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# A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas  Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews Important topics Author Message TAGS: Senior Manager Joined: 30 Nov 2008 Posts: 492 Schools: Fuqua Followers: 10 Kudos [?]: 184 [1] , given: 15 A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  30 Mar 2009, 19:16
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A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas for$0.50 each. If a customer purchased both apples and bananas from the stand for a total of $6.30, what total number of apples and bananas did the customer purchase? (A) 10 (B) 11 (C) 12 (D) 13 (E) 14 OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: a-certain-fruit-stand-sold-apples-for-0-70-each-and-bananas-140732.html [Reveal] Spoiler: OA Last edited by Bunuel on 22 Aug 2014, 09:42, edited 1 time in total. Edited the question and added the OA.  Kaplan GMAT Prep Discount Codes Knewton GMAT Discount Codes GMAT Pill GMAT Discount Codes Director Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 903 Schools: IIM Lucknow (IPMX) - Class of 2014 Followers: 18 Kudos [?]: 364 [0], given: 18 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  30 Mar 2009, 20:34
B. 11?
I got the answer somehow:) Someone can show a proper way.
0.7*a + 0.50*b = 6.30.

I listed the multiples of 7 and 5. After adding the last two digits of these two multiples the sum should have 3 as the last digit. so only 7*4 = 28 and some other multiple of 5 ( 8+5 = 13 , last digit 3 => for 6.30 ) is possible. So 4 apples are fixed
Hence, we get 4 + 7 = 11.

mrsmarthi wrote:
A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas for$0.50 each. If a customer purchased both apples and bananas from the stand for a total of $6.30, what total number of apples and bananas did the customer purchase? a) 10 b) 11 c) 12 d) 13 e) 14. Director Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Posts: 652 Followers: 9 Kudos [?]: 284 [0], given: 6 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  30 Mar 2009, 22:58
7x+5y = 63...I

I did back calculation after that
first x+y = 12 ... II

I find that C is too low so chose B and got the answer
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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 31 Mar 2009, 13:56 B This is how I approached it..The first thing I noticed is that 6.3 is a multiple of 0.7 so if the customer bought all apples he or she would get 9 of them. Then I listed the multiples of 0.7 like below...I just listed the multiple of 7 up to 63. Now I looked at the difference for each multiple and the last multiple where the difference is a multiple of 5 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 The only place that happens is for 28 where 63 - 28 = 35 which is a multiple of 5, hence 28 contributes for apples and 35 contributes for bananas leading to 4 apples (28/7) and 7 bananas (35/5) to a total of 11. Senior Manager Joined: 30 Nov 2008 Posts: 492 Schools: Fuqua Followers: 10 Kudos [?]: 184 [0], given: 15 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  31 Mar 2009, 15:49
Yes. OA is B.

Here is another approach of mine.

It is given, 0.7A + 0.5B = 6.3 ==> 7A + 5B = 63. The question asked is "what is the value of A + B? "

From the above equation we can derive, 5(A+B) + 2A = 63

==> A+B = (63-2A) / 5. This means A + B is nothing but the a multiple of 5 when some multiple of 2 is deducted from 63.

We also know that A can be at the max 8. (Considering atleast one banana).

Now I guessed what are the possible values of A where 63-2A is divisible by 5. And A results in 4. Once we know A, we can find A+B.
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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 19 Aug 2010, 13:06 is there any other esiest or short way to solve the problem? _________________ Collections:- PSof OG solved by GC members: http://gmatclub.com/forum/collection-ps-with-solution-from-gmatclub-110005.html DS of OG solved by GC members: http://gmatclub.com/forum/collection-ds-with-solution-from-gmatclub-110004.html 100 GMAT PREP Quantitative collection http://gmatclub.com/forum/gmat-prep-problem-collections-114358.html Collections of work/rate problems with solutions http://gmatclub.com/forum/collections-of-work-rate-problem-with-solutions-118919.html Mixture problems in a file with best solutions: http://gmatclub.com/forum/mixture-problems-with-best-and-easy-solutions-all-together-124644.html GRE Forum Moderator Affiliations: PMP certified, IT professional Joined: 21 Jun 2010 Posts: 217 Location: USA Schools: CMU, Kelley Followers: 8 Kudos [?]: 106 [2] , given: 2 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  20 Aug 2010, 09:37
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0.7a+0.5b = 6.3

7a+5b= 63

Now we know that the unit's place of b has to be 5 or 0 (since it is a multiple of 5).
So, 7*a has to have a unit's place of 8 or 3 to get a total sum of 63

One possibility is a=9, b=0
But since the questions states that he bought BOTH, and since 9 is not in answer choice, this is ruled out.

