• 5 Day FREE Trial
Study Smarter, Not Harder

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

• 1 Hour Free
BEAT THE GMAT EXCLUSIVE

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

• Reach higher with Artificial Intelligence. Guaranteed
Now free for 30 days

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

• Magoosh
Study with Magoosh GMAT prep

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

• Award-winning private GMAT tutoring
Register now and save up to $200 Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Trial & Practice Exam 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 • 5-Day Free Trial 5-day free, full-access trial TTP Quant 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 • Get 300+ Practice Questions 25 Video lessons and 6 Webinars for FREE Available with Beat the GMAT members only code ## A total of s oranges This topic has 7 expert replies and 3 member replies rsarashi Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts Joined 24 Dec 2016 Posted: 186 messages Followed by: 2 members Upvotes: 5 #### A total of s oranges Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:14 am A total of s oranges are to be packaged in boxes that will hold r oranges each, with no oranges left over. When n of these boxes have been completely filled, what is the number of boxes that remain to be filled? A) s-nr B) s-(n/r) C) rs-n D) (s/n)-r E) (s/r)-n OAE ### GMAT/MBA Expert Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member Joined 23 Jun 2013 Posted: 9309 messages Followed by: 478 members Upvotes: 2867 GMAT Score: 800 Sun Feb 05, 2017 10:52 am Hi rsarashi, This question includes 3 variables: S, R and N. When I decided to TEST VALUES, I chose the following variables: S = 6 R = 2 N = 1 The values for S and R are used to determine the total number of boxes. Based on how the question is worded, N has to be less than, or equal to, the total number of boxes. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com rsarashi Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts Joined 24 Dec 2016 Posted: 186 messages Followed by: 2 members Upvotes: 5 Sun Feb 05, 2017 8:33 pm Quote: This question includes 3 variables: S, R and N. When I decided to TEST VALUES, I chose the following variables: S = 6 R = 2 N = 1 The values for S and R are used to determine the total number of boxes. Based on how the question is worded, N has to be less than, or equal to, the total number of boxes. Hi Rich , Thank you so much for your reply, but sill I really want to know that how come N=1, because here N = S/R so if we choose S=6 and R=2, then N will be 3 right? Please explain, where I am getting wrong? Thanks ### GMAT/MBA Expert Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member Joined 23 Jun 2013 Posted: 9309 messages Followed by: 478 members Upvotes: 2867 GMAT Score: 800 Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:27 am Hi rsarashi, This question can be solved by TESTing VALUES. IF.... S = 6 R = 2 Then we're packing 6 oranges into boxes that will hold 2 oranges each... which means that there will be 3 boxes. N = 1 So after 1 (of the 3) boxes is filled, there will be 2 boxes left. Thus, we're looking for an answer that equals 2 when we test the above three values. Answer A: 6 - 2 = 4 NOT a match Answer B: 6 - 1/2 = 5.5 NOT a match Answer C: 12 - 1 = 11 NOT a match Answer D: 6 - 2 = 4 NOT a match Answer E: 3 - 1 = 2 This IS a match Final Answer: E GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com ### GMAT/MBA Expert DavidG@VeritasPrep Legendary Member Joined 14 Jan 2015 Posted: 2667 messages Followed by: 120 members Upvotes: 1153 GMAT Score: 770 Thu Jan 26, 2017 10:45 am rsarashi wrote: A total of s oranges are to be packaged in boxes that will hold r oranges each, with no oranges left over. When n of these boxes have been completely filled, what is the number of boxes that remain to be filled? A) s-nr B) s-(n/r) C) rs-n D) (s/n)-r E) (s/r)-n OAE Algebraically: If there are s oranges total and r oranges are packed into each crate, then the total number of crates required is s/r. If n crates have been packed, then there are still (s/r) - n left to pack. The answer is E _________________ Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor Veritas Prep Reviews Save$100 off any live Veritas Prep GMAT Course

Enroll in a Veritas Prep GMAT class completely for FREE. Wondering if a GMAT course is right for you? Attend the first class session of an actual GMAT course, either in-person or live online, and see for yourself why so many students choose to work with Veritas Prep. Find a class now!

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Jay@ManhattanReview GMAT Instructor
Joined
22 Aug 2016
Posted:
1026 messages
Followed by:
22 members
470
Thu Jan 26, 2017 9:15 pm
rsarashi wrote:
A total of s oranges are to be packaged in boxes that will hold r oranges each, with no oranges left over. When n of these boxes have been completely filled, what is the number of boxes that remain to be filled?

