Ages

[GmatKiss]

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthdays today. Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women today?

· 51
· 52
· 53
· 54
· 55

[GMATGuruNY]

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthdays today. Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women today?

· 51
· 52
· 53
· 54
· 55

Always look at the answer choices.
52/4 = 13.
Thus, the average age must be around 13.

Let J=13.
Then, according to the conditions given, K=15, L=12, and M=14.
Sum = 13+15+12+14 = 54.

The correct answer is D.

[heymayank08]

mitch i didnt understand the
52/4 step of yours...
cn u pls explain...

[darontan]

from the question, we know that the age is integer

J=K-2
K=L+3
M=J+1

Sum = J+K+L+M = (K-2) + K + (K-3) + ((K-2)+1) = 4K-6

From the answer choices, K is integer only when Sum is 54 (D)
4K-6=54, K=15

[Anurag@Gurome]

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthdays today. Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women today?

· 51
· 52
· 53
· 54
· 55

Say, age of Kylie is n years.
Age of Joan is (n - 2) years
Age of Lilian is (n - 3) years
Age of Miriam is (n - 1) years

Hence, total age = (4n - 6) years

Hence, the total age must be 6 less than an integer multiple of 4, that is 2 less than an integer multiple of 4. Only such option is 54.

Hence, the correct answer is D.

[GMATGuruNY]

mitch i didnt understand the
52/4 step of yours...
cn u pls explain...

The answers choices -- which represent the sum of the 4 ages -- are all around 52.
The problem describes 4 ages that seem relatively close to each other.
Thus, the average age must be close to 52/4 = 13.