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

Redeem

Trucks & Cars problem

Expert replies
by karthikpandian19 » Tue Nov 08, 2011 6:43 pm
A total of "n" trucks and cars are parked in a lot. If the number of cars is 1/4 the number of trucks, and 2/3 of the trucks are pickups, how many pickups, in terms of "n", are parked in the lot?

1. 1/6 n
2. 5/12 n
3. 1/2 n
4. 8/15 n
5. 11/12 n
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |

by GMATGuruNY » Tue Nov 08, 2011 7:27 pm
karthikpandian19 wrote:A total of "n" trucks and cars are parked in a lot. If the number of cars is 1/4 the number of trucks, and 2/3 of the trucks are pickups, how many pickups, in terms of "n", are parked in the lot?

1. 1/6 n
2. 5/12 n
3. 1/2 n
4. 8/15 n
5. 11/12 n
Let trucks = 12.
Then cars = (1/4)*12 = 3.
Thus, the total number of trucks and cars = n = 12+3 = 15.
Pickups = (2/3)*12 = 8. This is our target.

New we plug n=15 into the answers to see which yields our target of 8.

Only answer choice D works:
(8/15)*15 = 8.

The correct answer is D.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Join the discussion

by Anurag@Gurome » Tue Nov 08, 2011 7:32 pm
karthikpandian19 wrote:A total of "n" trucks and cars are parked in a lot. If the number of cars is 1/4 the number of trucks, and 2/3 of the trucks are pickups, how many pickups, in terms of "n", are parked in the lot?

1. 1/6 n
2. 5/12 n
3. 1/2 n
4. 8/15 n
5. 11/12 n
Let trucks = t
cars = c
t + c = n
c = t/4 implies n = 5t/4 or t = 4n/5
2t/3 are pick ups in terms of n
No. of pick ups parked in the lot = (2/3) * (4n/5) = 8n/15

The correct answer is 4.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/
Join the discussion

by Jeff@TargetTestPrep » Mon Jan 08, 2018 10:47 am
karthikpandian19 wrote:A total of "n" trucks and cars are parked in a lot. If the number of cars is 1/4 the number of trucks, and 2/3 of the trucks are pickups, how many pickups, in terms of "n", are parked in the lot?

A. 1/6 n
B. 5/12 n
C. 1/2 n
D. 8/15 n
E. 11/12 n
We can let the number of cars = c and number of trucks = t; thus:

c + t = n

and

c = (1/4)t

Thus:

(1/4)t + t = n

t + 4t = 4n

5t = 4n

t = 4n/5

Since 2/3 of the trucks are pickups, there are (2/3)(4n/5) = 8n/15 pickups in the parking lot.

Answer: D

Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews
Join the discussion

by [email protected] » Mon Jan 08, 2018 11:19 am
Hi All,

We're told that a TOTAL of N trucks and cars are parked in a lot, the number of cars is 1/4 the number of trucks and 2/3 of the trucks are pickups. We're asked for the number PICKUPS, in terms of N, that are parked in the lot. This question can be solved by TESTing VALUES. While the obvious variable is N, there are actually 3 variables (including the number of cars and the number of trucks), so we won't necessarily start with choosing a value for N...

The two fractions in the question that refer to TRUCKS are 1/4 and 2/3. The common denominator of those two fractions is 12, so let's start by setting the number of trucks equal to 12 and then calculate the values of everything else...

IF.... there are 12 TRUCKS
Pickups = (2/3)(12) = 8
Cars = (1/4)(12) = 3
Total vehicles = N = 12+3 = 15

So we're looking for an answer that equals 8 when N=15. There's only one answer that matches...

Final Answer: D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Join the discussion