The next possibility is trying to find a multiple of 7 that has unit's place = 8 ; 28
a=4
7*4 = 28
28 + 5*7 = 63

So, a = 4, b = 7 ; a+b=11
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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 20 Aug 2010, 10:17 First you see this problem you should guess that from 50 and 70 you need to get something that ends with 80 and 50 and first numbers that come to hat are 350 and 280 therefore 4*70 and 7*50 B GMAT Tutor Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 1180 Followers: 321 Kudos [?]: 1016 [1] , given: 4 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  21 Aug 2010, 12:41
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You can use divisibility properties here to get to the answer. The idea is this: if you see an equation like the following, and you know that r and s are positive integers:

5r = 7s

this means that 5r and 7s are exactly the same number, so they must of course have the same divisors. So, since 7 is a divisor of 7s, it must also be a divisor of 5r, and therefore of r. Similarly s must be divisible by 5. That is, when you have equations involving only integers, the primes which divide the left side of the equation must divide the right, and vice versa.

So onto this question. We know:

0.7a + 0.5b = 6.3
5b = 63 - 7a

and since 7 is a factor of the right side of this equation, it must be a factor of the left, so b must be a multiple of 7. Since b is greater than 0, and b cannot be 14 (then the total cost would be greater than $6.30), b must be 7, from which we can find that a is 4. _________________ GMAT Tutor in Toronto If you are looking for online GMAT math tutoring, or if you are interested in buying my advanced Quant books and problem sets, please contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com Intern Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Posts: 38 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 1 [0], given: 7 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  27 Sep 2010, 10:50
This is a stupid question, but why is this not solvable by algebra? When you do the algebra you get a non integer number. I understand, two variables and one equation means you cant solve, but we are looking for a+b so when you remove the numbers next to a and b, you have a final value a+b=x.
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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 27 Sep 2010, 14:49 I solved by back tracking: Main Equation: 7a + 5b = 63 To find: a + b. As per the answers: if a+ b >12 ... then the main equation is not satisfied (i.e if a + b = 13 then 5(a + b) = 65 ... which is greater than 63 and hance impossible ) So the answer is 10, 11 or 12. Now similarly using 10 or 11 the answer is in fraction which cannot be the case( as we are dealing with whole fruits ) ... hence answer is 11 or B _________________ Please give me kudos, if you like the above post. Thanks. Manager Status: GMAT Preperation Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 105 Concentration: Social Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship GPA: 3 WE: Consulting (Insurance) Followers: 2 Kudos [?]: 56 [2] , given: 15 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  29 Oct 2010, 22:55
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hI ALL,

this is one of the first good questions i encountered.. here is what i did:

7a + 5b = 63
2a+5a+5b=63
2a+5(a+b)=63
i started substituting the answer choices
lets start wit 12
2a+5(12)=63 => 2a=3 .. a has to be an integer.. so no
2a+5(11)=63 => 2a=8 => a = 4 good.. but still need to check 13
2a+5(10)=63 => 2a=13 .. a has to be an integer.. so no
2a+5(13)=63 => 2a=-2 ==> a had to be +ve .. so no good

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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 03 Nov 2010, 12:08 Hi all I can't understand MGMAT's OG guide answer for this one... 1st question: why can't you exchange apples with bananas 1 for 1 until you get the right answer? 2nd question: They're banging on about 5 apples having the same value as 7 bananas, then taking 5 apples away from the 'partial solution ~(i.e. when A = 9 and B = 0) and adding 7 bananas... Why would you do that? It makes no sense to me... If you set the vlaue of the apples = bananas you get them both equalling$3.50 in value which equals $7 between both of them... which is clearly over$63 ...

this is really doing my head in!

