BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

no of parallelograms??

Expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

Re: no of parallelograms??

by amitdgr » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:36 am
umaa wrote:The number of parallelograms that can be formed from a set of FOUR parallel straight line intersecting a set of THREE parallel straight lines=?

Options are,

a. 9
b. 12
c. 6
d. 18
Is the OA c.6 ??


Amit
Attachments
parallelograms.JPG
Join the discussion

by umaa » Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:48 am
No my friend. I've got the same answer. The answer is 18 (d).
Join the discussion

by amitdgr » Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:16 am
umaa wrote:No my friend. I've got the same answer. The answer is 18 (d).
18 ? oh .. :shock:

how is it 18 ?


Amit
Join the discussion

by Ian Stewart » Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:43 am
You're only counting the six smallest parallelograms in the picture (nice picture, by the way!). If, for example, you take all six of the small parallelograms and consider it to be one shape, you get one large parallelogram. And there are many others:

6 parallelograms that measure 1 across, 1 vertical (smallest possible)
3 parallelograms that are 2 across and 1 vertical
4 parallelograms that are 1 across and 2 vertical
2 parallelograms that are 2 across and 2 vertical
2 parallelograms that are 1 across and 3 vertical
1 parallelogram that is 2 across and 3 vertical (all of them together)

Hope the terminology makes sense. That's a total of 18 parallelograms.
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com
Join the discussion

Thanks

by umaa » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:02 am
Thanks Ian. I missed that out. :lol:
Join the discussion

by amitdgr » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:05 am
Ian Stewart wrote:You're only counting the six smallest parallelograms in the picture (nice picture, by the way!). If, for example, you take all six of the small parallelograms and consider it to be one shape, you get one large parallelogram. And there are many others:

6 parallelograms that measure 1 across, 1 vertical (smallest possible)
3 parallelograms that are 2 across and 1 vertical
4 parallelograms that are 1 across and 2 vertical
2 parallelograms that are 2 across and 2 vertical
2 parallelograms that are 1 across and 3 vertical
1 parallelogram that is 2 across and 3 vertical (all of them together)

Hope the terminology makes sense. That's a total of 18 parallelograms.
Thanks for explaining it Ian :)

Ian Stewart wrote: (nice picture, by the way!).
:lol:


Amit
Join the discussion

by cubicle_bound_misfit » Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:18 pm
you need to choose 2 parallel lines along with 2 vertical line.

2 parallel lines can be chosen from 4 parallel line in 4C2 ways .
2 vertical lines can be chosen from 3 vertical line in 3C2 ways

together the condition can be chosen in 4C2 * 3C2 ways ==18.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Cubicle Bound Misfit
Join the discussion