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A straight pipe 1 yard

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
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A straight pipe 1 yard

by bpgen » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:47 pm
A straight pipe 1 yard in length was marked off in
fourths and also in thirds. If the pipe was then cut into
separate pieces at each of these markings, which of
the following gives all the different lengths of the
pieces, in fractions of a yard?
(A)1/6 and 1/4 only
(B)1/4 and 1/3 only
(C)1/6 ,1/4 and 1/3
(D)1/12 ,1/6, and 1/4
(E)1/12,1/6, and 1/3

OA D
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by kstv » Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:31 pm
The pipe is of lenght 1 yard
It is marked off in 1/4 and 1/3 parts
If there are 3 and 4 involved and it is being subdivided best approach is to take the length at 12units
This 12 equal units = 1 yard
Imagine Pipe marked 1 to 12.
Mark at the fourths i.e 1--------------3 --------------6------------9-----------------12
Mark it the thirds i.e 1------------------4-------------------8----------------------12
Biggest Part will be between 1 to 3 or 3/12 = 1/4
Smallest Part will be between 3 to 4 or 1/12
Only D qualifies. For 1/6 the Part has to be 2 units the one between 6 to 8
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by arora007 » Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:00 am
a video from khan's academy
https://video.answers.com/learn-for-the- ... 2-99168419

at 6min 40 seconds.
talks about symmetry from half way point....makes sense!!
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by GoGmat89 » Fri May 20, 2016 10:35 am
HI! That link doesn't work anymore. Are there any tricks to solving these kinds of problems quickly? Thanks!
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by [email protected] » Fri May 20, 2016 3:39 pm
HI Gogmat89,

There's a discussion of this question here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/help-t270274.html

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri May 20, 2016 4:28 pm
A straight pipe 1 yard in length was marked off in fourths and also in thirds. If the pipe was then cut into separate pieces at each of these markings, which of the following gives all the different lengths of the pieces, in fractions of a yard?

(A)1/6 and 1/4 only
(B)1/4 and 1/3 only
(C)1/6 ,1/4 and 1/3
(D)1/12 ,1/6, and 1/4
(E)1/12, 1/6, and 1/3
Let's use a common denominator of 12 for all markings.

Marking off fourths means marks at 3/12, 6/12 and 9/12
Marking off thirds means marks at 4/12 and 8/12

So, COMBINED, the marks are at 3/12, 4/12, 6/12, 8/12 and 9/12
After making the 5 cuts at those marks, the SIX RESULTING pieces have the following lengths:
3/12, 1/12, 2/12, 2/12, 1/12 and 3/12

Simplify to get: 1/4, 1/12, 1/6, 1/6, 1/12 and 1/4

Answer: D

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by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu May 26, 2016 2:13 pm
If we mark at thirds, we've got 1/3 and 2/3.

If we mark at fourths, we've got 1/4, 2/4, and 3/4.

When we cut the pipe, our pieces will be

0 to 1/4

1/4 to 1/3

1/3 to 2/4

etc.

Those first three have lengths (1/4 - 0), (1/3 - 1/4), and (1/2 - 1/3), or 1/4, 1/6, and 1/12, so we're done: the answer must be D.
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