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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

130-point score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Error in Kaplan 800 - Word Problem # 5

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 113
Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:19 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 1 times
by bml1105 » Thu May 29, 2014 4:49 pm
A batch of cookies was divided among three tins: 2/3 of all the cookies were placed in either the blue tin or the green tin, and the rest were placed in the red tin. If 1/4 of all the cookies were placed in the blue tin, what fraction of the cookies that were placed in the other tins were placed in the green tin?

(A) 15/2
(B) 9/4
(C) 5/9
(D) 7/5
(E) 9/7


OA: C
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 113
Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:19 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 1 times

by bml1105 » Thu May 29, 2014 4:51 pm
When reading the explanation in the book it says what we are looking for is as follows:

(# of cookies in green tin)/{(# of cookies in green tin)+(# of cookies in red tin)}

Why would the number of cookies in the green tin be in the denominator? Shouldn't it be the # of cookies in the blue tin + the # of cookies in the red tin, since the question asks "what fraction of the cookies that were placed in the other tins were placed in the green tin"
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

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

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Thu May 29, 2014 5:49 pm
bml1105 wrote:A batch of cookies was divided among three tins: 2/3 of all the cookies were placed in either the blue tin or the green tin, and the rest were placed in the red tin. If 1/4 of all the cookies were placed in the blue tin, what fraction of the cookies that were placed in the other tins were placed in the green tin?

(A) 15/2
(B) 9/4
(C) 5/9
(D) 7/5
(E) 9/7


OA: C
Let's start with a certain number of cookies that works well with all of the fractions.
Let's say that there are 36 cookies altogether.

2/3 of all the cookies were placed in either the blue tin or the green tin
So, 24 cookies were placed in either the blue tin or the green tin

The rest were placed in the red tin
So, 12 cookies were placed in the red tin

1/4 of all the cookies were placed in the blue tin
So, 9 cookies were placed in the blue tin

So, the number of cookies that were placed in the green tin = 36 - 12 - 9 = 15

If 1/4 of all the cookies were placed in the blue tin, what fraction of the cookies that were placed in the other (non blue) tins were placed in the green tin?

There are 27 cookies in the non-blue tins.
15 of them are in the green tin
Fraction = 15/27 = [spoiler]5/9[/spoiler]

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 113
Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:19 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 1 times

by bml1105 » Thu May 29, 2014 8:09 pm
Ohhh ok. Thanks! That does make sense. I was definitely reading the question wrong
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Thu May 29, 2014 9:21 pm
Hi bml1105,

Are these answer choices formatted correctly? I agree with Brent's approach (TESTing VALUES works really well on this question), but these answers, as written, imply that the only possible answer is the correct one.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1556
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:18 pmFollowed by: 34 members
Thanked: 448 times
GMAT Score:650

by theCodeToGMAT » Thu May 29, 2014 9:37 pm
B/G = 2/3 * C

R = 1/3 * C

B = 1/4 * C

Let Cookies be 60

B/G = 40
R = 20
B = 15
So, G = 25

Fraction: 25/45 = 5/9
R A H U L
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 113
Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:19 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 1 times

by bml1105 » Fri May 30, 2014 8:19 pm
Rich, I just double checked the book and it is written correctly. It's Kaplan 800 - Arithmetic and Algebra Word Problems #5.

I was reading the question as what fraction of cookies is in green compared to the cookies in blue and red OR (# in green tin)/[(# in red tin) + (# in blue tin)] and wondering why I was getting it wrong.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
GMAT Score:790

Re: Error in Kaplan 800 - Word Problem # 5

by GMATGuruNY » Mon Jan 25, 2021 1:44 pm
bml1105 wrote: ↑
Thu May 29, 2014 4:49 pm
 A batch of cookies was divided among three tins: 2/3 of all the cookies were placed in either the blue tin or the green tin, and the rest were placed in the red tin. If 1/4 of all the cookies were placed in the blue tin, what fraction of the cookies that were placed in the other tins were placed in the green tin?

(A) 15/2
(B) 9/4
(C) 5/9
(D) 7/5
(E) 9/7
Let the total number of cookies = the LCM of the two denominators in the prompt = 12
Since 2/3 of the cookies are placed in the blue or green tin, B+G = 2/3* 12 = 8
Since 1/4 of the cookies are placed in the blue tin, B = 1/4 * 12 = 3

What fraction of the cookies that were placed in the other tins were placed in the green tin?
other tins = total - B = 12-3 = 9
G = (B+G) - B = 8-3 = 5
green/other = 5/9

The correct answer is C.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1