What This Episode Covers
Three real GMAT® word problems from the 11th edition of the Official Guide for GMAT® Review, increasing in difficulty. Isaac walks through the habits that make word problems manageable: writing what's given and asked every time, using "half math, half English" to bridge the gap between reading and equations, and organizing complex information with rows and columns.
The episode also covers the elimination method for systems of equations — an alternative to substitution that can be faster and less error-prone on certain GMAT® problems — and a common percent trap where the keyword "remaining" changes the denominator.
Problems Covered
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In a weightlifting competition, the total weight of Joe's two lifts was 750 pounds — A warm-up that rewards clean translation and the elimination method for a two-equation system. About 10% of test takers miss this one. Read the worked solution →
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At a loading dock, each worker on the night crew loaded 3/4 as many boxes as each worker on the day crew — A fraction word problem where 23% of test takers miss it, many by picking the fraction of the wrong crew. The fix is writing the asked fraction at the top and organizing with rows and columns.
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Of the 3600 employees of Company X, 1/3 are clerical — A percent problem with a trap built into the word "remaining." About 20% of test takers compare to the original total instead of the reduced total. Rereading the question before finalizing is the defense.
Key Takeaways
Write what's given and what's asked. Every problem, every time. This is the foundation. Before any equations, before any math, write down what the problem tells you and what it asks for. It takes five seconds and prevents the most common word problem mistakes — misreading the question and solving for the wrong thing.
Use "half math, half English" when translation is hard. Instead of jumping straight from English to a polished equation, write an intermediate step that captures the logic in a mix of words and symbols. "Two lifts = 750" or "2 × first = 300 + second." It is not an equation you solve — it is a bridge that helps you set up the real equations correctly.
Label variables with meaning. Use $F$ for "first lift" and $S$ for "second lift" instead of $x$ and $y$. When you are several steps into algebra, meaningful labels keep you from mixing up which variable represents what.
Elimination can be faster than substitution for systems of equations. Stack the equations with variables lined up in columns. Add or subtract to eliminate one variable. On the GMAT®, this is often quicker than substitution and less prone to arithmetic errors. It does not work every time, but it works often enough to be worth having in your toolkit.
Rows and columns organize complex word problems. When a problem gives you multiple quantities for multiple groups — boxes per worker, workers per crew, total boxes — a simple table keeps everything visible. Label rows and columns, fill in what you know, and the relationships become easier to see.
Write the asked fraction at the top of fraction problems. If the question asks "what fraction of all the boxes did the day crew load," write "day crew boxes / total boxes" at the top of your scratch work before doing any math. Having the fraction visible from the start prevents you from accidentally calculating the wrong crew's fraction.
Reread the question wording before finalizing your answer. Keywords like "remaining" change what you are comparing against. If the problem says "what percent of the remaining employees," the denominator is the new total after the reduction — not the original total. Rereading the question before you submit is a cheap and effective defense.
Related Reading
- GMAT® Word Problems: A Translation System That Prevents Costly Mistakes — the strategy article covering all three problems
- "In a Weightlifting Competition the Total Weight of Joe's Two Lifts..." — GMAT® Worked Solution