In a certain lottery drawing, two balls are selected at random from a container with 100 balls, numbered from 1 to 100, inclusive. If the winner of the lottery is awarded a cash prize in the amount of $1,000 times the product of the numbers on the two selected balls, which of the following is a possible amount of the cash prize given to the winner?
(A) $9.85 x 10^6
(B) $9.90 x 10^6
(C) $1.00 x 10^7
(D) $1.05 x 10^7
(E) $9.90 x 10^7
The OA is the option B.
How can I determine the which one is the correct answer without knowing the balls selected? Experts, can you give me some help, please?
I'd be thankful. <i class="em em-grinning"></i>
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
In a certain lottery drawing, two balls are selected at
This topic has expert replies
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
[email protected]
- Elite Legendary Member
- Posts: 10392
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Thanked: 2867 times
- Followed by:511 members
- GMAT Score:800
Hi M7MBA,
We're told that in a certain lottery drawing, two balls are selected at random from a container with 100 balls, numbered from 1 to 100, inclusive and the winner of the lottery is awarded a cash prize in the amount of $1,000 times the PRODUCT of the numbers on the two selected balls. We're asked which of the following is a POSSIBLE amount of the cash prize given to the winner.
Since there are so many possible totals, we can't reasonably calculate them all - so we should use the answer choices to help us 'narrow' down what the two numbers could be. Notice that two of the answer choices start with 9.9.... so let's see what happens if make the two numbers 1 and 99.
IF... the numbers are 1 and 99, then the prize would be (1)(99)($1,000) = $99,000
In Scientific Notation, that would be 9.9 x 10^4
This result looks similar to a couple of the possibilities, but it's too small. Let's see how much BIGGER we can make it.
IF... the numbers are 100 and 99, then the prize would be (100)(99)($1,000) = $9,900,000
In Scientific Notation, that would be 9.9 x 10^6
That is an exact match for Answer B, so that MUST be the answer.
Final Answer: B
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
We're told that in a certain lottery drawing, two balls are selected at random from a container with 100 balls, numbered from 1 to 100, inclusive and the winner of the lottery is awarded a cash prize in the amount of $1,000 times the PRODUCT of the numbers on the two selected balls. We're asked which of the following is a POSSIBLE amount of the cash prize given to the winner.
Since there are so many possible totals, we can't reasonably calculate them all - so we should use the answer choices to help us 'narrow' down what the two numbers could be. Notice that two of the answer choices start with 9.9.... so let's see what happens if make the two numbers 1 and 99.
IF... the numbers are 1 and 99, then the prize would be (1)(99)($1,000) = $99,000
In Scientific Notation, that would be 9.9 x 10^4
This result looks similar to a couple of the possibilities, but it's too small. Let's see how much BIGGER we can make it.
IF... the numbers are 100 and 99, then the prize would be (100)(99)($1,000) = $9,900,000
In Scientific Notation, that would be 9.9 x 10^6
That is an exact match for Answer B, so that MUST be the answer.
Final Answer: B
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
GMAT/MBA Expert
-
Scott@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 7243
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Thanked: 43 times
- Followed by:29 members
The smallest possible prize is:M7MBA wrote:In a certain lottery drawing, two balls are selected at random from a container with 100 balls, numbered from 1 to 100, inclusive. If the winner of the lottery is awarded a cash prize in the amount of $1,000 times the product of the numbers on the two selected balls, which of the following is a possible amount of the cash prize given to the winner?
(A) $9.85 x 10^6
(B) $9.90 x 10^6
(C) $1.00 x 10^7
(D) $1.05 x 10^7
(E) $9.90 x 10^7
1,000 x 1 x 2 = 2,000
The largest possible prize is:
1,000 x 100 x 99 = 99 x 100,000 = 99 x 10^5 = 9.9 x 10^6
Answer: B
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]
See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews
