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Register now and save up to $200 Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 1 Hour Free BEAT THE GMAT EXCLUSIVE Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Practice Test & Review How would you score if you took the GMAT Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Veritas GMAT Class Experience Lesson 1 Live Free Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Trial & Practice Exam BEAT THE GMAT EXCLUSIVE Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • 5-Day Free Trial 5-day free, full-access trial TTP Quant Available with Beat the GMAT members only code ## Raffle tickets numbered consecutively from 101 through 350 tagged by: Brent@GMATPrepNow This topic has 4 expert replies and 2 member replies boomgoesthegmat Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts Joined 25 Apr 2016 Posted: 93 messages Thanked: 1 times #### Raffle tickets numbered consecutively from 101 through 350 Mon Apr 25, 2016 2:39 pm Elapsed Time: 00:00 • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME]) Raffle tickets numbered consecutively from 101 through 350 are placed in a box. What is the probability that a ticket selected at random will have a number with a hundreds digit of 2? A) 2/5 B) 2/7 C) 33/83 D) 99/250 E) 100/249 Answer: A Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums! ### GMAT/MBA Expert Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member Joined 23 Jun 2013 Posted: 8718 messages Followed by: 461 members Thanked: 2747 times GMAT Score: 800 Mon Apr 25, 2016 3:49 pm Hi boomgoesthegmat, This is an example of a 'fence post' problem (meaning that you have to remember to count the tickets at the 'beginning' and 'end' of each sub-list. We're asked for the probability of selecting a ticket with a "2" in the hundreds digit from a group of tickets numbered 101 through 350, inclusive. The number of tickets is 350 - 101 + 1 = 250 total tickets The number that have a 2 in the hundreds spot = 100 (200 through 299, inclusive). So the probability is 100/250 = 2/5 Final Answer: A GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com Thanked by: boomgoesthegmat OptimusPrep Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts Joined 13 Mar 2015 Posted: 410 messages Followed by: 7 members Thanked: 120 times GMAT Score: 770 Mon Apr 25, 2016 8:26 pm boomgoesthegmat wrote: Raffle tickets numbered consecutively from 101 through 350 are placed in a box. What is the probability that a ticket selected at random will have a number with a hundreds digit of 2? A) 2/5 B) 2/7 C) 33/83 D) 99/250 E) 100/249 Answer: A This is a straight forward probability question. Always remember, the total numbers between a and b = b - a + 1 Total number of tickets = 350 - 101 + 1 = 250 Tickets with 2 in the hundreds digit = 299 - 200 + 1 = 100 Probability of picking a ticket with 2 in the hundredth digit = 100/250 = 2/5 Correct Option: A _________________ Ankur 99th Percentile GMAT Tutor | Optimus Prep™ Optimus Prep™ GMAT Courses: www.Optimus-Prep.com/GMAT Free Online Trial Hour: http://www.optimus-prep.com/request-free-online-trial-hour/ Free GMAT Study Plan: http://www.optimus-prep.com/ebook/ Optimus Prep™ Rates: GMAT Private Tutoring Online:$80-100/hr.*
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Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor
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Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:35 am
Quote:
Raffle tickets numbered consecutively from 101 through 350 are placed in a box. What is the probability that a ticket selected at random will have a number with a hundreds digit of 2?

A) 2/5

B) 2/7

C) 33/83

D) 99/250

E) 100/249
Rich and Ankur have provided nice solutions, so I won't solve the question again.
However, I do want to add a pro tip to remember when answering questions using calculating probabilities using the formula:

P(event A occurs) = (# of outcomes where event A occurs)/(total # of outcomes)

In these cases, calculate the denominator first
There are two reasons for this:
1) The denominator is usually the easier value to calculate
2) If you can't calculate the numerator, you can probably use the denominator to eliminate answer choices.

Here's what I mean:

In this question, P(number has a hundreds digit of 2) = (# of integers with hundreds digit of 2)/(# of integers to choose from)

# of integers to choose from = 350 - 101 + 1 = 250

So, P(number has a hundreds digit of 2) = ??)/(250)

This tells us that the correct answer EITHER has 250 in its denominator OR, when the probability is simplified, the new denominator is a factor of 250

At this point, if we can't calculate the numerator, we eliminate some answer choices
A) 2/5 [5 is a factor of 250, so this answer COULD be correct]

B) 2/7 [7 is NOT a factor of 250. ELIMINATE B]

C) 33/83 [83 is NOT a factor of 250. ELIMINATE C]

D) 99/250 [250 is a factor of 250, so this answer COULD be correct]

E) 100/249 [249 is NOT a factor of 250. ELIMINATE E]

So, we were able to deduce that the correct answer is either A or D.

For more on this concept, see the following videos:
- Introduction to Probability: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-probability/video/742
- General Probability Strategies: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-probability/video/757

Cheers,
Brent

_________________
Brent Hanneson – Founder of GMATPrepNow.com
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OptinumGmat Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:44 pm
OptimusPrep wrote:
boomgoesthegmat wrote:
Raffle tickets numbered consecutively from 101 through 350 are placed in a box. What is the probability that a ticket selected at random will have a number with a hundreds digit of 2?

A) 2/5

B) 2/7

C) 33/83

D) 99/250

E) 100/249

This is a straight forward probability question.

Always remember, the total numbers between a and b = b - a + 1

Total number of tickets = 350 - 101 + 1 = 250
Tickets with 2 in the hundreds digit = 299 - 200 + 1 = 100

Probability of picking a ticket with 2 in the hundredth digit = 100/250 = 2/5

Correct Option: A
How do you simply 100/250 to 2/5?

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Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member
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Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:33 pm
Hi boomgoesthegmat,

When simplifying a fraction, you can do the math in 'stages' or you can do it all at once (depending on your comfort level with the work involved). When dealing with a fraction, you can multiply BOTH the numerator and the denominator by the same number or you can divide BOTH the numerator and the denominator by the same number.

With 100/250, if you recognize that both numbers are multiples of 50, then you can divide 100 by 50 and 250 by 50... you end up with 2/5.

You could also divide in 'stages' though. Notice how both 100 and 250 both end in a 0... That means that you can divide both by 10:

100/250 = 10/25

Now you can divide both by 5... and you'll still end up with 2/5.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com

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Matt@VeritasPrep GMAT Instructor
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Wed Apr 27, 2016 2:39 pm
In this problem,

Probability = # of target events / # of possible events

The target is "hundreds digit of 2". We have 200 -> 299, or 00 -> 99. That's 00 + (01 -> 99), for a total of 100 numbers.

The total is "anything from 101 to 350". We want everything from 1 to 350 MINUS everything from 1 to 100, or 350 - 100, or 250 numbers.

That gives us

100 / 250 => 2/5

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