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# Steve has 4 pens. The values of the pens are $2,$4, $7, and  Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews Important topics Author Message Manager Joined: 21 Sep 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Schools: Georgetown, UNC, Emory, GeorgiaTech WE 1: Product Engineering WE 2: Logistics & Inventory WE 3: Product Information & Pricing Manager Followers: 2 Kudos [?]: 3 [0], given: 0 Steve has 4 pens. The values of the pens are$2, $4,$7, and [#permalink]  15 Nov 2008, 13:38
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Steve has 4 pens. The values of the pens are $2,$4, $7, and$12. Which of the following could NOT be the total value of any collection of these pens?

$14$16
$17$21
$23 I just can't understand the answer. My answer was D because with four given prices, you can't make 21 dollars. The kaplan answer is.. hoice (A):$14 = $12 +$2. Discard choice (A).

Choice (B): $16 =$12 + $4. Discard choice (B). Choice (C):$17. There does not appear any way to obtain a total of $17. Let's look at the remaining choices to be sure that this choice is the value that cannot be obtained. Choice (D):$21 = $12 +$7 + $2. Discard choice (D). Choice (E):$23 = $12 +$7 + $4. Discard choice (E).Now that all 4 incorrect answer choices have been eliminated, we know that choice (C) must be correct. Am I just not thinking hard enough?  Kaplan GMAT Prep Discount Codes Knewton GMAT Discount Codes Veritas Prep GMAT Discount Codes VP Joined: 05 Jul 2008 Posts: 1431 Followers: 36 Kudos [?]: 271 [0], given: 1 Re: Quantative: Kaplan practice question [#permalink] 15 Nov 2008, 13:57 hwiya320 wrote: Steve has 4 pens. The values of the pens are$2, $4,$7, and $12. Which of the following could NOT be the total value of any collection of these pens?$14
$16$17
$21$23
I just can't understand the answer. My answer was D because with four given prices, you can't make 21 dollars.

hoice (A): $14 =$12 + $2. Discard choice (A). Choice (B):$16 = $12 +$4. Discard choice (B).

Choice (C): $17. There does not appear any way to obtain a total of$17. Let's look at the remaining choices to be sure that this choice is the value that cannot be obtained.

Choice (D): $21 =$12 + $7 +$2. Discard choice (D).

Choice (E): $23 =$12 + $7 +$4. Discard choice (E).Now that all 4 incorrect answer choices have been eliminated, we know that choice (C) must be correct.

Am I just not thinking hard enough?

Please do not post answers and your doubts as they cut into the thoughts of others. You can start asking Q's once others show their approach. Most of the times, such doubts will be addressed in the responses. If not you are more than welcome to have a discussion.

17 can be obtained if steve had 7 + 2 + 4 +4 So discard C

B T W, the way I understood the Q is Steve has to have 4 pens of some value. He just cannot have all the value in 1 pen or 2 pens with value of 3rd and 4th equal to 0.

16 = 4 X 4

12 = 3 X4 + 2

17 = 2 X4 + 2 + 7

21

23 = 12 + 7 + 2 +2

21 remains
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Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 3387
Location: New York City
Schools: Wharton'11 HBS'12
Followers: 14

Kudos [?]: 199 [0], given: 2

Re: Quantative: Kaplan practice question [#permalink]  15 Nov 2008, 17:11
kaplan got it wrong it has to be 21..otherwise the question doesnt make sense if he has 4 pens..
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Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Posts: 2493
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Re: Quantative: Kaplan practice question [#permalink]  15 Nov 2008, 17:37
icandy wrote:
hwiya320 wrote:
Steve has 4 pens. The values of the pens are $2,$4, $7, and$12. Which of the following could NOT be the total value of any collection of these pens?

$14$16
$17$21
$23 I just can't understand the answer. My answer was D because with four given prices, you can't make 21 dollars. The kaplan answer is.. hoice (A):$14 = $12 +$2. Discard choice (A).

Choice (B): $16 =$12 + $4. Discard choice (B). Choice (C):$17. There does not appear any way to obtain a total of $17. Let's look at the remaining choices to be sure that this choice is the value that cannot be obtained. Choice (D):$21 = $12 +$7 + $2. Discard choice (D). Choice (E):$23 = $12 +$7 + $4. Discard choice (E).Now that all 4 incorrect answer choices have been eliminated, we know that choice (C) must be correct. Am I just not thinking hard enough? Please do not post answers and your doubts as they cut into the thoughts of others. You can start asking Q's once others show their approach. Most of the times, such doubts will be addressed in the responses. If not you are more than welcome to have a discussion. 17 can be obtained if steve had 7 + 2 + 4 +4 So discard C B T W, the way I understood the Q is Steve has to have 4 pens of some value. He just cannot have all the value in 1 pen or 2 pens with value of 3rd and 4th equal to 0. 16 = 4 X 4 12 = 3 X4 + 2 17 = 2 X4 + 2 + 7 21 23 = 12 + 7 + 2 +2 21 remains D. 21 is convincing... I was understanding the problem differently as the question is ambigious........ _________________ Manager Joined: 21 Sep 2008 Posts: 78 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Schools: Georgetown, UNC, Emory, GeorgiaTech WE 1: Product Engineering WE 2: Logistics & Inventory WE 3: Product Information & Pricing Manager Followers: 2 Kudos [?]: 3 [0], given: 0 Re: Quantative: Kaplan practice question [#permalink] 16 Nov 2008, 18:48 icandy wrote: Please do not post answers and your doubts as they cut into the thoughts of others. You can start asking Q's once others show their approach. Most of the times, such doubts will be addressed in the responses. If not you are more than welcome to have a discussion. I'll remember to do that next time. I was just so frustrated after getting problems wrong. Manager Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 111 Followers: 1 Kudos [?]: 11 [0], given: 0 Re: Quantative: Kaplan practice question [#permalink] 17 Nov 2008, 01:40 Choice C is correct and the explanation is very clear 17 = 7 + 2 + 4 +4 Steve has 4 pens and these pens have different prices, 2, 4, 7, 12. There are no 2 pens which have the same price$4.

21 = 12 + 7 + 2 <==correct
Re: Quantative: Kaplan practice question   [#permalink] 17 Nov 2008, 01:40
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