32. The telephone company wants to add an area code composed of 2 letters to every phone number. In order to do so, the company chose a special sign language containing 124 different signs. If the company used 122 of the signs fully and two remained unused, how many additional area codes can be created if the company uses all 124 signs?
(a) 246
(b) 248
(c) 492
(d) 15,128
(e) 30,256
Will post OA later
Advance Combination
This topic has expert replies
- vineetbatra
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 355
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:42 pm
- Thanked: 2 times
- Followed by:1 members
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:33 am
- Thanked: 35 times
hey Vineet!
I assume that the code can consist of 2 similar sings (AA, BB)
We know that 2 signs are unused.
1) 2 signs can be themselves 2!=2 codes, plus 2 (AA and BB), 4 overall.
2)
(a)With 2 unused signs we have 2 different first signs and 2 latter ones ( 2*2=4).
(b)We have another 122 signs to be the first or the second sign of the code. Combined with (a) we have 4*122 possibilities.
So, 122*4+4=492.
I think the answer is C.
I assume that the code can consist of 2 similar sings (AA, BB)
We know that 2 signs are unused.
1) 2 signs can be themselves 2!=2 codes, plus 2 (AA and BB), 4 overall.
2)
(a)With 2 unused signs we have 2 different first signs and 2 latter ones ( 2*2=4).
(b)We have another 122 signs to be the first or the second sign of the code. Combined with (a) we have 4*122 possibilities.
So, 122*4+4=492.
I think the answer is C.
- carllecat
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:13 pm
- Location: Canada
- Thanked: 3 times
- GMAT Score:590
I don't know if my reasoning is good and maybe someone can tell...vineetbatra wrote:32. The telephone company wants to add an area code composed of 2 letters to every phone number. In order to do so, the company chose a special sign language containing 124 different signs. If the company used 122 of the signs fully and two remained unused, how many additional area codes can be created if the company uses all 124 signs?
(a) 246
(b) 248
(c) 492
(d) 15,128
(e) 30,256
Will post OA later
According to me, this is a Permutation type problem, because the order is important. Therefore, you want to find the difference between P124 - P122, which means:
124 CODES: 124P/(124-2)P = 124*123 = 15252 possible permutations.
122 CODES: 122P/(122-2)P = 122*121 = 14762 possible permutations.
THE DIFFERENCE 124P - 122P = 15252 - 14762 = 490 (any reason why I am off by 2?)
My answer would be C
Any thoughts?
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
- Followed by:1268 members
- GMAT Score:770
I'll assume that we can use the same sign twice (since my answer matches one of the ones offered)vineetbatra wrote:32. The telephone company wants to add an area code composed of 2 letters to every phone number. In order to do so, the company chose a special sign language containing 124 different signs. If the company used 122 of the signs fully and two remained unused, how many additional area codes can be created if the company uses all 124 signs?
(a) 246
(b) 248
(c) 492
(d) 15,128
(e) 30,256
Will post OA later
Each code consists of a first sign and a second sign.
With 124 signs, we have 124 options for the first sign and 124 options for the second sign for a total of 124^2 different codes.
With 122 signs, we have 122 options for the first sign and 122 options for the second sign for a total of 122^2 different codes.
The question essentially asks for the difference 124^2 - 122^2
The quick calculation here is to recognize that we have a difference of squares. So,
124^2 - 122^2 = (124+122)(124-122)
=246x2
= 492 = C
- vineetbatra
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 355
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:42 pm
- Thanked: 2 times
- Followed by:1 members
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Scott@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 7247
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Thanked: 43 times
- Followed by:29 members
The 124 different signs can generate a total of 124 x 124 different 2-letter area codes. The 122 different signs can generate a total of 122 x 122 different 2-letter area codes. The difference between using 124 signs and 122 signs is:vineetbatra wrote:32. The telephone company wants to add an area code composed of 2 letters to every phone number. In order to do so, the company chose a special sign language containing 124 different signs. If the company used 122 of the signs fully and two remained unused, how many additional area codes can be created if the company uses all 124 signs?
(a) 246
(b) 248
(c) 492
(d) 15,128
(e) 30,256
124^2 - 122^2 = (124 - 122)(124 + 122) = 2 x 246 = 492
Answer: C
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]
See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews