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Manager
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I think I'm tired because I'm having a hard time [#permalink]
 08 Nov 2005, 22:27
I think I'm tired because I'm having a hard time interpreting what exactly "as many" means here:
At a certain college there are twice as many english majors as history majors, and 3 times as many english majors as math majors. What is the ration of the number of history majors to the number of math majors?
1. 6 to 1
2. 3 to 2
3. 2 to 3
4. 1 to 5
5. 1 to 6
Could you make up numbers when explaining yourself? That would help. Thanks!
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Director
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H=2E
M=3E
Asked H/M = 2/3 (C)
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Manager
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I would think that it is B.
English: E
Math: M
History: H
E:H = 2:1 = 6:3
E:M = 3:1 = 6: 2
Therefore, H:M = 3:2
answer B?
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Manager
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yes, OA is B
I was doing exactly what the first poster did. any tips for help in this? If there are 4 english majors- does that mean there are 2 history majors or 8 history majors?
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Director
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Jennif102 wrote: yes, OA is B
I was doing exactly what the first poster did. any tips for help in this? If there are 4 english majors- does that mean there are 2 history majors or 8 history majors?
Maybe, I am tired too!! 
Long day's work --> see this question --> think it is too easy to be true --> fall right in to the trap 
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Manager
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if there are 4 english majors, then there should be 2 history majors.
The way i approach this type of questions is first to understand it verbally...
The question says " twice as many english majors as history majors"...
that tells me there are more english majors than history.
Then I estalish the ratio. Giving the bigger portion to english...
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Director
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To correct my boo-boo -
E=2H
E=3M
Asked H/M = 3/2 (B)
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GMAT Club Legend
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Denote English Major with E, History Majors with H and Maths Majors with M
What the question simply says is:
E:H = 2:1
E:M = 3:1
What is the ratio of H:M?
We can write the ratio as H:E:M = 3:6:2
So H:M = 3:2 (B)
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Current Student
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Same approach as gsr`s corrected version.
Twice as many English majors as history majors: E=2H
Three times as many math majors as English majors: E=3M
2H=3M
H/M=3/2
Choose B.
The biggest hurdle with this problem is translating the English to Algebra.
It is worded rather tricky.
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Current Student
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Re: Ratio question that's driving me nuts! [#permalink]
09 Nov 2005, 12:22
Jennif102 wrote: I think I'm tired because I'm having a hard time interpreting what exactly "as many" means here:
At a certain college there are twice as many english majors as history majors, and 3 times as many english majors as math majors. What is the ration of the number of history majors to the number of math majors?
1. 6 to 1
2. 3 to 2
3. 2 to 3
4. 1 to 5
5. 1 to 6
Could you make up numbers when explaining yourself? That would help. Thanks!
Twice as many english majors as history majors means that there are more E than H with the equation being E = 2H
Similarly E = 3M
It follows that 2H = 3M
or H/M = 3/2
(B)
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Re: Ratio question that's driving me nuts!
[#permalink]
09 Nov 2005, 12:22
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close
