During a certain month, Dave watched n two-hour movies

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During a certain month, Dave watched n two-hour movies and r ninety-minute movies. Had he spent the same amount of time watching television, he could have watched 60 thirty-minute television shows. Each of the following is a possible ratio of n to r EXCEPT


A)3:16


B)1:2


C)2:3


D)9:8


E)3:1

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by [email protected] » Fri May 09, 2014 12:25 pm
Hi canbtg,

This question is ultimately about factors and multiples, but you have to get through all of the set-up steps to realize it.

We're told that there are N 120-minute movies and R 90-minute movies and this total is the same as 60 30-minute shows. From this, we can create the equation:

120N + 90R = 1800

From here, we can simplify the equation (notice how each number is a multiple of 10 AND a multiple of 3):

4N + 3R = 60

We're told that 4 of the 5 answers are possible ratios of N:R (meaning that the answer would be a solution to the equation). We're asked to find that one that is the exception (meaning it CAN'T be a solution to the equation).

Answer A: If N=3, R=16 we have 4(3) + 3(16) = 12+48 = 60. This is a possible solution

Answer B: If N=1, R=2 we have 4(1) + 3(2) = 4+6 = 10. We can multiply this ratio by 6 and it will = 60. This is a possible solution

Answer C: If N=2, R=3 we have 4(2) + 3(3) = 8+9 = 17. We CANNOT multiple this ratio to get 60. This is NOT a possible solution

Answer D: If N=9, R=8 we have 4(9) + 3(8) = 36+24 = 60. This is a possible solution

Answer E: If N=3, R=1 we have 4(3) + 3(1) = 12+3 = 15. We can multiply this ratio by 4 and it will = 60. This is a possible solution

Final Answer: C

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by GMATGuruNY » Fri May 09, 2014 12:35 pm
canbtg wrote:During a certain month, Dave watched n two-hour movies and r ninety-minute movies. Had he spent the same amount of time watching television, he could have watched 60 thirty-minute television shows. Each of the following is a possible ratio of n to r EXCEPT


A)3:16


B)1:2


C)2:3


D)9:8


E)3:1
Total time for 60 30-minute shows = 60*30 = 1800 minutes.
Since n 120-minute shows and r 90-minute shows must sum to 1800 minutes, we get:
120n + 90r = 1800
12n + 9r = 180
4n + 3r = 60.

A) n:r = 3:16
Substituting n=3 and r=16 into 4n + 3r = 60, we get:
4*3 + 3*16 = 60.
60 = 60.
This works.
Eliminate A.

B) n:r = 1:2
Substituting n=1 and r=2 into 4n + 3r = 60, we get:
4*1 + 3*2 = 60
10 = 60.
For the lefthand side to equal the righthand side, the lefthand side must increase by a factor of 6.
The implication is that n and r much each increase by a factor of 6, to n=6 and r=12.
Substituting n=6 and r=12 into 4n + 3r = 60, we get:
4*6 + 3*12 = 60
60 = 60.
This works.
Eliminate B.

C: n:r = 2:3
Substituting n=2 and r=3 into 4n + 3r = 60, we get:
4*2 + 3*3 = 60
17 = 60.
For the lefthand side to equal the righthand side, the lefthand side must increase by a factor of 60/17.
The implication is that n and r much each increase by a factor of 60/17, to n=120/17 and r=180/17.
Not possible, since n and r must be INTEGER values.

The correct answer is C.
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