Jaime earned enough money by selling seashells at 25 cents each to buy several used paperback books at 55 cents each...

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GMAT Paper Tests

Jaime earned enough money by selling seashells at 25 cents each to buy several used paperback books at 55 cents each. If he spent all the money he earned selling seashells to buy the books, what is the least number of seashells he could have sold?

A. 5
B. 11
C. 17
D. 25
E. 30

OA B

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GMAT Paper Tests

Jaime earned enough money by selling seashells at 25 cents each to buy several used paperback books at 55 cents each. If he spent all the money he earned selling seashells to buy the books, what is the least number of seashells he could have sold?

A. 5
B. 11
C. 17
D. 25
E. 30

OA B

Solution:

Since Jaime spent all the money he earned selling seashells to buy the books (assuming he had no money left over), the least number of seashells he could have sold must occur when the money he earned, in cents, is the least common multiple (LCM) of 25 and 55. Since the LCM of 25 and 55 is 5 x 5 x 11 = 275, the least number of seashells he could have sold is 275/25 = 11.

Answer: B