BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

130-point score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Race problem

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 167
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:58 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 2 times
by zagcollins » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:32 am
For a certain race, 3 teams were allowed to enter 3 members each. A team earned 6 – n points whenever one of its members finished in nth place, where 1 ≤ n ≤ 5. There were no ties, disqualifications, or withdrawals. If no team earned more than 6 points, what is the least possible score a team could have earned?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. 4
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2623
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 amFollowed by: 355 members
Location: Montreal
Thanked: 1090 times
GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:51 am
The top five finishers get 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points, respectively. That is, 15 points are awarded in total. To find the least points one team could get, we want the other teams to get the maximum possible, which is 6. If both the other teams get 6 points, the remaining team could get 3 points. We should do a quick check to make sure that the teams actually can get 6, 6, and 3 points: and indeed they can, if one gets 5+1, one gets 4+2, and the other gets 3.
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 167
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:58 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 2 times

by zagcollins » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:07 am
thanks, Ian...great explanation!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1153
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:21 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 146 times

Re: Race problem

by parallel_chase » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:32 am
zagcollins wrote:For a certain race, 3 teams were allowed to enter 3 members each. A team earned 6 – n points whenever one of its members finished in nth place, where 1 ≤ n ≤ 5. There were no ties, disqualifications, or withdrawals. If no team earned more than 6 points, what is the least possible score a team could have earned?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. 4
Answer D.

To find the minimum number of points a team could score, every teammate from that team should come last i.e. 5th since there is no disqualification or withdrawals.

6-5 + 6-5 + 6-5 = 3

Correct me if I am missing any part or strategy.

Thanks
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2623
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 amFollowed by: 355 members
Location: Montreal
Thanked: 1090 times
GMAT Score:780

Re: Race problem

by Ian Stewart » Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:21 pm
parallel_chase wrote:
To find the minimum number of points a team could score, every teammate from that team should come last i.e. 5th since there is no disqualification or withdrawals.
No, the question says there are no ties. You can't have three people finishing 5th- only one person can finish 5th.
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 829
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:09 pmFollowed by: 3 members
Location: INDIA
Thanked: 84 times

by sudhir3127 » Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:20 pm
Isn't a tie from a team perspective rather than team mates..?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 106
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:09 pm
Thanked: 3 times

by ksh » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:57 pm
I can further simplify Ian's argument as:

given n is from1 through 5. assume the following table:
If a member finishes 1st,2nd,3rd... he scores
6-1=5 points
6-2=4
6-3=3
6-4=2
6-5=1

Also, there is no tie and no two players score same. assigning maximum 6 points to two teams i.e. (5+1) and (4+2) only 3 remains
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:32 am

A simple way... is this correct though?

by dasp16 » Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:44 am
If there are no ties or anything the possible minimum score would be if 1 team come in last all the time :

team A
Place
(6-5) =1 point
(6-4) = 2 points
(6-3) = 3 points total 6 points

so the least possible place to get the six points required is 3

As I see it any combination will give a quantity higher than 6
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 319
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:32 amFollowed by: 9 members
Location: Delhi
Thanked: 84 times

by sureshbala » Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:38 am
The top 5 performers of the race will get 5,4,3,2 and 1 points respectively. If we can give away all these 15 points to two teams (since there are only 5 members and 2 teams contain 6 members) so one team will get 0 points.

But it is given that a team can get a maximum of 6 points. So we can give only 6+6 =12 points to 2 teams and hence the remaining 3 points must be given to the left over team. In fact we can give 6 points each to 2 teams by giving 5+1 and 4+2 . Hence the left over 3 points were scored by the third team.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:06 am

Re: Race problem

by Caroline Lee » Sun May 03, 2009 12:32 am
zagcollins wrote:For a certain race, 3 teams were allowed to enter 3 members each. A team earned 6 – n points whenever one of its members finished in nth place, where 1 ≤ n ≤ 5. There were no ties, disqualifications, or withdrawals. If no team earned more than 6 points, what is the least possible score a team could have earned?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. 4
It appears to me that the question should be corrected to: what is the least point(s) score a team could have earned?
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. ----Russell
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1