Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal : GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS)
Check GMAT Club Decision Tracker for the Latest School Decision Releases http://gmatclub.com/AppTrack

 It is currently 17 Jan 2017, 16:20

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

Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal

Author Message
TAGS:

Hide Tags

Manager
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 178
Followers: 5

Kudos [?]: 2318 [0], given: 0

Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

14 Dec 2012, 07:36
14
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

65% (01:52) correct 35% (01:04) wrong based on 768 sessions

HideShow timer Statistics

Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal?

(1) The sum of all the numbers in the list is 60.
(2) The sum of any 3 numbers in the list is 12.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36540
Followers: 7072

Kudos [?]: 93032 [4] , given: 10541

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

14 Dec 2012, 07:38
4
KUDOS
Expert's post
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal?

(1) The sum of all the numbers in the list is 60. Clearly insufficient.

(2) The sum of any 3 numbers in the list is 12. Since the sum of ANY 3 numbers is 12 then ALL numbers must equal to 12/3=4, because if not all the numbers equal to 4, then we could pick certain set of 3 numbers so that their sum is not 12. Sufficient.

_________________
Manager
Joined: 26 Jul 2011
Posts: 126
Location: India
WE: Marketing (Manufacturing)
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 109 [0], given: 15

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

14 Dec 2012, 07:47
because if not all the numbers equal to 4, then we could pick certain set of 3 numbers so that their sum is not 12. Sufficient...

I didnt get this part bunuel can you please explain this ??
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36540
Followers: 7072

Kudos [?]: 93032 [0], given: 10541

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

14 Dec 2012, 07:51
ratinarace wrote:
because if not all the numbers equal to 4, then we could pick certain set of 3 numbers so that their sum is not 12. Sufficient...

I didnt get this part bunuel can you please explain this ??

Ask yourself, if not ALL numbers are 4, can the sum of ANY 3 numbers in the list be 12?
_________________
Manager
Joined: 05 Jan 2011
Posts: 60
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 120 [0], given: 7

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

23 Dec 2012, 05:54
Bunuel wrote:
ratinarace wrote:
because if not all the numbers equal to 4, then we could pick certain set of 3 numbers so that their sum is not 12. Sufficient...

I didnt get this part bunuel can you please explain this ??

Ask yourself, if not ALL numbers are 4, can the sum of ANY 3 numbers in the list be 12?

Bunnel - Cant we hypothesize that there are only three elements such as :{10,1,1} ,(2,8,2}...
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36540
Followers: 7072

Kudos [?]: 93032 [1] , given: 10541

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

23 Dec 2012, 05:57
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
vishu1414 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
ratinarace wrote:
because if not all the numbers equal to 4, then we could pick certain set of 3 numbers so that their sum is not 12. Sufficient...

I didnt get this part bunuel can you please explain this ??

Ask yourself, if not ALL numbers are 4, can the sum of ANY 3 numbers in the list be 12?

Bunnel - Cant we hypothesize that there are only three elements such as :{10,1,1} ,(2,8,2}...

Stem says: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal?

So, we know that there are 15 elements in the set.
_________________
Intern
Joined: 08 Nov 2012
Posts: 3
Followers: 0

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

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

26 Dec 2012, 01:44
Dear Bunnel,

I still can't understand. Would you please explain more about "list of 15 numbers"?
1. Why can't we hypothesize that there are only three elements such as :{10,1,1} ,(2,8,2}... , and the remaining elements such as {4,4,5,5,6,7......}
2. If the three elements must be 4, why the remaining elements have to be equal as well?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36540
Followers: 7072

Kudos [?]: 93032 [3] , given: 10541

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

26 Dec 2012, 02:14
3
KUDOS
Expert's post
violachiang wrote:
Dear Bunnel,

I still can't understand. Would you please explain more about "list of 15 numbers"?
1. Why can't we hypothesize that there are only three elements such as :{10,1,1} ,(2,8,2}... , and the remaining elements such as {4,4,5,5,6,7......}
2. If the three elements must be 4, why the remaining elements have to be equal as well?

What are you hypothesizing about? We are told that there are 15 elements. Ask yourself, if the set is {10, 1, 1, 2, 8, 2, ...}, is the sum of ANY 3 numbers in the set 12? No! 10+2+8=18.

