Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

 It is currently 31 Jul 2015, 03:45

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils,

Author Message
TAGS:
Director
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
Posts: 904
Schools: IIM Lucknow (IPMX) - Class of 2014
Followers: 18

Kudos [?]: 343 [1] , given: 18

A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, [#permalink]  04 Jul 2009, 20:43
1
KUDOS
4
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

85% (hard)

Question Stats:

41% (01:29) correct 59% (00:41) wrong based on 89 sessions
A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, and pads among the staff in the department, with each staff member receiving x pens, y pencils, and z pads. How many staff members were in the department?

(1) The numbers of pens, pencils, and pads that each staff member received were in the ratio 2:3:4, respectively.
(2) The manager distributed a total of 18 pens, 27 pencils, and 36 pads.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: a-department-manager-distributed-a-number-of-pens-pencils-104852.html
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
 Kaplan Promo Code Knewton GMAT Discount Codes GMAT Pill GMAT Discount Codes
Current Student
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 372
Location: India
Followers: 19

Kudos [?]: 87 [0], given: 1

C
Q stem gives n(ax+by+cz)
A gives n(2x+3y+4z)
B gives 18x+27y+36z

Compare with q stem you will get the answer.
Director
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
Posts: 904
Schools: IIM Lucknow (IPMX) - Class of 2014
Followers: 18

Kudos [?]: 343 [0], given: 18

Even I got C.
But OA is E. I wonder why ?
Manager
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 50
Location: Moscow
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 13 [0], given: 8

Pens: 18 = 2 x 3 x 3
Pencils: 27 = 3 x 3 x 3
Pads: 36 = 4 x 3 x 3
Then, number of staff members: 3 or 3x3=9
Manager
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
Posts: 246
Schools: Ross
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 43 [0], given: 10

I don't understand whether the answer is C or E. If it is C, then it is a straightforward question. If it is E, Could someone elaborate..
_________________

Keep trying no matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.

Senior Manager
Joined: 04 Jun 2008
Posts: 303
Followers: 5

Kudos [?]: 116 [4] , given: 15

4
KUDOS
vannu wrote:
I don't understand whether the answer is C or E. If it is C, then it is a straightforward question. If it is E, Could someone elaborate..

To know the number of people, simply knowing the ratio of division is not enough. Both the statements only provide the ratio of distribution.

combine them and check, the ratio will remain 2:3:4

either there can be 3 people, each getting 6, 9 and 12
or there can be 9 people, each getting 2, 3, and 4

in both cases, both statements 1 and 2 are being satisfied. You don't get a unique answer.
Intern
Joined: 07 Feb 2013
Posts: 14
GMAT 1: 650 Q48 V32
GMAT 2: 730 Q49 V41
WE: Engineering (Other)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 13 [0], given: 9

Re: A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, [#permalink]  19 Jun 2013, 19:26
Going by someone's earlier equation :
Stmt 1: x:y:z=2a:3a:4a => equation above becomes =n*9a -cant find n, neither do we know a- insufficient
Stmt 2: x+y+z=81, above equations is =n*(81) - insufficient
Both : n*81=n*9a =>a=9 , so the equation becomes 9n, still cant find n . Ans E
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 28781
Followers: 4592

Kudos [?]: 47376 [0], given: 7123

Re: A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, [#permalink]  20 Jun 2013, 00:38
Expert's post
Economist wrote:
A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, and pads among the staff in the department, with each staff member receiving x pens, y pencils, and z pads. How many staff members were in the department?

(1) The numbers of pens, pencils, and pads that each staff member received were in the ratio 2:3:4, respectively.
(2) The manager distributed a total of 18 pens, 27 pencils, and 36 pads.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: a-department-manager-distributed-a-number-of-pens-pencils-104852.html

ALL OG 13 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS ARE HERE: the-official-guide-quantitative-question-directory-143450.html

_________________
Re: A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils,   [#permalink] 20 Jun 2013, 00:38
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
2 Mike's pencil box contains 30 pens. 15 of the pens are red, and all of 2 24 May 2015, 04:47
2 A pencil costs $3 and a pen costs$7. If pens and pencils 2 16 Aug 2013, 07:36
4 Sam spent a total of \$6.00 on pens and pencils. How many pen 3 01 May 2013, 00:59
43 A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils 20 14 Nov 2010, 23:54
1 A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, 11 20 Jun 2007, 18:30
Display posts from previous: Sort by