A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas for $0.50 each. If a customer purchased both apples and bananas for a total of $6.30, what number of apples and bananas did the customer purchase.

A)10
B)11
C)12
D)13
E)14

Here's an approach where we test the POSSIBLE SCENARIOS.

FACT #1: (total cost of apples) + (total cost of bananas) = 630 CENTS
FACT #2: total cost of bananas is DIVISIBLE by 50, since each banana costs 50 cents.

Now let's start testing POSSIBLE scenarios.

Customer buys 1 apple.
1 apple costs 70 cents, which means the remaining 560 cents was spent on bananas.
Since 560 is NOT divisible by 50, this scenario is IMPOSSIBLE

Customer buys 2 apples.
2 apple costs 140 cents, which means the remaining 490 cents was spent on bananas.
Since 490 is NOT divisible by 50, this scenario is IMPOSSIBLE

Customer buys 3 apples.
3 apple costs 210 cents, which means the remaining 520 cents was spent on bananas.
Since 520 is NOT divisible by 50, this scenario is IMPOSSIBLE

Customer buys 4 apples.
4 apple costs 280 cents, which means the remaining 350 cents was spent on bananas.
Since 350 IS divisible by 50, this scenario is POSSIBLE
350 cents buys 7 bananas.
So, the customer buys 4 apples and 7 bananas for a total of 11 pieces of fruit

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent

A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas for $0.50 each. If a customer purchased both apples and bananas for a total of $6.30, what number of apples and bananas did the customer purchase.

A)10
B)11
C)12
D)13
E)14

I should mention that we can't really solve this question using regular algebra.
If we let A = total cost of apples (in cents),
and let B = total cost of bananas (in cents),
we get the equation 70A + 50B = 630

In high school we learned that, if we're given 1 equation with 2 variables, we cannot find the value of either variable. However, if we restrict the variables to POSITIVE INTEGERS, then there are times when we can find the value of a variable if we're given 1 equation with 2 variables.

Here's a similar question from the Official Guide: https://www.beatthegmat.com/og-13-132-t117594.html

Cheers,
Brent