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Coins in the pocket

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metallicafan Really wants to Beat The GMAT! Default Avatar
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Coins in the pocket Post Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:08 am
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  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Jayden has two coins in his pocket, each of which are either a
    penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter, and they are not the
    same. If the …first coin is worth ten cents less than four times
    the value of the second coin, what is the total value of the
    two coins?
    (A) $0.06
    (B) $0.11
    (C) $0.15
    (D) $0.30
    (E) $0.35

    Is there an algebraic approach?, or just trial and error?

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    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
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    Post Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:43 am
    metallicafan wrote:
    Jayden has two coins in his pocket, each of which are either a
    penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter, and they are not the
    same. If the …first coin is worth ten cents less than four times
    the value of the second coin, what is the total value of the
    two coins?
    (A) $0.06
    (B) $0.11
    (C) $0.15
    (D) $0.30
    (E) $0.35

    Is there an algebraic approach?, or just trial and error?
    This would be a trial and error question.

    Notice that, if there happened to be something called a 90-cent coin, then this question would have 2 possible solutions:
    (1) nickel and dime
    (2) quarter and 90-cent coin

    Similarly, if there happened to be something called a 30-cent coin, then this question would have 2 possible solutions:
    (1) nickel and dime
    (2) dime and 30-cent coin

    Since the question depends on the definition of what constitutes a legitimate coin (defined in the question as a penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter), the answer will require us to use trial and error.

    Cheers,
    Brent

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    vishal.pathak Really wants to Beat The GMAT! Default Avatar
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    Post Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:38 pm
    Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
    metallicafan wrote:
    Jayden has two coins in his pocket, each of which are either a
    penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter, and they are not the
    same. If the …first coin is worth ten cents less than four times
    the value of the second coin, what is the total value of the
    two coins?
    (A) $0.06
    (B) $0.11
    (C) $0.15
    (D) $0.30
    (E) $0.35

    Is there an algebraic approach?, or just trial and error?
    This would be a trial and error question.

    Notice that, if there happened to be something called a 90-cent coin, then this question would have 2 possible solutions:
    (1) nickel and dime
    (2) quarter and 90-cent coin

    Similarly, if there happened to be something called a 30-cent coin, then this question would have 2 possible solutions:
    (1) nickel and dime
    (2) dime and 30-cent coin

    Since the question depends on the definition of what constitutes a legitimate coin (defined in the question as a penny, a nickel, a dime, or a quarter), the answer will require us to use trial and error.

    Cheers,
    Brent
    Hi Brent,

    Is this a GMAT question? This question requires a candidate to know about dime, nickel etc. I believe these are quantum of American currency. Is a candidate expected to know about these

    Thanking you in anticipation of your help

    Regards,
    Vishal

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    Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
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    Post Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:59 pm
    vishal.pathak wrote:
    Hi Brent,

    Is this a GMAT question? This question requires a candidate to know about dime, nickel etc. I believe these are quantum of American currency. Is a candidate expected to know about these

    Thanking you in anticipation of your help

    Regards,
    Vishal
    Hi Vishal,

    Given that this question requires knowledge of American currency, I'd say that it's too culturally biased to be an official GMAT question.

    Also, almost all GMAT math questions can be solved using more than one approach. Since this question basically has only one solution method, it's unlikely that you'd ever see a question like this.

    Cheers,
    Brent

    _________________
    Brent Hanneson - GMAT Prep Now instructor
    - Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
    - Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
    - Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
    - Our top 3 free videos:
    1) The Double Matrix method
    2) Calculating combinations in your head
    3) Managing your time on the GMAT

    Thanked by: vishal.pathak
    Study Smart! Use Beat The GMAT’s FREE 60-Day Study Guide in conjunction with GMAT Prep Now’s video course and reach your target score in 2 months! With two money-back guarantees, you can try us out risk-free.

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