Also, from (2) we have that ALL elements must be 4, not just 3 of them.
_________________
Intern
Joined: 08 Nov 2012
Posts: 3
Followers: 0

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

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

26 Dec 2012, 02:34
I finally understand what's my problem!
I didn't understand the sentence 2 clearly. It is "The sum of any 3 numbers in the list is 12. "
Thanks a lot, Bunnel!
Manager
Joined: 25 Jul 2012
Posts: 78
Location: United States
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 89 [0], given: 137

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

29 Apr 2013, 08:32
Reducing shortcut:

After reading the question stem and noting that this is question is about lists/statistics, note that on all the numbers in the question stem are a multiples of 3. So reduce down and re-word the question:

"Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 5 numbers equal?" 15/3 = 5

1) "The sum of all the numbers in the list is 20" 60/3 = 20

Easily insufficient, as there are many ways to add up to 20.

If you wanna test numbers:

Our list:
_ _ _ _ _ = 20
4 4 4 4 4 = 20 yes, all numbers are equal
4 4 4 5 1 = 20 no, all numbers are not equal

2) "The sum of any 1 number in the list is 4?" 3/3 = 1 12/3 = 4

Sufficient, it should become apparent to you that all the numbers are now equal:

Our list: 4 4 4 4 4 = 20

How to get this:

Average = Sum/# of terms
4 = Sum/5
20 = Sum
"Any 1" number is 4
---------------
_________________

If my post has contributed to your learning or teaching in any way, feel free to hit the kudos button ^_^

GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 13430
Followers: 575

Kudos [?]: 163 [0], given: 0

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

02 May 2014, 10:11
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________
Senior Manager
Joined: 29 Oct 2013
Posts: 297
Concentration: Finance
GMAT 1: 750 Q V46
GPA: 3.7
WE: Corporate Finance (Retail Banking)
Followers: 14

Kudos [?]: 377 [0], given: 197

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

29 May 2014, 07:45
Hi Bunuel,
Even if st2 was "sum of any two number is 12", it would be still be sufficient, right?
Thanks!
_________________

My journey V46 and 750 -> http://gmatclub.com/forum/my-journey-to-46-on-verbal-750overall-171722.html#p1367876

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 36540
Followers: 7072

Kudos [?]: 93032 [1] , given: 10541

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

29 May 2014, 07:54
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
MensaNumber wrote:
Hi Bunuel,
Even if st2 was "sum of any two number is 12", it would be still be sufficient, right?
Thanks!

_____________
Right.
_________________
Manager
Joined: 25 Jan 2015
Posts: 131
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V41
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 33 [1] , given: 260

Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

14 Apr 2015, 12:57
1
KUDOS
OG explanation for Choice 2 is unnecessarily complicated, but here is my easy clear explanation:

Choice (2): The sum of any 3 numbers in the list is 12.

OK. Let's name the 15 numbers by letters, a, b, c, d, ...

Consider a, b, and c, three arbitrary numbers from the list; we know from (2) that a + b + c= 12 (I)

Now consider a, b and d; we know from (2) that a + b + d= 12 (II)

From (I) and (II) we have: a + b + c = a+ b + d ---> c=d

We can again consider a + b + d, a + b + e , ... and prove that d=e and hence c = d = e

In the similar way it can be proved that a = b = c = d = e = f = ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suppose in (2) it were said 'The sum of any 4 (or 5, 7, etc.) numbers in the list is y'; then we could similarly prove that every two numbers of the list were equal.
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Posts: 8277
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: 340 Q170 V170
Followers: 379

Kudos [?]: 2457 [1] , given: 163

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink]

Show Tags

14 Apr 2015, 22:13
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
Hi All,

This DS question is really about considering the "possibilities" and making sure that you're thorough with your thinking.

We're told that there is a group of 15 numbers. We're asked if they're all equal. This is a YES/NO question.

Fact 1: The sum of the numbers is 60

IF.....
We have fifteen 4s, then the answer to the question is YES.

IF....
We have ANY OTHER option (e.g. fourteen 3s and one 18), then the answer to the question is NO.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: The sum of ANY 3 numbers in the list is 12.

With THIS information, we know that all the numbers MUST be 4s. Here's why:

With fifteen 4s, we know that selecting ANY 3 of them will give us a sum of 12. If we change EVEN 1 of those numbers to something else though, then there's no way to GUARANTEE that we get a total of 12 from any 3.

For example, if we have fourteen 4s and one 5. It's possible that we could pick 3 numbers and get 4+4+5 = 13, which is NOT a sum of 12. We're told that picking ANY 3 numbers gets us a sum of 12 though, so this serves as proof that no other option exists. Therefore, all fifteen numbers MUST be 4s and the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES.
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT

[Reveal] Spoiler:
B

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
_________________

Rich Cohen

Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin

Special Offer: Save $75 + GMAT Club Tests 60-point improvement guarantee www.empowergmat.com/ ***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!*********************** Manager Joined: 25 Jan 2015 Posts: 131 Location: United States GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V41 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 33 [0], given: 260 Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink] Show Tags 15 Apr 2015, 06:42 1 This post was BOOKMARKED EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote: Hi All, This DS question is really about considering the "possibilities" and making sure that you're thorough with your thinking. We're told that there is a group of 15 numbers. We're asked if they're all equal. This is a YES/NO question. Fact 1: The sum of the numbers is 60 IF..... We have fifteen 4s, then the answer to the question is YES. IF.... We have ANY OTHER option (e.g. fourteen 3s and one 18), then the answer to the question is NO. Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT Fact 2: The sum of ANY 3 numbers in the list is 12. With THIS information, we know that all the numbers MUST be 4s. Here's why: With fifteen 4s, we know that selecting ANY 3 of them will give us a sum of 12. If we change EVEN 1 of those numbers to something else though, then there's no way to GUARANTEE that we get a total of 12 from any 3. For example, if we have fourteen 4s and one 5. It's possible that we could pick 3 numbers and get 4+4+5 = 13, which is NOT a sum of 12. We're told that picking ANY 3 numbers gets us a sum of 12 though, so this serves as proof that no other option exists. Therefore, all fifteen numbers MUST be 4s and the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES. Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT Final Answer: [Reveal] Spoiler: B GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich In analyzing the fact 2, while you have provided some intuition, but this cannot be indeed called a proof, a formal one. The proof is, however, much easier than what you have explained: For every x and y of this list, consider two other numbers from the list (let's name these latter two by a, b): We know from fact 2 that: x + a + b= 12 (I) and y + a + b=12 (II) From (I) and (II) we have : x = y This means that any two arbitrarily chosen numbers of the list are equal, meaning that all the numbers are equal. Senior Manager Joined: 29 Oct 2013 Posts: 297 Concentration: Finance GMAT 1: 750 Q V46 GPA: 3.7 WE: Corporate Finance (Retail Banking) Followers: 14 Kudos [?]: 377 [0], given: 197 Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink] Show Tags 26 Nov 2015, 13:06 Bunuel, In fact st2 could have been sum of any 2,3,4,....14 is equal to a certain number and still would have been enough, right? _________________ Please contact me for super inexpensive quality private tutoring My journey V46 and 750 -> http://gmatclub.com/forum/my-journey-to-46-on-verbal-750overall-171722.html#p1367876 EMPOWERgmat Instructor Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat Joined: 19 Dec 2014 Posts: 8277 Location: United States (CA) GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49 GRE 1: 340 Q170 V170 Followers: 379 Kudos [?]: 2457 [1] , given: 163 Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal [#permalink] Show Tags 26 Nov 2015, 15:23 1 This post received KUDOS Expert's post Hi MensaNumber, To fit all of the 'design elements' of the question, Fact 2 could have been written in a number of different 'versions': For example... The sum of ANY 2 numbers in the list is 8. The sum of ANY 4 numbers in the list is 16. The sum of ANY 5 numbers in the list is 20. The sum of ANY 6 numbers in the list is 24. Etc. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Rich Cohen Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin Special Offer: Save$75 + GMAT Club Tests

60-point improvement guarantee
www.empowergmat.com/

***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!***********************

Re: Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal   [#permalink] 26 Nov 2015, 15:23
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers 4 27 Jul 2011, 08:02
Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers equal 2 15 Apr 2011, 19:09
6 Are all the numbers in a certain list of 20 numbers equal? 12 28 Nov 2009, 22:08
5 Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers 14 26 Nov 2009, 11:28
9 Are all of the numbers in a certain list of 15 numbers 9 17 Jul 2009, 23:52
Display posts from previous: Sort by