Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and equations ensures a solution.


Malik's recipe for 4 sercings of a certain dish requires 3/2 cups of pasta. According to this recipe, what is the number of cups of pasta that Malik will use the next time he prepares this dish?
1) The next time he prepares this dish, Malik will make half as many servings as he did the last time he prepared the dish
2) Malik used 6 cups of pasta the last time he prepared this dish

In the original condition there are 2 variables (dish from last time:x, dish for next tme:y) and thus we need 2 equations to match the number of variables and equations. Since there is 1 each in 1) and 2), C is likely the answer.

Using both 1) & 2) together, y=x/2 and the number of dish: number of pasta=1:3/2=2:3, therefore 2:3=x:6, 3x=12, x=4 and y=4/2=2. Therefore the conditions are sufficient. The answer is C.

If you know our own innovative logics to find the answer, you don't need to actually solve the problem.
www.mathrevolution.com
- The one-and-only World's First Variable Approach for DS and IVY Approach for PS that allow anyone to easily solve GMAT math questions.

- The easy-to-use solutions. Math skills are totally irrelevant. Forget conventional ways of solving math questions.

- The most effective time management for GMAT math to date allowing you to solve 37 questions with 10 minutes to spare

- Hitting a score of 45 is very easy and points and 49-51 is also doable.

- Unlimited Access to over 120 free video lessons at https://www.mathrevolution.com/gmat/lesson

- Our advertising video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Fki3_2vO8

[email protected] wrote:Hi anant03,

There's an aspect to this question that many Test Takers mis-handle: In this type of question, a "recipe" is just a set of cooking instructions - it does NOT tell you how many servings a person actually chose to make. In this way, answering this DS question is more about logical thinking than about math 'skills.'

According to this recipe, we're told that 4 servings requires 1.5 cups of pasta, but we DO NOT know how many servings Malik made (or chooses to make). We're asked how much pasta Malik will need the NEXT TIME he prepares the dish.

Fact 1 refers to "half" the servings he made the last time, but we don't know how many servings he made last time. Maybe he made 4 servings, maybe he made 8 or 12 or 16, etc. so Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT. Fact 2 is also INSUFFICIENT. Combined though, we know how many servings Malik made "last time" and that he will make half as much as the next time.

Final Answer: C

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

Dear Rich,
I really find hard times to understand the question.

I did the follows:

Given recipe: 4 servings with 3/2 cups. It means one serving need 3/8 cup. Then the question says "According to the recipe" So I understand it as guidance.

Statement 1: The next time he prepare this dish, Malik will make half as many servings as he did the last time he prepared the dish.
We know nothing about last time. Insufficient

Statement 2: Malik used 6 cups of pasta the last time he prepared this dish.
Here I sued the recipe as the question referred to it, when said 'according the recipe". So here my work.
If 1 serving need 3/8 cup so 6 cups means 16 servings. However, I do not know how many will be served NEXT TIME. Insufficient

Combine 1 & 2
Next time serving = 1/2 Last time = 8
'to make 8 servings, we need 3 cups.

Is that solution above correct, I understood from you explanation to ignore the recipe given in the stem?

Thanks in advance