When I was attempting the test. I couldn't get the question at all. May be anxiety level or something, I spent 4-5 minutes on this question.

Same happened with me as well. This is not a clearly worded question. It should mentioned that the suit in both the cases is same. Once it is known, this question would take hardly a minute to solve. I think, to make this problem difficult, the MGMAT's deliberately worded it in an obscure way.
Even I thought how to relate the two suites, thinking that they are different.

hey_thr67 wrote:The Italian size of a suit jacket is N centimeters, where N is the linear distance between the armpits when the jacket is laid on a flat surface. The American size of a suit jacket is P inches, where P is twice the linear distance between the armpits when the jacket is laid on a flat surface. If, for a particular jacket, N = P + 10, which of the following is closest to the value of N? (One inch is approximately 2.54 centimeters.)

A: 36
B: 47
C: 58
D: 65
E: 72

OA is B

N = A (distance between armpits in cm)
P = 2(A/2.54) = A/1.27 = N/1.27

N = P + 10
N = N/1.27 + 10
N - N/1.27 = 10
N(0.27/1.27) = 10
N = 12.7/0.27
N = 12.7*(<4)
N is a little less than 50.8

Choose B

Cheers

The Italian size of a suit jacket is N centimeters, where N is the linear distance between the armpits. The American size of a suit jacket is 2.5P centimeters, where 2.5P is twice the linear distance between the armpits. If, for a particular jacket, N = P + 10, which of the following is closest to the value of N?

A. 36
B. 47
C. 58
D. 65
E. 72

An alternate approach is to plug in the answers, which represent the linear distance.
When the correct answer choice is plugged in, N-P ≈ 10.

Answer choice C: 58
Since 2.5P is equal to twice the linear distance, we get:
(5/2)P = 2*58
P = (2*2)(58)/5) = 4 * (11.6) = 46.4.
Here, N-P = 58 - 46.4 ≈ 12.

Answer choice B: 47
Since 2.5P is equal to twice the linear distance, we get:
(5/2)P = 2*47
P = (2*2)(47/5) = 4 * (9.4) = 37.6.
Here, N-P = 47 - 37.6 ≈ 10.

Since the difference in B is closer to 10 than is the difference in C, eliminate C.
Notice the TREND:
The smaller the answer choice, the smaller the difference between N and P.
Thus, the correct answer cannot be D or E.
Eliminate D and E.

Answer choice A: 36
Since 2.5P is equal to twice the linear distance, we get:
(5/2)P = 2*36
P = (2*2)(36)/5) = 4 * (7.2) = 28.8.
Here, N-P = 36 - 28.8 ≈ 7.
Since the difference in B is closer to 10 than is the difference in A, eliminate A.

The correct answer is B.