integers values

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

Redeem

This topic has expert replies

Post new topic Post Reply

Previous Topic Next Topic

ketkoag: Legendary Member; Posts: 876; Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:14 am; Thanked: 13 times

integers values

by ketkoag » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:04 am

If x and y are positive integers, and x<y, which of the following could be the value of (x/x+y)*10+(y/x+y)*20?
(a) 10
(b) 14
(c) 16
(d) 21
(e) 30

OA : 10

Quote

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:04 am

ASS1991: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 8; Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:20 am; Location: Berlin

by ASS1991 » Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:30 pm

Sry, I get answer (c), hope you find my error.

(x/x+y)*10+(y/x+y)*20
=10*((x+y)/(x+y) + (y/x+y))
=10 + (y/x+y)*10

=> 15<10 + (y/x+y)*10<20

=> Answer (c) 16.

Thanks,
Antoni

Quote

GMAT/MBA Expert

Ian Stewart: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2623; Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 am; Location: Montreal; Thanked: 1090 times; Followed by:355 members; GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Wed Jul 22, 2009 4:04 am

It's definitely C. The equation is just that of a weighted average (group x has an average of 10, group y has an average of 20, and we're combining them). The combined average must therefore be between 10 and 20, and if y is greater than x, it must be between 15 and 20. Of course you can also work that out algebraically.

I'm curious about the source of the question. It is identical in every respect to Q148 in the PS section of OG12, except that some of the answer choices have been changed. Is it a prep company question?

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