thanks
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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 03 Nov 2010, 19:17 Expert's post n2739178 wrote: Hi all I can't understand MGMAT's OG guide answer for this one... 1st question: why can't you exchange apples with bananas 1 for 1 until you get the right answer? 2nd question: They're banging on about 5 apples having the same value as 7 bananas, then taking 5 apples away from the 'partial solution ~(i.e. when A = 9 and B = 0) and adding 7 bananas... Why would you do that? It makes no sense to me... If you set the vlaue of the apples = bananas you get them both equalling$3.50 in value which equals $7 between both of them... which is clearly over$63 ...

this is really doing my head in!

thanks

I do not know what exactly your book says but I am guessing this is how they have solved it:

7a + 5b = 63
Such equations have infinite solutions. We can get a single solution under particular constraints. (Will explain this later)
One thing we notice right away is that one solution to this problem is a = 9 and b = 0 because 63 is divisible by 7.
7a + 5b = 63
a = 9, b = 0
a = 4, b = 7 (To get this solution, subtract 5, co-efficient of b, from a above and add 7, co-efficient of a, to b above)
a = -1, b = 14 (Again, do the same to the solution above)
a = 13, b = -7 (You will also get solutions when you add 5 to a of any other solution and subtract 7 from b of the same solution)
Hence there are infinite solutions.
Here the constraints are that a and b should not be negative. Also, they should not be 0 since he buys at least 1 apple and at least 1 banana. Only 1 solution satisfies these constraints so answer is a = 4 and b =7.
Why this works is because when you reduce a by 5, the reduction in 7a is offset by the increase in 5b when you increase b by 7. Let this suffice for now. This is the theory of Integral solutions to equations in two variables. I will explain you the complete theory soon.
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 5870 Location: Pune, India Followers: 1485 Kudos [?]: 8016 [1] , given: 190 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  04 Nov 2010, 07:04
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n2739178 wrote:

this is really doing my head in!

I have put up this theory on this link:
http://gmatquant.blogspot.com/2010/11/integral-solutions-of-ax-by-c.html

See if it makes sense now.
If there are doubts, get back to me on my blog itself or here...
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Senior Manager Joined: 11 May 2010 Posts: 288 Location: United Kingdom Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Technology GMAT Date: 10-22-2011 GPA: 3 WE: Information Technology (Internet and New Media) Followers: 4 Kudos [?]: 36 [0], given: 12 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  04 Nov 2010, 14:04
great thanks Karishma!
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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 24 May 2011, 11:09 Hm. I like others, was hoping there was a "faster" way of doing this problem. Seems like at a minimum it would take about 2 mins to 2:30 to crunch those numbers. Thanks for the insight! Director Joined: 01 Feb 2011 Posts: 759 Followers: 14 Kudos [?]: 75 [0], given: 42 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  24 May 2011, 16:16
There are several ways to solve these kind of problems . You can try this approach

5B = 63-7A

=> B = $$(7*(9-A))/5$$

=> 9-A must be a multiple of 5
=> 9-A can be 0 , 5 ,10 , 15...

=> A-9 will be 0, -5, -10,-15...respectively

=> A will be 9, 4, -1, -6.... respectively

=> As A cannot be -ve , only possible options are 9 or 4

=> If A =9 then B becomes 0 which is not valid here. Hence A=4,B=7

=> A+B =11

humphy wrote:
Hm. I like others, was hoping there was a "faster" way of doing this problem. Seems like at a minimum it would take about 2 mins to 2:30 to crunch those numbers.

Thanks for the insight!
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Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for $0.70 each and bananas [#permalink] 24 May 2011, 17:20 70x + 50y = 630 => 7x + 5y = 63 => 7*4 + 5*7 = 63 So x+y = 7+4 = 11 Answer - B _________________ Formula of Life -> Achievement/Potential = k * Happiness (where k is a constant) GMAT Club Premium Membership - big benefits and savings VP Status: There is always something new !! Affiliations: PMI,QAI Global,eXampleCG Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1356 Followers: 14 Kudos [?]: 178 [0], given: 10 Re: A certain fruit stand sold apples for$0.70 each and bananas [#permalink]  25 May 2011, 01:38
apples = 4 and bananas = 7.
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