A necklace is made by stringing N individual beads together in the repeating pattern red bead, green beat, white bead, blue bead, and yellow bead. If the necklace design begins with a read bead and ends with a white bead, then N could equal
A. 16
B. 32
C. 41
D. 54
E. 68
I thought the answer would be D because the sequence is RGWBY and if it begins in R and ends in W, then the number of beads has to be divisible by 3. However, the answer is E. 68...WHY???? Please help!
Thnx.
Retired GMAT exam (Q#6, Test Code 25)
This topic has expert replies
to solve this just write a simple equation
total no of beads = 5
also note the order R-G-W-B-Y
so if the order starts with R and ends with W the equation will have to be
5X +3 (as W is the 3rd)
so what ever the answer choice - 3 has to be divisible by 5
the only option is 68
as
5X + 3 = 68
5X = 65
X = 13
try the same with choice d and it does not work
total no of beads = 5
also note the order R-G-W-B-Y
so if the order starts with R and ends with W the equation will have to be
5X +3 (as W is the 3rd)
so what ever the answer choice - 3 has to be divisible by 5
the only option is 68
as
5X + 3 = 68
5X = 65
X = 13
try the same with choice d and it does not work