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CAT Quantitative Aptitude Questions | CAT Logarithms and Exponents

CAT Questions | Logarithms and Exponents | Logarithm - Identities

The question is from Log and Exponents. We can solve this easily using log identities. We need to find out the value of x from the given equation. With every extra hour you log in for this topic, it becomes exponentially simpler. CAT Logarithms and Exponents is a favorite in CAT Exam, and appears more often than expected in the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section in the CAT Exam

Question 10: If 33 + 6 + 9 + ……… 3x = (0.¯037)-66, what is the value of x?

  1. 3
  2. 6
  3. 7
  4. 11

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Explanatory Answer

Method of solving this CAT Question from Logs and Exponents: Application of Basic Identities of Logarithms!

First of all, let us define the xth term.
33+6+9+……….3x = (0.¯037)-66
Whenever you encounter a distinctive number such as one given in R.H.S of above equation, always try to find its significance in the context of question.

In this case L.H.S has 3a, so (0.¯037) must be some form of 3a.
With little hit and trial, you may find 0.¯037 = 127 = 133 = 3-3

33(1 + 2 + 3 + ...X) = 3 -3 * -66
=> 33 * 3x(x+1)/2 = 33*66
x(x+1)2 = 66
x(x+1) = 132
Solving this equation for x > 0, we get x = 11.
You should directly be able to see that 132 = 11 * 12 => x= 11
And avoid wasting time solving the complete equation.

The question is "what is the value of x?"

Hence, the answer is "11".

Choice D is the correct answer.


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