Stock - Number of shares V ------------------- 68 W -------

[BTGmoderatorDC]

Stock - Number of shares
V ------------------- 68
W ----------------- 112
X ------------------- 56
Y ------------------- 94
Z ------------------- 45

The table shows the number of shares of each of the 5 stocks owned by Mr Sami. If Mr Sami was to sell 20 shares of Stock X and buy 24 shares of stock Y, what would be the increase in the range of the numbers of shares of the 5 stocks owned by Mr. Sami?

A 4
B. 6
C. 9
D. 15
E. 20

OA D

Source: GMAT Prep

[GMATGuruNY]

Stock - Number of shares
V ------------------- 68
W ----------------- 112
X ------------------- 56
Y ------------------- 94
Z ------------------- 45

The table shows the number of shares of each of the 5 stocks owned by Mr Sami. If Mr Sami was to sell 20 shares of Stock X and buy 24 shares of stock Y, what would be the increase in the range of the numbers of shares of the 5 stocks owned by Mr. Sami?

A 4
B. 6
C. 9
D. 15
E. 20

Original range = (greatest number of shares) - (smallest number of shares) = 112-45 = 67.

After 24 shares of Y are purchased, new Y = 94+24 = 118.
After 20 shares of X are sold, new X = 56-20 = 36.
New range = (new greatest number of shares) - (new smallest number of shares) = 118-36 = 82.

Increase in the range = (new range) - (original range) = 82-67 = 15.

The correct answer is D.

Faster approach:
The greatest value changes from 112 to 118, increasing the range by 6.
The smallest value changes from 45 to 36, increasing the range by 9.
Total increase in the range = 6+9 = 15.

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Hi All,

"Range" questions come from the broader category of statistics, which will show up a couple of times on the GMAT. The range of a group of numbers is the difference between the largest number and the smallest number.

Based on the original number of shares, the range would be: 112 - 45 = 67

However, the prompt tells us that two of the values in the table are going to change. After the changes, the values will be:

V 68
W 112
X 36
Y 118
Z 45

Now the range is 118 - 36 = 82

The INCREASE in the range requires us to compare the "new" range to the "old" range: 82 - 67 = 15

Final Answer: D

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

[Scott@TargetTestPrep]

Stock - Number of shares
V ------------------- 68
W ----------------- 112
X ------------------- 56
Y ------------------- 94
Z ------------------- 45

The table shows the number of shares of each of the 5 stocks owned by Mr Sami. If Mr Sami was to sell 20 shares of Stock X and buy 24 shares of stock Y, what would be the increase in the range of the numbers of shares of the 5 stocks owned by Mr. Sami?

A 4
B. 6
C. 9
D. 15
E. 20

We recall that the formula for range is:

Range = greatest value - least value

Since the greatest number of shares is 112 and the least number of shares is 45, before selling stock X and buying stock Y, the current range is 112 - 45 = 67.

After 20 shares of stock X are sold and 24 shares of stock Y are purchased, the greatest number of shares is 94 + 24 = 118 and the least number of shares is 56 - 20 = 36. The new range would be118 - 36 = 82. Thus, the increase in the range is 82 - 67 = 15 shares.

Answer: D