If x = a, y = 2b, z = 3c, and x : y : z = 1 : 2 : 3, then (x + y + z)/(a + b + c)

[BTGModeratorVI]

If x = a, y = 2b, z = 3c, and x : y : z = 1 : 2 : 3, then (x + y + z)/(a + b + c) =

(A) 1/3
(B) 1/2
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 6

Answer: C
Source: Nova

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

If x = a, y = 2b, z = 3c, and x : y : z = 1 : 2 : 3, then (x + y + z)/(a + b + c) =

(A) 1/3
(B) 1/2
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 6

Answer: C
Source: Nova

One approach is to find values for a, b, c, x, y and z that satisfy the given information.

GIVEN: x : y : z = 1 : 2 : 3
So, it COULD be the case that x = 1, y = 2 and z = 3

GIVEN: x = a, y = 2b, z = 3c
If x = 1, then a = 1
If y = 2, we can say that 2 = 2b, which means b = 1
If z = 3, we can say that 3 = 3c, which means c = 1

So, (x + y + z)/(a + b + c) = (1 + 2 + 3)/(1 + 1 + 1)
= 6/3
= 2

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent

[gentvenus]

If x = 1, y = 2, z = 3
(x + y + z)/(a + b + c)
= 6/3
= 2

C