Math problem: is there something wrong?

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Math problem: is there something wrong?

by akacharlie » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:03 pm
Hi,
maybe somebody can help me with that one, that was given to me at a gmat prep course. My guess is that none of the answers are correct, maybe I am wrong but at least I'd like to know why:

In a sports league, ten team are divided into two divisions, with five teams playing in each division. If each team much play each other team in its own division exactly three times, and each team not in its division exactly once, how many games will be scheduled for the entire league?

A) 40
B) 55
C) 80
D) 145
E) 265

I personnaly found 85, as well as some other student of the course. One student found 145 (D) but I think some of the games were counted twice.

This is how I have proceeded:

1) count the number of games within one division:

let say that we have teams

A : plays 3 games vs each of B, C, D, E = 12
B : plays 3 games vs each of C, D, E since 3games vs A has already been counted = 9
C : plays 3 games vs D and E (games vs A and B have been counted) = 6
D : plays 3 games vs E = 3
E : has already played 3 games against each other team

total for one division = 12 + 9 + 6 + 3 = 30

=> total for 2 division in terms of intra games = 30 x 2 = 60

2) now lets count inter division games :
each team plays each other exactly once

A plays 5 game as wel as B, C, D, E = 25
We don't need to x2 because the other teams games are counted in those games

Tot = 60 + 25 = 85

Thanks for your help guys

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Re: Math problem: is there something wrong?

by gabriel » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:42 am
akacharlie wrote:...In a sports league, ten team are divided into two divisions, with five teams playing in each division. If each team much play each other team in its own division exactly three times, and each team not in its division exactly once, how many games will be scheduled for the entire league?

A) 40
B) 55
C) 80
D) 145
E) 265

.. in a division the number of matches played is 5c2*3 = 30 ... so the number of matches played within the respective divisions is 30*2 = 60 ..

the number of matches played between the 2 divisions is 5*5 = 25 .. so total number of matches is 60+25 = 85 ...

.. hmmm .. 85 seems right to me too ..