GPA

Expert replies

MI3: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 83; Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:22 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 1 times

by MI3 » Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:44 am

Q. After his first semester in college, Thomas is applying for a scholarship that has a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement of 3.5. The point values of pertinent college grades are given in the table below. If Thomas took 5 courses, each with an equal weight for GPA calculations, and received two grades of A-, one grade of B+, and one grade of B, what is the lowest grade that Thomas could receive for his fifth class to qualify for the scholarship? Point Values of Select Grades
Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C
Value 4 3.7 3.3 3 2.7 2.3 2 1.7
(A) A (B) B+ (C) B (D) B- (E) C+

IMO answer is A, am I correct?

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:44 am

MBA.Aspirant: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 401; Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 1:14 amFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 37 times

by MBA.Aspirant » Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:52 am

yes

amy266: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 1; Joined: Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:42 pm

by amy266 » Wed Nov 27, 2013 5:49 pm

Can you post the solution for the same.

Uva@90: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 489; Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:30 amFollowed by: 5 members; Location: Chennai, India; Thanked: 83 times

by Uva@90 » Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:16 pm

amy266 wrote:Can you post the solution for the same.

Hi Amy266,
We can understand from question that,
Minimum GPA required for applying scholarship is 3.5
There are 5 courses, out of which his four grades are,
A- A- B+ B, corresponding values are 3.7 3.7 3.3 3

We need to find the 5 grade so has to eligible for applying scholarship, let it be X

(2*3.7 + 3.3 + 3 + X) / 5 = 3.5 Solve for X

X = 3.8

Hence he need to Score Grade A to qualify for scholarship.

Answer is A

Regards,
Uva.

Known is a drop Unknown is an Ocean

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10391; 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 Nov 28, 2013 12:30 am

Hi All,

Uva@90 has posted the straight-forward "average formula" solution, which is absolutely correct. As an alternative, here's a way to solve this problem without using the average formula:

The five "grades" are 3.7, 3.7, 3.3, 3.0 and X

To get an overall average of 3.5 or higher, we can "balance out" the values that we have to figure out what the 5th value must be:

3.7 (.2 above)
3.7 (.2 above)
3.3 (.2 below)
3.0 (.5 below)

With these 4 values, 3.7 and 3.3 are the same "distance" away from the 3.5; the other 3.7 doesn't offset the 3.0 "enough" (the net effect is still .3 below); the X value has to be high enough above 3.5 to "make up for" the .3 below. The X would have to be at least 3.8…

The only Grade that accomplishes that is an A Grade

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

Contact Rich at [email protected]

Mathsbuddy: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 447; Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:25 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 25 times

by Mathsbuddy » Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:02 am

A-, A-, B+, B, x (minimum) = 3.7 + 3.7 + 3.3 + 3 + x >= 5 * 3.5

So 13.7 + x >= 17.5

x >= 3.8 = Grade A

Answer A

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 53 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 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