Last visit was: 18 May 2026, 00:49 It is currently 18 May 2026, 00:49
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
pappal
Joined: 24 Nov 2022
Last visit: 15 May 2026
Posts: 329
Own Kudos:
110
 [1]
Given Kudos: 110
Products:
Posts: 329
Kudos: 110
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
MANASH94
Joined: 25 Jun 2025
Last visit: 17 May 2026
Posts: 89
Own Kudos:
63
 [1]
Given Kudos: 16
Location: India
Schools: IIM IIM ISB
GMAT Focus 1: 525 Q80 V76 DI72
GPA: 2.9
Products:
Schools: IIM IIM ISB
GMAT Focus 1: 525 Q80 V76 DI72
Posts: 89
Kudos: 63
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
remdelectus
Joined: 01 Sep 2025
Last visit: 17 May 2026
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
48
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 58
Kudos: 48
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
chasing725
Joined: 22 Jun 2025
Last visit: 13 Jan 2026
Posts: 176
Own Kudos:
174
 [1]
Given Kudos: 5
Location: United States (OR)
Schools: Stanford
Schools: Stanford
Posts: 176
Kudos: 174
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more


A gardener can prepare two types of dry fertilizer blends by mixing three granular nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). The gardener's current inventory is 120 grams of N, 90 grams of P, and 60 grams of K.

The gardener may use any amount up to the available inventory, and any unused nutrients may remain.

Blend Green has an N : P : K ratio by weight of 3 : 2 : 1.
Blend Rich has an N : P : K ratio by weight of 2 : 1 : 2.

The gardener will make only one blend, either Blend Green or Blend Rich, using only the nutrients in the inventory.

Select for Blend Green the maximum amount, in grams, of Blend Green that the gardener can prepare, and select for Blend Rich the maximum amount, in grams, of Blend Rich that the gardener can prepare, according to the information provided. Make only two selections, one in each column.

Blend Green = 3:2:1

Let's assume each unit has 3 grams of Nitrogen, we can prepare 40 units of Blend Green using 120 grams of nitrogen. Similarly, we can prepare 45 units of Blend Green using 45 grams of Phosphorus and 60 units of Blend Green using 60 grams of phosphorous.

The amount in the inventory will allow us to create only 40 units of Blend Green as we would run out of nitrogen after 40 units.

Total Weight = 120 g of N + 80 g of P + 40 g of K = 240

Simarly for Blend Rich, using the amount of materials available in the inventory, we can prepare at max 30 units of belnd rich.

Total Weight = 60 g of N + 30 g of P + 60 g of K = 150

Blend Green = 240
Blend Rich = 150
User avatar
Prakruti_Patil
Joined: 24 May 2023
Last visit: 18 May 2026
Posts: 126
Own Kudos:
37
 [1]
Given Kudos: 389
Posts: 126
Kudos: 37
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
For Rich - consider 2 parts K = 60 | so 2 parts N will be 60 too | and 1 part P will be 30 -- total 150

For Green -- consider 3 parts N = 120 | therefore 2 parts P will be 80 | and 1 part K will be 40 -- total 240
User avatar
dolortempore
Joined: 15 Aug 2025
Last visit: 22 Jan 2026
Posts: 47
Own Kudos:
44
 [1]
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 47
Kudos: 44
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Green and rich blend

combination should be
3:2:1 and 2:1:2 respectively

So for maximum, we can use as much as quantity until it lasts
so we have N 120gm P 90 gram and K 60 gram
therefor for green
we will be able to use
full amount of N
120 thereofre P will be 80 and K will be 40

therefore total 240 maximum for green and

for rich
K could be use to its maximum 60 and N will also be 60 as same quantity and corresponding P can only be 30
Hence total 150 gram max for Rich

Therefore
Green max is 240 gram and rich 150 gram
User avatar
msignatius
Joined: 28 Aug 2025
Last visit: 17 May 2026
Posts: 131
Own Kudos:
100
 [1]
Given Kudos: 31
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 705 Q86 V85 DI84
GPA: 3.5
WE:Marketing (Consulting)
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 705 Q86 V85 DI84
Posts: 131
Kudos: 100
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can I just say that given how difficult I've found these competition questions, I was so uncertain about this one "appearing simple" that I spent an extra 3 minutes just looking for a tricky word or implication or something... but this one's just a treat :)

We have a gardener equipped with 120 grams of Nitrogen, 90 grams of Phosphorus, and 60 grams of Potassium.

He can use any amount up to the available inventory, and any unused nutrients may remain - this, I felt, hid something deceptive, but it's pretty straightforward (don't read too deep - I said to myself).

Next, we have two blends with two different ratios. The gardener will only make one of them. We need to see what the maximum of each blend can the gardener create.

First, Blend Green. This is ratio by weight - N : P : K is 3 : 2 : 1. For every 1 gram of K, it's 2 grams of P and 3 grams of N.

Now, here, using all 60 grams of K will mean 120 grams of P (not possible), and 180 grams of N (not possible). So, we take 40 grams of K and combine that with 80 grams of P and 120 grams of N, to arrive at the maximum amount (N proves to be the limiting factor, it turns out) - to get 120 + 80 + 40 = 240 grams.

Next, we look at Blend Rich. That's a 2 : 1 : 2 ratio for N : P : K. Now, here, we use the same amount of N and K - which can be a maximum of 60, applicable to both. We take half the weight - or 30 grams - for P. Hence, 60 + 60 + 30 = 150, is what we get in Blend Rich.



Bunuel
Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more


A gardener can prepare two types of dry fertilizer blends by mixing three granular nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). The gardener's current inventory is 120 grams of N, 90 grams of P, and 60 grams of K.

The gardener may use any amount up to the available inventory, and any unused nutrients may remain.

