Question 1154185
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My answer is probably not the answer the author of the problem wanted, because the problem is very probably not written the way the author intended.<br>
The trouble with the statement of the problem is that "3 times GREATER THAN x" means x, plus 3 times x, which makes 4x.  So "3 times greater than" means "4 times as great".<br>
Unfortunately, in sloppy everyday English usage, "3 times greater than" and "3 times as great as" are usually used to mean the same thing.<br>
Grammatically, the correct interpretation of the given information is that the company's production increases by a factor of 4 every 5 years.<br>
That means in 15 years (3 5-year periods) the production will increase by a factor of 4^3 = 4*4*4 = 64.<br>
And that means the company's production at the end of 15 years will be 63 times GREATER THAN it is now.<br>
CORRECT ANSWER: 63<br>
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WRONG ANSWER: 27.  (The company's production grows by a factor of 3 every 5 years, so in 15 years it will grow by a factor of 3*3*3=27.)<br>