer.

Suggested GMAT Quant Questions

• The Perimeter of a Square is Equal to the Perimeter of a Rectangle Whose Length And Width are 6m and 4m Respectively GMAT Problem Solving
• The Closing Price of Stock X Changed on Each Trading Day Last Month GMAT Problem Solving
• An Exam Consists of 8 True/False Questions GMAT Problem Solving
• From her Collection of 9 Different Hats Ellen Wants to Wear one Different Hat GMAT Problem Solving
• Company C Sells a Line of 25 Products with an Average Retail Price of $1,200 GMAT Problem Solving
• A Man has 1044 Candles. After Burning, He can Make a New Candle GMAT Problem Solving
• An Equilateral Triangle ABC is Inscribed in Square ADEF GMAT Problem Solving
• A Popular Website Requires Users to Create a Password Consisting of Digits Only GMAT Problem Solving
• A Furniture Store Sells Only Two Models of Desks, Model A and Model B GMAT Problem Solving
• In a Drawer, There are 4 White Socks, 3 Blue Socks, and 5 Grey Socks GMAT Problem Solving
• There are 100 Apples in a Bag of which 98% are Green and Rest are Red GMAT Problem Solving
• A palindrome is a number that reads the same forward and backward GMAT Problem Solving
• Three Cars Leave From A To B In Equal Time Intervals GMAT Problem Solving
• An Inlet Pipe can Fill in an Empty Cistern in 30 minutes GMAT Problem Solving
• Iqbal Dealt Some Cards to Mushtaq and himself from a Full Pack of Playing Cards GMAT Problem Solving
• A Zookeeper Counted the Heads of the Animals in a Zoo and Found it to be 80 GMAT Problem Solving
• A Shop Stores x kg of Rice. The First Customer Buys half this Amount Plus half a kg of Rice GMAT Problem Solving
• In a Class of 120 Students Numbered 1 to 120, All Even Numbered Students Opt for Physics GMAT Problem Solving
• Machine A Produces bolts at a Uniform Rate of 120 Every 40 seconds GMAT Problem Solving
• If The Average (arithmetic mean) of The Four Numbers 3, 15, 32, and (N + 1) is 18, then N = GMAT Problem Solving