What This Episode Covers
Three problems from the Official Guide, 11th Edition — all testing the same skill: translating English into equations without losing details in the process.
The miss rates tell the story. None of these problems require advanced math, but 20–25% of test takers get each one wrong. The errors happen in setup, not solving.
Key Takeaways
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The half-math, half-English stepping stone. Write what's given and what's asked in a mix of English and shorthand math before building an equation. This catches missed conditions and thresholds — the mistakes that correct algebra can't fix.
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The rate chart. Any time a problem uses the word "rate," write $R \times T = D$ across the top and fill in the columns with units. The chart makes unit mismatches visible before you start computing.
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Plugging in answers. When you're unsure how to set up the algebra, test the answer choices directly. Start with the easiest one to work with — usually a round number — and let wrong answers eliminate themselves.
Worked Solutions
Full step-by-step walkthroughs for each problem:
- Problem 1: "At the Rate of M Meters per S Seconds..." — rate chart with unit conversion
- Problem 2: "Nancy Earns a Salary of $240 Plus 5% of the Amount of Her Total Sales..." — commission threshold trap
- Problem 3: "A Certain Company Retirement Plan Has a Rule of 70 Provision..." — plugging in answers
Strategy Article
GMAT® Word Translations: The Step-By-Step Setup System — the full framework covering the half-math, half-English layer, the rate chart, unit conversion with fractions, and plugging in answers.