Would appreciate a little help to the fastest approach to this ratio-question:
Thanks in advance
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GMAT Practice exam 2 - Rations
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GMATGuruNY
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The answer choices imply that the values in the problem are all MULTIPLES OF 10.The number of stamps that Kaye and Alberto had were in the ratio 5:3 respectively. After Kaye gave Alberto 10 of her stamps, the ratio of the number Kaye had to the number Alberto had was 7:5. As a result of this gift, Kaye had how many more stamps than Alberto?
20
30
40
60
900
Since K:A = 5:3, the following options are implied:
K=50, A=30
K=100, A=60
K=150, A=90
K=200, A=120.
After K gives away 10 stamps and A receives 10 stamps, the resulting values for K and A must be in a ratio of 7 to 5:
K=40, A=40
K=90, A=70
K=140, A=100.
We can stop here, since 140:100 = 14:10 = 7:5.
Thus, after the exchange, K-A = 140-100 = 40.
The correct answer is C.
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lucas211
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Hi GMATGuruGMATGuruNY wrote:The answer choices imply that the values in the problem are all MULTIPLES OF 10.The number of stamps that Kaye and Alberto had were in the ratio 5:3 respectively. After Kaye gave Alberto 10 of her stamps, the ratio of the number Kaye had to the number Alberto had was 7:5. As a result of this gift, Kaye had how many more stamps than Alberto?
20
30
40
60
900
Since K:A = 5:3, the following options are implied:
K=50, A=30
K=100, A=60
K=150, A=90
K=200, A=120.
After K gives away 10 stamps and A receives 10 stamps, the resulting values for K and A must be in a ratio of 7 to 5:
K=40, A=40
K=90, A=70
K=140, A=100.
We can stop here, since 140:100 = 14:10 = 7:5.
Thus, after the exchange, K-A = 140-100 = 40.
The correct answer is C.
Thanks for you reply.
I think I am missing the point; how do the answer choices imply that the values in the problem are all multiples of 10?
Thanks again
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Since all of the answer choices are multiples of 10, the values in the problem are also probably multiples of 10.lucas211 wrote: Hi GMATGuru
Thanks for you reply.
I think I am missing the point; how do the answer choices imply that the values in the problem are all multiples of 10?
Thanks again
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Brent@GMATPrepNow
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Another option is to solve the question using TWO VARIABLES.The number of stamps that Kaye and Alberto had were in the ratio 5 : 3, respectively. After Kaye gave Alberto 10 of her stamps,the ratio of the number Kaye had to the number Alberto had was 7 : 5. As a result of this gift, Kaye had how many more stamps than Alberto?
A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 6O
E. 9O
Let K = # of stamps K had after the exchange
Let A = # of stamps A had after the exchange
This means that K+10 = # of stamps K had before the exchange
This means that A-10 = # of stamps A had before the exchange
Note: Our goal is to find the value of K-A
The number of stamps that K and A (originally) had were in the ratio 5:3
So, (K+10)/(A-10) = 5/3
We want a prettier equation, so let's cross multiply to get 3(K+10) = 5(A-10)
Expand: 3K + 30 = 5A - 50
Rearrange: 3K - 5A = -80
After K gave A 10 of her stamps, the ratio of the number K had to the number A had was 7:5
So, K/A = 7/5
We want a prettier equation, so let's cross multiply to get 5K = 7A
Rearrange to get: 5K - 7A = 0
At this point we have two equations:
5K - 7A = 0
3K - 5A = -80
Our goal is to find the value of K - A.
IMPORTANT: We need not solve for the individual values of K and A. This is great, because something nice happens when we subtract the blue equation from the red equation.
We get: 2K - 2A = 80
Now divide both sides by 2 to get: K - A = 40
Answer: C
Cheers,
Brent
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Hi rsarashi,
Although you did not show your work, I assume that you calculated the K = 150 and A = 90. While you are correct that the difference in those two numbers is 60, the question asks for the difference AFTER Kaye has given Alberto 10 stamps. After the gift, Kaye would have 140 stamps and Alberto would have 100 stamps.
Final Answer: [spoiler]40; C[/spoiler]
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Although you did not show your work, I assume that you calculated the K = 150 and A = 90. While you are correct that the difference in those two numbers is 60, the question asks for the difference AFTER Kaye has given Alberto 10 stamps. After the gift, Kaye would have 140 stamps and Alberto would have 100 stamps.
Final Answer: [spoiler]40; C[/spoiler]
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Given that the ratio of stamps between Kaye and Alberto is 5:3.
Assuming Kaye has 5x and Alberto has 3x stamps. When Kaye gives 10 of her stamps to Alberto, the ratio becomes 7:5.
Thus, (5x-10)/(3x+10) = 7/5
or 25x - 50 = 21x + 70
or 4x = 120
or x = 30.
Kaye has stamps = 5x - 10 = 140
Alberto has stamps = 3x + 10 = 100
Kaye has more stamps than Alberto = 140-100 = 40 stamps.
Answer: C
Assuming Kaye has 5x and Alberto has 3x stamps. When Kaye gives 10 of her stamps to Alberto, the ratio becomes 7:5.
Thus, (5x-10)/(3x+10) = 7/5
or 25x - 50 = 21x + 70
or 4x = 120
or x = 30.
Kaye has stamps = 5x - 10 = 140
Alberto has stamps = 3x + 10 = 100
Kaye has more stamps than Alberto = 140-100 = 40 stamps.
Answer: C
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Scott@TargetTestPrep
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We are given that the number of stamps that Kaye and Alberto had was in the ratio 5 : 3. We can represent this as:The number of stamps that Kaye and Alberto had were in the ratio 5:3 respectively. After Kaye gave Alberto 10 of her stamps, the ratio of the number Kaye had to the number Alberto had was 7:5. As a result of this gift, Kaye had how many more stamps than Alberto?
20
30
40
60
900
K : A = 5x : 3x
We are next given that after Kaye gave Alberto 10 of her stamps, the ratio of the number Kaye had to the number Alberto had was 7 : 5. Using this information, we can create the following equation:
(5x - 10)/(3x + 10) = 7/5
5(5x - 10) = 7(3x + 10)
25x - 50 = 21x + 70
4x = 120
x = 30
Kaye now has 5(30) - 10 = 140 stamps and Alberto has 3(30) + 10 = 100 stamps. So Kaye has 140 - 100 = 40 more stamps than Alberto has.
Answer: C
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