A) s-nr

B) s-(n/r)

C) rs-n

D) (s/n)-r

E) (s/r)-n

OAE
Hi rsarashi,

The challenge with Word Problems is that one must comprehend what the prompt states, and then transform the textual information into mathematical expression(s) or/and workable equation(s). Sometimes the usage of variables can make things look weird. With regards to this question, it's an easy question. Had the question been like this, it may have been easier for you.

A total of 100 oranges are to be packaged in boxes that will hold 10 oranges each, with no oranges left over. When 6 of these boxes have been completely filled, what is the number of boxes that remain to be filled?

Solution:

We need to accommodate 100 oranges in 10 boxes. This needs 100/10 = 10 boxes. Once 6 boxes are filled, 10 - 6 = 4 boxes remain to be filled.

The original question is identical to this one.

Number of remaining boxes to be filled = (s/r) - n.

Hope this helps!

-Jay
_________________
Get Manhattan Review GMAT Word Problems

Manhattan Review GMAT Prep

Locations: New York | Singapore | Doha | Lausanne | and many more...

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Scott@TargetTestPrep GMAT Instructor
Joined
25 Apr 2015
Posted:
891 messages
Followed by:
5 members
43
Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:41 pm
rsarashi wrote:
A total of s oranges are to be packaged in boxes that will hold r oranges each, with no oranges left over. When n of these boxes have been completely filled, what is the number of boxes that remain to be filled?

A) s-nr

B) s-(n/r)

C) rs-n

D) (s/n)-r

E) (s/r)-n
Since there are a total of s oranges and they are going into n boxes that hold r oranges each, the number of oranges that can be put into these n boxes is rn. The number of oranges left to be put into boxes is s - rn. Finally, the number of boxes that are left to be filled is:

(s - rn)/r = s/r - (rn/r) = s/r - n

_________________
Scott Woodbury-Stewart Founder and CEO

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Matt@VeritasPrep GMAT Instructor
Joined
12 Sep 2012
Posted:
2637 messages
Followed by:
114 members
625
Target GMAT Score:
V51
GMAT Score:
780
Wed Feb 01, 2017 6:39 pm
If we think about it conceptually we know that we've got n boxes, each with r oranges, giving us a total of n*r oranges already in boxes. That means we've still got s - nr oranges left. From here

Oranges left / Oranges per box =

(s - nr) / r =

s/r - n

Enroll in a Veritas Prep GMAT class completely for FREE. Wondering if a GMAT course is right for you? Attend the first class session of an actual GMAT course, either in-person or live online, and see for yourself why so many students choose to work with Veritas Prep. Find a class now!
rsarashi Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Joined
24 Dec 2016
Posted:
186 messages
Followed by:
2 members
5
Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:32 pm
Quote:
Then we're packing 6 oranges into boxes that will hold 2 oranges each... which means that there will be 3 boxes.

N = 1
Hi Rich ,

If we have 6 oranges and each boxes hold 2 oranges, so that means n will be 3. So how come N=1?

Also in E option, we have to put n=3, so why did you put n=1?

Thansk

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member
Joined
23 Jun 2013
Posted:
9309 messages
Followed by:
478 members
2867
GMAT Score:
800
Mon Feb 06, 2017 10:09 am
Hi rsarashi,

The prompt does NOT equate N to either of the other two variables. We're asked... after N of the boxes are filled, what is the number of boxes that REMAIN to be filled. This means that N <= (S/R). In my example, S/R = 6/2 = 3, so N would have to be 0, 1, 2 or 3. I chose N=1 because I thought that would be easy to deal with.

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

_________________
Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com

rsarashi Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Joined
24 Dec 2016
Posted:
186 messages
Followed by:
2 members
5
Tue Feb 07, 2017 8:26 am
Quote:
The prompt does NOT equate N to either of the other two variables. We're asked... after N of the boxes are filled, what is the number of boxes that REMAIN to be filled. This means that N <= (S/R). In my example, S/R = 6/2 = 3, so N would have to be 0, 1, 2 or 3. I chose N=1 because I thought that would be easy to deal with.

Hi Rich ,

Thank you so much for your explanation. All clear.

### Best Conversation Starters

1 lheiannie07 80 topics
2 LUANDATO 59 topics
3 ardz24 52 topics
4 AAPL 45 topics
5 Roland2rule 43 topics
See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

### Most Active Experts

1 Rich.C@EMPOWERgma...

EMPOWERgmat

133 posts
2 Brent@GMATPrepNow

GMAT Prep Now Teacher

131 posts
3 GMATGuruNY

The Princeton Review Teacher

130 posts
4 Scott@TargetTestPrep

Target Test Prep

118 posts
5 Jeff@TargetTestPrep

Target Test Prep

114 posts
See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts