BTGModeratorVI wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 12:38 pm
In a kickball competition of 9 teams, how many possible matches can each team play with each other?
(A) 9
(B) 16
(C) 24
(D) 36
(E) 54
Answer:
D
Source: GMAT Pill
A DIFFERENT approach
If each of the
9 teams plays every team, then each team plays
8 games (since a team can't play itself)
So, the total number of games = (
9)(
8) = 72
From here we need to recognize that each game has been COUNTED TWICE.
For example, if Team A and Team B play a game, then Team A counts it as a game, and Team B ALSO counts it as a game.
So, to account for the DUPLICATION, we'll divide 72 by 2 to get 36
Answer: D
Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
