Gmat_mission wrote:Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While both packed, Pam packed 60% of the boxes. After Pam stopped, Stanley packed the same number of boxes that he had packed while working with Pam. What is the ratio of the number of boxes Pam packed to the number of boxes Stanley packed?

A. 1 to 4
B. 1 to 3
C. 3 to 5
D. 3 to 4
E. 3 to 2

We can solve this question by finding values that satisfy the given conditions.

Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While both packed, Pam packed 60% of the boxes.
Let's say that, during this time, Pam and Stanley packed a TOTAL of 10 boxes.
Since Pam packed 60% of the boxes, we can conclude that Pam packed 6 boxes and Stanley packed the remaining 4 boxes

After Pam stopped, Stanley packed the same number of boxes that he had packed while working with Pam.
This means that Stanley packed another 4 boxes after Pam stopped.
So the total number of boxes that Stanley packed = 4 + 4 = 8

What is the ratio of the number of boxes Pam packed to the number of boxes Stanley packed?
Pam packed 6 boxes
Stanley packed 8 boxes

The ratio is 6 to 8
Simplify to get: 3 to 4

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent

Hi Gmat_mission,

We're told that Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While BOTH packed, Pam packed 60% of the boxes. After Pam STOPPED, Stanley packed the SAME number of boxes that he had packed while working with Pam. We're asked for the ratio of the number of boxes Pam packed to the number of boxes Stanley packed. Since this is a ratio question, it can be solved in a number of different ways, including by TESTing VALUES.

Since we're dealing with percents, it's often easy to use the number 100...

IF.... when working together, there were 100 boxes packed...
Pam packed 60% of 100 = 60 boxes
Stanley packed 100 - 60 = 40 boxes

Then Pam stopped and Stanley packed another 40 boxes, so his total becomes 40 + 40 = 80 boxes.

The final ratio of Pam's boxes to Stanley's boxes is 60:80 = 3:4

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich