Announcement, 11/3/08: Welcome Test Prep New York experts!

average question


 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Beat The GMAT Forum Index -> GMAT Math -> Data Sufficiency
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
magical cook
GMAT Destroyer!


Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 484

Thanks given: 6
Thanked 1 times in 1 posts


PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:47 am    Post subject: average question Reply with quote

If the total weight of d equally weighted objects is 40 pounds, how much does each individual object weigh?

(1) If the weight of each object was 25% greater, then the total weight would have been 10 pounds greater.
(2) If the weight of each object was of pound less, the total weight would have been 7.5 pounds less.


(A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) is not sufficient.
(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) is not sufficient.
(C) BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
cris
Really wants to Beat The GMAT!


Joined: 17 Nov 2007
Posts: 128

Thanks given: 9
Thanked 1 times in 1 posts


PostPosted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not sure bc I havent done the numbers...just written down the equations...but I think is D

Update
--------------------------

I have done the numbers now...I will go with B :)
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
gabriel
Managing Director


Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 862

Thanks given: 118
Thanked 27 times in 26 posts

Location: India

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am a tad confused by the question the 2nd statement says "If the weight of each object was of pound less, the total weight would have been 7.5 pounds less."

But if we remove 1 pound from each object then the total weight should reduce by the number of objects i.e. "d", so according to this statement d = 7.5, how can there be 7.5 objects ?.

I have a feeling there is something wrong with the question.
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
Stuart Kovinsky
GMAT Instructor


Joined: 08 Jan 2008
Posts: 1225

Thanks given: 0
Thanked 203 times in 185 posts

Location: Toronto
GMAT Score: 800

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cris wrote:
Not sure bc I havent done the numbers...just written down the equations...but I think is D

Update
--------------------------

I have done the numbers now...I will go with B Smile


Yah... statement 1 just multiplies both sides of the equation by 25%, so doesn't help us at all.

(i.e. we go from dx=40 to 1.25(dx) = 1.25(40))

Statement (2) should be sufficient, but as Gabriel pointed out there's some missing information. "Was of pound less" should be "was one half pound less", or something, so d ends up an integer.

_________________
Stuart Kovinsky, B.A. LL.B.
Academic Co-ordinator
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
Toronto Office
1-800-KAP-TEST

Learn more about me
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Suyog
GMAT Destroyer!


Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Posts: 315

Thanks given: 1
Thanked 22 times in 19 posts


PostPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stuart,

Can you take sample values for d and explain?
(1) If the weight of each object was 25% greater, then the total weight would have been 10 pounds greater.

I think i'm missing something... Thanks!
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
Stuart Kovinsky
GMAT Instructor


Joined: 08 Jan 2008
Posts: 1225

Thanks given: 0
Thanked 203 times in 185 posts

Location: Toronto
GMAT Score: 800

PostPosted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Suyog wrote:
Stuart,

Can you take sample values for d and explain?
(1) If the weight of each object was 25% greater, then the total weight would have been 10 pounds greater.

I think i'm missing something... Thanks!


Sure.. the original total weight is 40.

Let's say we started with 4 10lb objects.

Using statement (1), we would now have 4 12.5lb objects. Well, 4*12.5 = 50. 40 + 10 = 50. So, the individual weight could be 10lbs each.

However, let's say we started with 40 1lb objects. After the increase, we'd have 40 1.25lb objects. 40*1.25 = 50 and, again, 40 + 10 = 50. So, the individual weight could be 1lb each.

In fact, ANY number you pick will work. If we let x be the weight of each object, then the original equation is:

dx = 40

Once we build in statement (1), we get:

d (1.25x) = 40 + 10

which we can rewrite as:

1.25(d)(x) = 40 + (.25)40

and

1.25(d)(x) = 1.25(40)

finally, if we divide both sides by 1.25 we simply get:

dx = 40, which is our original equation.

In other words, statement (1) gives us absolutely no information that we didn't already have. Accordingly, we can elminate choices (A), (D) and even (C), since there's no way that (1) is going to be part of a "together" solution.

_________________
Stuart Kovinsky, B.A. LL.B.
Academic Co-ordinator
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
Toronto Office
1-800-KAP-TEST

Learn more about me
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Suyog
GMAT Destroyer!


Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Posts: 315

Thanks given: 1
Thanked 22 times in 19 posts


PostPosted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Absolutely!

Thanks a ton... i got what i was looking for... thanks!
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Beat The GMAT Forum Index -> GMAT Math -> Data Sufficiency All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



"GMAT" and other GMAC™ trademarks are registered trademarks of the Graduate Management Admission Council™. The Graduate Management Admission Council™ does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content on this website. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author or those of the members of this website. Copyright © 2008 BTG Test Prep, LLC. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group.