Blend Green has an N : P : K ratio by weight of 3 : 2 : 1.
Blend Rich has an N : P : K ratio by weight of 2 : 1 : 2.

The gardener will make only one blend, either Blend Green or Blend Rich, using only the nutrients in the inventory.

Select for Blend Green the maximum amount, in grams, of Blend Green that the gardener can prepare, and select for Blend Rich the maximum amount, in grams, of Blend Rich that the gardener can prepare, according to the information provided. Make only two selections, one in each column.
User avatar
Lizaza
Joined: 16 Jan 2021
Last visit: 29 Mar 2026
Posts: 240
Own Kudos:
282
 [1]
Given Kudos: 7
GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V40
GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V40
Posts: 240
Kudos: 282
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
For both blends, let's use the maximum available quantity of the heaviest component of the blend (since it's going to be our upper limit):
  • Green has 3 parts of N, so let's use all 120 grams. It means 1 part is \(120/3=40\), and we use \( P=80\) and \(K=40\). It's within the limit and we can't have more N. Therefore, the total is \(G=120+80+40=240\) grams.

  • Rich has 2 parts of K and N, bt since there's much less K, this will be or limit. So, two parts are 60 grams, then 1 part is 30. The total will be \(R=60+30+60=150\) grams.

Therefore, the answer is 240 grams of Green and 150 grams of Rich.
User avatar
sanjitscorps18
Joined: 26 Jan 2019
Last visit: 03 Mar 2026
Posts: 723
Own Kudos:
746
 [1]
Given Kudos: 130
Location: India
Schools: IMD'26
Products:
Schools: IMD'26
Posts: 723
Kudos: 746
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Blend green = N : P : K = 3:2:1
N = 3x, P = 2x and K =x
Now checking multiples of this ratio we get

Trying x = 40 so we can cover N first as it has the largest share
Hence N : P : K = 120 : 80 : 40
This works and also covers complete of N
Hence Blend green = 120 + 80 + 40 = 240 gms

Blend Rich = N : P : K = 2: 1: 2
N = 2x, P = x, K = 2x
Let's start with K as it has the smallest availability and largest share, we can put x = 30 => K = 60, N = 60, P = 30
This works and covers K
Hence Blend Rich = 30 + 60 + 60 = 150 gms

Green Blend = 240 gms
Rich Blend = 150 gms

Bunuel
Gift
12 Days of Christmas Competition
This question is part of our holiday event
Win $40,000 in prizes: courses, tests, and more


A gardener can prepare two types of dry fertilizer blends by mixing three granular nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). The gardener's current inventory is 120 grams of N, 90 grams of P, and 60 grams of K.

The gardener may use any amount up to the available inventory, and any unused nutrients may remain.

Blend Green has an N : P : K ratio by weight of 3 : 2 : 1.
Blend Rich has an N : P : K ratio by weight of 2 : 1 : 2.

The gardener will make only one blend, either Blend Green or Blend Rich, using only the nutrients in the inventory.

Select for Blend Green the maximum amount, in grams, of Blend Green that the gardener can prepare, and select for Blend Rich the maximum amount, in grams, of Blend Rich that the gardener can prepare, according to the information provided. Make only two selections, one in each column.
User avatar
raffaeleprio
Joined: 15 Nov 2020
Last visit: 03 May 2026
Posts: 56
Own Kudos:
59
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1
Location: Italy
GPA: 3.71
Posts: 56
Kudos: 59
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Plugging the maximum quantity of elements according to the proportions:

BG we get 3:2:1 ==> 120:80:40 => sum 240
BR we get 2:1:2 ==> 60:30:60 => sum 150
User avatar
adityaprateek15
Joined: 26 May 2023
Last visit: 13 May 2026
Posts: 346
Own Kudos:
170
 [1]
Given Kudos: 323
Location: India
GPA: 2.7
Posts: 346
Kudos: 170
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Data Set:{23,24,34,38,53,56}

To get the greatest decrease in standard deviation, we need to discard the point that is farthest from the mean of 38.
|23-38| = 15
|24-38| = 14
|34-38| = 4
|38-38| = 0
|53-38| = 15
|56-38| = 18

The point with the greatest distance from the mean is 56. We need to discard 56 for greatest decrease in standard deviation.

The point with the smallest distance from the mean is 38. By removing 38, we are left with the more extreme values:{23,24,34,53,56}. The new mean of this set will be (228-38)/5 = 190/5 = 38. In this specific case, the mean doesn't shift. However, the original set included a point with a deviation of 0, which pulled the average deviation down. Removing it means the new standard deviation will be calculated from the points {23,24,34,53,56}, all of which are farther from the mean than the point we removed. This will result in the largest possible standard deviation for a 5-point set.

Most increase: 38
Most decrease: 56
User avatar
KunchiGoks
Joined: 09 Jan 2025
Last visit: 13 May 2026
Posts: 20
Own Kudos:
20
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 20
Kudos: 20
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Blend Green = 240
Blend Rich = 150

1. Convert ratios into total units per fertiliser blend (N : P : K)
Blend Green has a ratio 3:2:1, giving a total of 6 baseline units per blend.
Blend Rich ratio 2:1:2, giving a total of 5 baseline units per blend.

2. Identify the nutrient that hits the ceiling first
Using the gardener's inventory (N = 120, P = 90, K = 60)
For Blend Green, Nitrogen (3 parts) limit production to 40 units.
For Blend Rich, Potassium (2 parts) limits production to 30 units.

3. Multiply the limiting units by the total units per blend
Blend Green: 6 x 40g = 240g
Blend Rich: 5 x 30 = 150g
   1   2   3 
Moderators:
Math Expert
110574 posts
498 posts
263 posts