GRE General TestQuantitative ReasoningMedium
A photographer is resizing an image. The original image has dimensions of 1200 pixels by 800 pixels. If he wants to reduce the longer side to 900 pixels while maintaining the aspect ratio, what will be the new dimension of the shorter side?
- A500 pixels
- B720 pixels
- C600 pixels
- D675 pixels
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 600 pixels
The original aspect ratio is 1200/800 = 3/2 or 1.5. If the longer side (1200) is reduced to 900, the scaling factor is 900/1200 = 0.75. To maintain the aspect ratio, the shorter side must also be scaled by 0.75. So, 800 * 0.75 = 600 pixels.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is a plausible distractor, possibly from an incorrect scaling factor or miscalculation.
- B. This would be the result if the scaling factor was 0.9 (900/1000, not 900/1200).
- D. This is a plausible distractor, perhaps from a calculation error or misinterpreting the ratio.
Aspect Ratio Scaling
Adjusting the dimensions of an object (like an image) proportionally to maintain its original shape without distortion.
- Ratio of width to height remains constant.
- Calculate the scaling factor for one dimension.
- Apply the same scaling factor to all other dimensions.
Memory trick: Find the factor for one, apply to the other, new dimensions are won!