algebraic translation

Expert replies

maus: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 44; Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:29 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 2 times

by maus » Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:59 pm

hi folks, please help with this one:

Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women?

51, 52, 53, 54, 55

The explanation provided was completely useless to me - something about number lines - can anyone provide a shortcut perhaps?

Maus
<:3)))~~~

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:59 pm

smackmartine: Legendary Member; Posts: 516; Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:22 pmFollowed by: 13 members; Thanked: 112 times

by smackmartine » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:19 pm

IMO 54

explaining in a while.

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

Anurag@Gurome: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3835; Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pmFollowed by: 523 members; Location: Milpitas, CA; Thanked: 1854 times; GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:25 pm

maus wrote:hi folks, please help with this one:

Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women?

51, 52, 53, 54, 55

The explanation provided was completely useless to me - something about number lines - can anyone provide a shortcut perhaps?

Say, age of Kylie is n years.
=> Age of Joan is (n - 2) years
=> Age of Lilian is (n - 3) years
=> Age of Miriam is (n - 1) years

Hence, total age = (4n - 6) years

Hence, the total age must be 6 less than an integer multiple of 4, i.e. 2 less than an integer multiple of 4. Only such option is 54.

Hence, the correct answer is 54.

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/

Like this post

smackmartine: Legendary Member; Posts: 516; Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:22 pmFollowed by: 13 members; Thanked: 112 times

by smackmartine » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:37 pm

IMO 54
Here is the explanation:
Please refer this diagram

When we represent the individual age on a number line, we find that ages are actually consecutive numbers

If age of K is x
age of Joan is (x - 2) years, age of Lilian is (x - 3) years and age of Miriam is (x - 1) years
Total age,T = 4x-6

Only at T= 54 , x is an Integer.

Like this post

cans: Legendary Member; Posts: 1309; Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:34 amFollowed by: 123 members; Location: India; Thanked: 310 times; GMAT Score:750

by cans » Wed Jun 08, 2011 8:18 pm

let L=x years old
thus k=x+3
j=x+1
and m=x+2
total = 4x+6
51-6 = 45 not divisible by 4
52-6 = 46 not divisible by 4
54-6=48 divisible by 4
Thus IMO D

If my post helped you- let me know by pushing the thanks button

Contact me about long distance tutoring!
[email protected]

Cans!!

Like this post

phanideepak: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 77; Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:13 amFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Hyderabad; Thanked: 10 times; GMAT Score:730

by phanideepak » Wed Jun 08, 2011 8:28 pm

First we will have to get everything in a single variable in my case i put everything in terms of age of kayla

J + K + L + M = K-2 + K + K-3 + K-1
= 4K-6

So now we know that 4k-6 is even and we have two options 52 and 54 now

4k-6 = 52 ? no coz this gives decimals so 54is the answer.

Like this post

edvhou812: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 143; Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 9:06 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 10 times

by edvhou812 » Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:24 pm

Joan: x+5
Kylie: x+3
Lilian: x
Mirian: x+6

This all comes to 4x+14
Equation has the sum of two even numbers, which must be even, so A,C and E are out.

I tried 4x+14=52, which did not work since 52-14=38 is not a multiple of 4, so I selected D, which gives Lilian's age as 10 and everyone's age adds up nicely to 54.

Like this post

Post new topic Post Reply

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review