A street vendor sells only apples and pineapples, and all apples weigh 6.5
ounces, while all pineapples weigh 13 ounces. If she sells twice as many apples
as pineapples, how many apples does she sell?
(1) She sells 8 more apples than pineapples.
(2) She sells an equal amount, by weight, of apples and pineapples.
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
DS : Help needed to put a statement into algebraic equation
This topic has expert replies
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
[email protected]
- Elite Legendary Member
- Posts: 10392
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Thanked: 2867 times
- Followed by:511 members
- GMAT Score:800
Hi amitmj,
You're correct that this DS question is essentially about algebra....
We're told that apples weigh 6.5 ounces each and pineapples weigh 13 ounces each. We're also told that a vendor sells twice as many apples as pineapples. This translates into....
A = number of apples
P = number of pineapples
A = 2P
We're asked for the value of A.
Fact 1: She sells 8 more apples than pineapples.
This translates into....
A = P + 8
Combined with the information from the prompt (A = 2P), we now have a "system" of equations (2 variables and 2 unique equations). This means that we CAN solve for A and P (and answer the question. The best part is that we don't have to do the math.
Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT
Fact 2: The vendor sells an equal amount, by weight, of apples and pineapples.
This translates into....
6.5A = 13P
This simplifies to...
A = 2P
Unfortunately, this information is REDUNDANT to the information we were given in the prompt. The information in Fact 2 means that the vendor sold twice as many apples as pineapples. We already knew that. So Fact 2 does NOT give us anything new to work with. We still cannot answer the question.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT.
Final Answer: A
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
You're correct that this DS question is essentially about algebra....
We're told that apples weigh 6.5 ounces each and pineapples weigh 13 ounces each. We're also told that a vendor sells twice as many apples as pineapples. This translates into....
A = number of apples
P = number of pineapples
A = 2P
We're asked for the value of A.
Fact 1: She sells 8 more apples than pineapples.
This translates into....
A = P + 8
Combined with the information from the prompt (A = 2P), we now have a "system" of equations (2 variables and 2 unique equations). This means that we CAN solve for A and P (and answer the question. The best part is that we don't have to do the math.
Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT
Fact 2: The vendor sells an equal amount, by weight, of apples and pineapples.
This translates into....
6.5A = 13P
This simplifies to...
A = 2P
Unfortunately, this information is REDUNDANT to the information we were given in the prompt. The information in Fact 2 means that the vendor sold twice as many apples as pineapples. We already knew that. So Fact 2 does NOT give us anything new to work with. We still cannot answer the question.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT.
Final Answer: A
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Thanks for your time!!!
My doubt is here
"vendor sells twice as many apples as pineapples"
so here how do we get P=2A or A=2P ???
I know it may be a very basic question , but I need to grasp this concept correctly and hence asking it.
My doubt is here
"vendor sells twice as many apples as pineapples"
so here how do we get P=2A or A=2P ???
I know it may be a very basic question , but I need to grasp this concept correctly and hence asking it.
