Rectangular blocks

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pareekbharat86: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 168; Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:43 pm; Thanked: 1 times

by pareekbharat86 » Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:02 pm

What is the maximum number of rectangular blocks, each with dimensions 12 centimeters by 6 centimeters by 4 centimeters, that will fit inside rectangular box X?
(1) When box X is filled with the blocks and rests on a certain side, there are 25 blocks in the bottom layer.
(2) The inside dimensions of box X are 60 centimeters by 30 centimeters by 20 centimeters.

OA is B.

I got this one right, but I am not too sure if my method was correct.

Thanks,
Bharat.

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:02 pm

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by [email protected] » Sun Dec 08, 2013 11:27 am

Hi Bharat,

This DS question is more about logic than about math. We're given the dimensions of the blocks (12x6x4) and we're asked how many of these blocks would fit in a certain box. Since the dimensions have common multiples (12, 24, 36, etc.), we'll need to know a lot of specific info to answer this question.

Fact 1: 25 blocks fit in the bottom layer of the box.

We have no information on the dimensions of the bottom layer, if the blocks are in 1 row or 5 rows, the height of the box, etc.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: The dimensions of the box are 60x30x20

With the dimensions of the box, we can absolutely figure out how many blocks can fit.
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT

Final Answer: B

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

Contact Rich at [email protected]

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Mathsbuddy: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 447; Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:25 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 25 times

by Mathsbuddy » Sun Dec 08, 2013 6:41 pm

The actual sizes bear no influence over whether the clues are sufficient or insufficient in this case.
Statement 1: has no restriction on height, so insufficient.
Statement 2: provides all the dimensions required to solve it, so sufficient.

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