Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register
 

Math

This topic has 1 expert reply and 2 member replies
vaswani.sharan Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
Joined
10 Apr 2012
Posted:
3 messages
Math Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:31 pm
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    The difference between any two consecutive interior angles of a polygon is 5. If the smallest angle is 120 , find the number of the sides of the polygon.
    a)5 b)13 c)33 d)7 e)9

    Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!
    shubham_k Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
    Joined
    08 Apr 2012
    Posted:
    27 messages
    Thanked:
    20 times
    Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:42 pm
    The sum of the angles in an n-sided shape is (n-2)*180. We know:

    120 + 125 + 130 + ... = (n-2)*180

    If we have n angles, the largest angle will be 120 + (n-1)*5 = 115 + 5n. We're adding an evenly spaced series here, so we can find the sum, using the average fomula:

    sum = (average)*(number)

    Because the series is evenly spaced, the average of the series is equal to the average of the smallest (120) and the largest (115 + 5n). There are n terms, so:

    sum = [(120 + 115 + 5n)/2]*n
    (n-2)*180 = (235 + 5n)*n/2
    360n - 720 = 235n + 5n^2
    72n - 144 = 47n + n^2
    0 = n^2 - 25n + 144
    0 = (n-16)(n-9)
    n = 9 or n = 16.

    We must discard the n=16 solution, because if n=16, the angles go past 180, and you can't have a 180 degree angle as an interior angle in a polygon- it makes a straight line

    Thanked by: vaswani.sharan
    Neo Anderson Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
    Joined
    06 Oct 2011
    Posted:
    92 messages
    Thanked:
    18 times
    Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:46 pm
    sum of external angle of a polygon is always 360

    external angle is given by 180 - the internal angle

    thus the sum of all external angles of this polygon 60+55+50+45+..... = 360

    or n/2*(2*60-5*(n-1))=360

    on solving for n you get n= 9 or 16

    hence the answer e

    GMAT/MBA Expert

    Anurag@Gurome GMAT Instructor
    Joined
    02 Apr 2010
    Posted:
    3835 messages
    Followed by:
    465 members
    Thanked:
    1754 times
    GMAT Score:
    770
    Post Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:42 pm
    vaswani.sharan wrote:
    The difference between any two consecutive interior angles of a polygon is 5. If the smallest angle is 120 , find the number of the sides of the polygon.
    a)5 b)13 c)33 d)7 e)9
    Sum of the interior angles of an n-sided polygon = (n - 2) * 180
    It is given that the smallest angle = 120 and difference between any two consecutive interior angles of a polygon is 5.
    So, 120 + 125 + 130 + ... = (n - 2) * 180
    Value of the largest angle = 120 + (n - 1) * 5 = 120 + 5n - 5 = 115 + 5n

    Now sum of the interior angles of n-sides polygon = {[120 + (115 + 5n)]/2} * n
    (n - 2) * 180 = [(235 + 5n) * n]/2
    2(180n - 360) = (235 + 5n) * n
    360n - 720 = 235n + 5n²
    5n² - 125n + 720 = 0
    n² - 25n + 144 = 0
    (n - 9)(n - 16) = 0 implies n = 9 or 16
    n = 16 is not possible as in this case an interior angle in a polygon is a straight line, which is not possible. Hence n = 9.

    The correct answer is E.

    _________________
    Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
    GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
    Gurome, Inc.
    1-800-566-4043 (USA)

    Join Our Facebook Groups
    GMAT with Gurome
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
    Admissions with Gurome
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
    Career Advising with Gurome
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/

    Best Conversation Starters

    1 vipulgoyal 32 topics
    2 hemant_rajput 23 topics
    3 guerrero 18 topics
    4 abhirup1711 17 topics
    5 sana.noor 16 topics
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

    Most Active Experts

    1 image description Brent@GMATPrepNow

    GMAT Prep Now Teacher

    211 posts
    2 image description GMATGuruNY

    The Princeton Review Teacher

    137 posts
    3 image description Jim@StratusPrep

    Stratus Prep

    60 posts
    4 image description Jon@Admissionado

    Admissionado

    49 posts
    5 image description David@VeritasPrep

    Veritas Prep

    31 posts
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts