A certain cake has two layers - Gmat Prep

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2012 7:09 am

A certain cake has two layers - Gmat Prep

by lazarogb » Sat Dec 01, 2012 3:55 am
A certain cake has two layers with pieces of fruit on top of each layer. Of all the pieces of fruit on the cake, 25 percent are strawberies. How many pieces of fruit are on the first layer of the cake?

1) Of the pieces of fruit on the first layer, 6 are strawberries.

2) 20 percent of the 20 pieces of fruit on the second layer are strawberries.

OA: C

The explanation from the gmat prep is a bit confusing, can anyone make a more direct user-friendly solution??

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3835
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pm
Location: Milpitas, CA
Thanked: 1854 times
Followed by:523 members
GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Sat Dec 01, 2012 5:37 am
lazarogb wrote:A certain cake has two layers with pieces of fruit on top of each layer. Of all the pieces of fruit on the cake, 25 percent are strawberies. How many pieces of fruit are on the first layer of the cake?

1) Of the pieces of fruit on the first layer, 6 are strawberries.

2) 20 percent of the 20 pieces of fruit on the second layer are strawberries.

OA: C

The explanation from the gmat prep is a bit confusing, can anyone make a more direct user-friendly solution??
Let us assume that all the fruits in both layers = T
Then strawberries = 25% of T = 0.25T
Also, 0.25T = strawberries in layer 1 + strawberries in layer 2

(1) Of the pieces of fruit on the first layer, 6 are strawberries.
0.25T = 6 + strawberries in layer 2, but we do not know number of strawberries in layer 2; NOT sufficient.

(2) 20 percent of the 20 pieces of fruit on the second layer are strawberries implies 20% of 20 pieces of fruit or 0.20 * 20 = 4 fruit pieces on the second layer are strawberries.
So, 0.25T = strawberries in layer 1 + 4; NOT sufficient.

Combining (1) and (2), strawberries on first layer = 6 and strawberries on 2nd layer = 4; SUFFICIENT to answer the question.

The correct answer is C.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:02 pm
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:11 members
GMAT Score:760

by mcdesty » Fri Aug 01, 2014 2:11 am
Here is how I would set this one up.
Attachments
Layers.jpg
Last edited by mcdesty on Thu Aug 21, 2014 9:54 am, edited 2 times in total.
I have made your mistakes before.
I am experienced - I have tutored calculus and linear algebra for over two years.
For a very modest fee, I will ensure that your GMAT journey is a smooth one: Daily assignments and careful micro management.
PM me so we can get started.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:23 am
I'd like to point out that mcdesty's approach is known as the Double Matrix Method. This technique can be used for most questions featuring a population in which each member has two characteristics associated with it (aka overlapping sets questions).
Here, we have a population of fruit pieces, and the two characteristics are:
- strawberry or not a strawberry
- on the 1st layer or on the 2nd layer

This question type is VERY COMMON on the GMAT, so be sure to master the technique.

To learn more about the Double Matrix Method, watch our free video: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... ems?id=919

Once you're familiar with this technique, you can attempt these additional practice questions:

Easy Problem Solving questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-aam-aadm ... 72242.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/finance-majo ... 67425.html

Medium Problem Solving questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/probability- ... 73360.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/posted-speed ... 72374.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/motel-t271938.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/of-the-appli ... 70255.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/opening-nigh ... 64869.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ds-french-ja ... 22297.html

Difficult Problem Solving questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ratio-problem-t268339.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/overlapping- ... 65223.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/fractions-t264254.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/overlapping- ... 64092.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-2

Easy Data Sufficiency questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/for-what-per ... 70596.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ds-quest-t187706.html

Medium Data Sufficiency questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sets-matrix-ds-t271914.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/each-of-peop ... 71375.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/a-manufacturer-t270331.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/in-costume-f ... 69355.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-1

Difficult Data Sufficiency questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/double-set-m ... 71423.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sets-t269449.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-3

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image