Stores & apples:

[ash g]

Guys,
A question that I came across in MGMAT2. Is the wording difficult to interpret or do you guys find it easier ? If you do get it, can you please explain this. I have the MGMAT explanation but dont really understand that. Also please do let me know your views on the wording.
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Susie can buy apples from two stores: a supermarket that sells apples only in bundles of 4, and a convenience store that sells single, unbundled apples. If Susie wants to ensure that the total number of apples she buys is a multiple of 5, what is the minimum number of apples she must buy from the convenience store?

0/1/2/3/4
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Ans: 0

Thanks in advance,
ash

[xilef]

well, she has 2 options - bundle of 4 from SM or bundle of 1 from Conv. Store.

Multiples of 5 are - 5,10,15,20...and so on, so Susie wants the number of apples she buys to equal to one of these. Basically how many bundles of 4 and how many bundles of 1 she needs so the total num of apples is equal to one of those numbers, but we also care to get as less apples as possible from the conv. store, because the question asks for minimum number of apples from the convenience store. We have 5 choices, 0,1,2,3,4, since we are looking for the minimum, let's see if we can get away with the smallest- 0. Yes we can, if we get 5 bundles of 4 from the SM we get 20 apples, which is a multiple of 5 and we didn't have to get any apples from the conv. store. Solution 0.

[ash g]

Sorry, dont really agree with that explanation.
well, she has 2 options - bundle of 4 from SM or bundle of 1 from Conv. Store.

The question doesnt say "or".

Also dont agree with MGMAT explanation as the solution has changed the question. How have they changed to ensure in the question to can be in the explanation.
If this is the correct explanation, then the convenience store portion in the question is absolutely useless.

Anyways, are such questions GMAT questions. Is the wording similar to GMAT ?
-------------------------MGMAT explanation----------------------------
Since the supermarket sells apples in bundles of 4, we can represent the number of apples that Susie buys from the supermarket as 4x, where x can be any integer ≥ 0. If the number of apples that Susie buys from the convenience store is simply y, the total number of apples she buys is (4x + y). We are asked to find the smallest possible value of y such that (4x + y) can be a multiple of 5.

We can solve this problem by testing numbers. Since the question asks us what is the minimum value for y such that (4x + y) can be a multiple of 5, it makes sense to begin by testing the smallest of the given answer choices. If y=0, can (4x + y) be a multiple of 5? Yes, because x could equal 5. (The value of (4(5) + 0) is 20, which is a multiple of 5.)

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[xilef]

it's OR because 'Susie can buy apples from two stores', can not has to, meaning she has an option to buy from both or either one.

...such that (4x + y) can be a multiple of 5, I think you are reading too much into it.

[ash g]

Thanks xilef. I agree, I might be reading just a bit (tiny miny bit) more into the question.
But the thing is, this is a 700-800 question. And the solution to this 700-800 question has got to do more than whether 4 divides a multiple of 5.

700-800 questions are tough because they test difficult concepts [2] simple concepts hidden in tough but sensible wording.

Just my view, that some questions on MGMAT are made tough by making interpretation difficult (and should rather be on Verbal section).

Anyways, thanks for your replies.
Me ponder whether I continue with MGMAT

ta,
Ash

[xilef]

Agree, I think GMAT questions are specifically designed and worded in a way to test your logic and concentration. The good thing is that the more problems you do, the better your brain gets at interpreting them.

[HarvardDreamin]

Agree, I think GMAT questions are specifically designed and worded in a way to test your logic and concentration. The good thing is that the more problems you do, the better your brain gets at interpreting them.

The answer is definitely 0 but the question is phrased quite ambiguously. However, Most MGMAT questions ive had have been relatively decent.

[Edthesock]

I went with 0 at first... I was thinking, "this bitch could buy 20 apples, and that would do it, but who buys that many apples at once? 4 and 1 makes more sense, but I guess she doesn't HAVE to buy that one apple from the convenience store".

Kind of a weird question.

[abcdefg]

Hmmm. This is confusing me alot.

The OA is 0 but how can that be the case?

Susie can buy apples from two stores: a supermarket that sells apples only in bundles of 4, and a convenience store that sells single, unbundled apples. If Susie wants to ensure that the total number of apples she buys is a multiple of 5, what is the minimum number of apples she must buy from the convenience store?


I understood this question as saying: What is the minimum number that Susie has to buy from the convenience store so that NO MATTER how many apples she buys from the supermarket, the total number of apples would be a multiple of 5.

[wanttobeat]

Hmmm. This is confusing me alot.

The OA is 0 but how can that be the case?

Susie can buy apples from two stores: a supermarket that sells apples only in bundles of 4, and a convenience store that sells single, unbundled apples. If Susie wants to ensure that the total number of apples she buys is a multiple of 5, what is the minimum number of apples she must buy from the convenience store?


I understood this question as saying: What is the minimum number that Susie has to buy from the convenience store so that NO MATTER how many apples she buys from the supermarket, the total number of apples would be a multiple of 5.

I agree with you. Can anyone answer please?

[ghacker]

The question asks for the minimum

So the minimum will be 0

[ghacker]

This is not a good question