GMAT Problem Solving Discussions

varma3008 Says
OA 1)D 2)D 3)D u got all 3 right can u explain the first one


If (p^2)q is a multiple of 5, it means either p or q have to be multiple of 5.
Now in option D, we are squaring both, p as well as q. Which means, the result of the product of their squares has to be a multiple of 5.
To understand this with help of an example, consider this.
p = 10 --> multiple of 5
q = 3
(p^2)q = 100*3 = 300 --> This is a multiple of 25.
Now consider this.
p = 3
q = 10 --> multiple of 5
(p^2)q = 9*10 = 90 --> This is not a multiple of 25.

Now, in both these examples, square p and q, and then see the result. In both cases, you will find the (p^2)*(q^2) as a multiple of 25.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.
Ankit.
If x, y, and k are positive numbers such that (x/x+y)(10) + (y/x+y)(20) = k and if x A. 10
B. 12
C. 15
D. 18
E. 30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
need expln..


Simplifying this expression, we come to:
(x+2y)/(x+y)=k/10
Substituting each answer option one by one.
Answer : D

Any faster approach...


Cheers.
Ankit.

Thanx deepak and tiknA_atpuG ..... it really worked ! ur answers are right ! thanks again !

Simplifying this expression, we come to:
(x+2y)/(x+y)=k/10
Substituting each answer option one by one.
Answer : D

Any faster approach...


Cheers.
Ankit.


will u plz clarify ur logic??? im not getting it..

out of head

function f is defined for all the positive integers n by the following rule:-
f(n) is the no. of positive integers each of which is less than n and has no positive factor is common with n other than 1. If p is any prime number then f(p) =

p-1

p-2

p+1/2

p-1/2

2

out of head

function f is defined for all the positive integers n by the following rule:-
f(n) is the no. of positive integers each of which is less than n and has no positive factor is common with n other than 1. If p is any prime number then f(p) =

p-1
p-2

p+1/2

p-1/2

2


Answer in Red if 1 is nt included, if 1 is include then answer in green
If x, y, and k are positive numbers such that (x/x+y)(10) + (y/x+y)(20) = k and if x A. 10
B. 12
C. 15
D. 18
E. 30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
need expln..


On simplification the expr turns

10( 1 + y/x+y) = k

So K can't be 30 or 10 .

Now turning out the values in options we get see 18 is possible when y=4 , x = 1

I wud go with option D
@nee! Says
Answer in Red if 1 is nt included, if 1 is include then answer in green


can u please explain ..... answer is A

function f is defined for all the positive integers n by the following rule:-
f(n) is the no. of positive integers each of which is less than n and has no positive factor is common with n other than 1. If p is any prime number then f(p) =

p-1

p-2

p+1/2

p-1/2

2

Take for example a prime number say 5 then the number of positive integers each of which is less than 5 and has no positive factor is common with n other than 1 is 4 the numbers r 1 2 3 4 ...!!

sdt83 Says
will u plz clarify ur logic??? im not getting it..


One more way to solve...

here after simplifying the exp we get

1 + y/x+y = k/10

now 10,30 are out because x, y are +ve numbers. 10,30 give 0 and -ve numbers resp.
take 12

1+ y/x+y = 12/10 => y/x+y = 2/10 => x/y=4 this is not true becos x/y must be a fraction so any value that is a fraction is the correct ans .

In this case 18.

Somebody pls pls explain this..... I thought the ans is 7C2*7C2*7C2

A test maker is to design a probability test from a list of 21 questions. The 21 questions are classified into three categories: hard, intermediate and easy. If there are 7 questions in each category and the test maker is to select two questions from each category, how many different combinations of questions can the test maker put on the test?
A) 3*(7!/(5!2!)) B) 3*(7!/(5!)) C) 3*(7!/(2!)) D) 3*21 E) 72

Lets first arrange them in ascending order

we get : 13,22,31,38,47,69,73,82.

We have to find a number which is greater than 6 of the nos and less than of nos in the above list.So the no must lie between 69 and 73.From the options only 71 satisfies the above condition.

I wud go with option D)71




The option 71 is not there in the original number?can we consider it??
function f is defined for all the positive integers n by the following rule:-
f(n) is the no. of positive integers each of which is less than n and has no positive factor is common with n other than 1. If p is any prime number then f(p) =

p-1

p-2

p+1/2

p-1/2

2

Take for example a prime number say 5 then the number of positive integers each of which is less than 5 and has no positive factor is common with n other than 1 is 4 the numbers r 1 2 3 4 ...!!


The question talks about p being a prime number. Given that, we wont have ANY number less than 'p' that has a common factor with 'p', except 1. So, any positive number less than p and greater than 0 (this will include 1 as well) would satisfy the condition (1, 2, 3, 4, 5,..., p-1). And the count of all such numbers will be the answer to this question, i.e. p-1.

IMO: A


Cheers.
Ankit.
yserious Says
The option 71 is not there in the original number?can we consider it??


71 is present in the options

Which of the following numbers is greater than three fourths of the numbers but less than one-fourth of the number in the number list above ?

56
68
69
71
73
Somebody pls pls explain this..... I thought the ans is 7C2*7C2*7C2

A test maker is to design a probability test from a list of 21 questions. The 21 questions are classified into three categories: hard, intermediate and easy. If there are 7 questions in each category and the test maker is to select two questions from each category, how many different combinations of questions can the test maker put on the test?
A) 3*(7!/(5!2!)) B) 3*(7!/(5!)) C) 3*(7!/(2!)) D) 3*21 E) 72


@elan1922
You are right. The answer accordingly is A.

nCr = n!/
Thus, 7C2 = 7!/(5!2!)
yserious Says
The option 71 is not there in the original number?can we consider it??


The question doesn't ask you to find a number from the existing series...

Is'nt 7C2*7C2*7C2 =(7C2)^3 !! ...Have I lost it here ?? Pls let me know

elan1922 Says
Is'nt 7C2*7C2*7C2 =(7C2)^3 !! ...Have I lost it here ?? Pls let me know


Oops! You are right...

And on closer examination, A and D options are the same in the above ques.

I am at wit's end here.

Folks, help...
71 is present in the options

Which of the following numbers is greater than three fourths of the numbers but less than one-fourth of the number in the number list above ?
56
68
69
71
73


thanks!!got it:)

The number of passengers on a certain bus at any given time is given by the equation P = -2(S - 4)2 + 32, where P is the number of passengers and S is the number of stops the bus has made since beginning its route. If the bus begins its route with no passengers, what is the value of S when the bus has its greatest number of passengers?

9

6

4

2

1

no idea where to begin with ?