Number of men???

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:06 am

Number of men???

by mitaliisrani » Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:50 am
A fort of 80 men has food for 45 days. 15 days later reinforcements arrive leaving the number of days the food would last to 20 days. What was the strength of the reinforcement?
A) 60men
B) 50men
C) 40 men
D) 45men
OA is C

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 659
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:12 am
Thanked: 32 times
Followed by:3 members

by Gurpinder » Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:49 am
Thats a very awkward question.

Whats the source?
"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
- Alfred A. Montapert, Philosopher.

Legendary Member
Posts: 809
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:10 pm
Thanked: 50 times
Followed by:4 members

by akhpad » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:00 am
Total food available for 45 days
reinforcements arrive after 15 days -> remaining 30 days

Now food lasted in 20 days instead of 30 days

10 days reduced because of reinforcements

Let x be the strength of reinforcements

x * 20 = 80 * 10

x = 40 men

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 422
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:47 am
Thanked: 22 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:680

by beatthegmatinsept » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:18 am
akhp77 wrote:Total food available for 45 days
reinforcements arrive after 15 days -> remaining 30 days

Now food lasted in 20 days instead of 30 days

10 days reduced because of reinforcements

Let x be the strength of reinforcements

x * 20 = 80 * 10

x = 40 men
Where are you getting the 80 * 10 from? I mean the 10 from?
Being defeated is often only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.

Legendary Member
Posts: 809
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:10 pm
Thanked: 50 times
Followed by:4 members

by akhpad » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:26 am
beatthegmatinsept wrote:
akhp77 wrote:Total food available for 45 days
reinforcements arrive after 15 days -> remaining 30 days

Now food lasted in 20 days instead of 30 days

10 days reduced because of reinforcements

Let x be the strength of reinforcements

x * 20 = 80 * 10

x = 40 men
Where are you getting the 80 * 10 from? I mean the 10 from?
No of men initially = 80

Weak Method
80*45 = 80*15 + (80+X) * 20
Last edited by akhpad on Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 659
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:12 am
Thanked: 32 times
Followed by:3 members

by Gurpinder » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:30 am
and wheres the 80 from buddy?

thanks
"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
- Alfred A. Montapert, Philosopher.

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 422
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:47 am
Thanked: 22 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:680

by beatthegmatinsept » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:36 am
Gurpinder wrote:and wheres the 80 from buddy?

thanks
I think 80 is the initial number of men.
Being defeated is often only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.

Legendary Member
Posts: 809
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:10 pm
Thanked: 50 times
Followed by:4 members

by akhpad » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:37 am
Gurpinder wrote:and wheres the 80 from buddy?

thanks
See above my post

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 422
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:47 am
Thanked: 22 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:680

by beatthegmatinsept » Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:40 am
akhp77 wrote:
Gurpinder wrote:and wheres the 80 from buddy?

thanks
See above my post
Makes sense.. Thanks :)
Being defeated is often only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 7:33 am
Thanked: 1 times

by thirst4edu » Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:47 am
akhp77 wrote:Total food available for 45 days
reinforcements arrive after 15 days -> remaining 30 days

Now food lasted in 20 days instead of 30 days

10 days reduced because of reinforcements

Let x be the strength of reinforcements

x * 20 = 80 * 10

x = 40 men
Awesome technique, but took long time to understand.. :)
I am sure I cannot come up with such shortcut in less than 2 mins..
Though I solved it with slightly different approach, if it helps somebody..

15 days over, so 45-15=30 days left
80 men 30 days of food

80 men in 30 days, have total food of 2400,
which x+80 men completed in 20 days
20*(x+80) = 2400
x+80=120
x=120-80=40
"Learning never exhausts the mind."
--Leonardo da Vinci