Problem Solving

Source: GMAT Prep

A grocer stacked oranges in a pile. The bottom layer was rectangular with 3 rows of 5 oranges each. In the second layer from the bottom, each orange rested on 4 oranges from the bottom layer, and in the third layer, each orange rested on 4 oranges from the second layer. Which of the following is the maximum number of oranges that could have been in the third layer?

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

The OA is C

BTGmoderatorLU wrote:Source: GMAT Prep

A grocer stacked oranges in a pile. The bottom layer was rectangular with 3 rows of 5 oranges each. In the second layer from the bottom, each orange rested on 4 oranges from the bottom layer, and in the third layer, each orange rested on 4 oranges from the second layer. Which of the following is the maximum number of oranges that could have been in the third layer?

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

$$? = \# \,\,\max \,\,{\rm{oranges}}\,\,{\rm{in}}\,\,{\rm{top}}\,\,{\rm{layer}}$$



$${\rm{? = 3}}\,\,\left( {{\rm{blue}}\,\,{\rm{in}}\,\,{\rm{figure}}\,\,{\rm{above}}} \right)$$

This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.