12 Days of Christmas 2024 - 2025 Competition with $40,000 of Prizes Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins. At the end: Alex won x rounds. Jordan lost $8 in total. Select for x the number of rounds Alex won, and select for y the total number of rounds they played that would be jointly consistent with the given information . Make only two selections, one in each column.

GMAT Club's Official Explanation: Jordan losing $8 in total means that Jordan lost 4 more games than he won. This implies that Alex winning x rounds means Jordan won x - 4 rounds, making the total number of rounds played x + (x - 4) = 2x - 4, which must be even. If 2x - 4 = 6, then x = 5. However, x = 5 is not an option. If 2x - 4 = 8, then x = 6, which is an available option. Thus, Alex won x = 6 rounds, and the total number of rounds they played was y = 2x - 4 = 8.

If Jordan lost $8, that means that Alex won 4 more rounds than Jordan, which means rest of the games were split 50-50. So if total y rounds were played then (y - 4)/2 = x - 4, ie. Rounds won by either players equally = Total rounds won by Alex - 4 extra rounds won by Alex y = 2x - 4 Checking out all options - y x 3 7/2 6 5 7 11/2 8 6 Only possible combination 9 13/2 Hence, (x, y) = (6, 8)

Solve this step by step: We know: Each person bets $2 per round Jordan lost $8 in total Alex won x rounds Jordan's perspective: Jordan loses $2 each time he loses (when Alex wins) Jordan wins $2 each time he wins Total loss = $8 = (Losses × $2) - (Wins × $2) If Alex won x rounds: Jordan lost x rounds (same number) Jordan won (y-x) rounds (where y is the total rounds) Putting it in the equation: $8 = (x × $2) - ((y-x) × $2) 4 = x - (y-x) 4 = 2x - y Using values: For y = 6: 2x - 6 = 4 → x = 5 For y = 7: 2x - 7 = 4 → x = 5.5 (impossible) For y = 8: 2x - 8 = 4 → x = 6 For y = 9: 2x - 9 = 4 → x = 6.5 (impossible) Therefore, x = 6 and y = 8 is the only valid solution.

Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins. At the end: Alex won x rounds. Jordan lost $8 in total. Select for x the number of rounds Alex won, and select for y the total number of rounds they played that would be jointly consistent with the given information. Make only two selections, one in each column. x y 3 6 7 8 9 say, Total rounds = Y If Alex won x rounds, then Alex lost (Y-x) rounds Gain for Alex = $ 2 * x Loss for Alex = $ 2 * (Y-x) Overall , for Alex = (2 * x) - ( 2 * (Y-x))..............(1) Similarly, Jordan won Y-x rounds, and lost x rounds Gain for Alex = $ 2 * (Y-x) Loss for Alex = $ 2 * x Overall , for Jordan = ( 2 * (Y-x)) - (2 * x) ..............(1) Since, Jordan lost $8 in total Putting Y = 8, and x = 6; we get for Alex = $ 8 (gain)...--->i.e. Won = 6, Lost =2 for Jordan = $ 8 (loss)...----> i.e. Lost = 6, Won =2 x=6; y =8 is the CORRECT answer

winning one round will get +2 losing one round will get -2 calculating only the wins and losses for alex and jordan Rounds 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Win a a a a a j a j Alex 2 4 6 8 10 8 10 8 Jordan -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -8 -10 -8 The values that match with the given options are x = 6, y=8

Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 17:35

It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 17:35

Krunaal

Tuck School Moderator

Joined: 15 Feb 2021

Last visit: 17 Nov 2025

Posts: 805

Own Kudos:

850

[1]

Given Kudos: 251

Status:Under the Square and Compass

Location: India

Schools: Booth '26 Kellogg '26 Johnson '26 Tuck '26 Duke '26 Ross '26 HBS '26 Stanford '26 CBS '26 Stern '26 Kellogg Darden '26 Yale '26 Wharton '26

GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82 Verified score

GPA: 5.78

WE:Marketing (Consulting)

Products:

Schools: Booth '26 Kellogg '26 Johnson '26 Tuck '26 Duke '26 Ross '26 HBS '26 Stanford '26 CBS '26 Stern '26 Kellogg Darden '26 Yale '26 Wharton '26

GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82 Verified score

Posts: 805

Kudos: 850

[1]

25 Dec 2024, 10:42

Kudos

Bookmarks

Let's test the answer choices,

If x = 3 then the maximum Jordan can lose to Alex is 6 dollars, which is incorrect.

If x = 6, the Jordan lost 12 dollars to Alex in these 6 rounds, now Jordan needs to win y-x rounds and recover $4 to make a total loss of $8. To win back $4, Jordan needs to win 2 rounds, therefore the total rounds they play can be 6 + 2 = 8 rounds.

We have x = 6 and y = 8 which is consistent with the given info.

Answer 6 and 8

missionmba2025

Joined: 07 May 2023

Last visit: 07 Sep 2025

Posts: 341

Own Kudos:

427

[1]

Given Kudos: 52

Location: India

Posts: 341

Kudos: 427

[1]

25 Dec 2024, 11:38

Kudos

Bookmarks

Bunuel

12 Days of Christmas 2024 - 2025 Competition with $40,000 of Prizes

This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

Win $40,000 in prizes: Courses, Tests & more

Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins. At the end:

Alex won x rounds.
Jordan lost $8 in total.

Select for x the number of rounds Alex won, and select for y the total number of rounds they played that would be jointly consistent with the given information. Make only two selections, one in each column.

If Alex won x rounds, this implies Jacob lost x rounds, and he won (y - x) rounds

2x - 2y + 2x = 8

4x - 2y = 8

2x - y = 4

y = 2(x - 2)

Therefore we can conclude that y = even

y = 6 ; x - 2 = 3
x = 5
No such combination exists

y = 8 ; x - 2 = 4
x = 6

Hence x = 6; y = 8

Karanjotsingh

Joined: 18 Feb 2024

Last visit: 03 Oct 2025

Posts: 139

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 362

Location: India

Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship

Posts: 139

Kudos: 94

[1]

25 Dec 2024, 22:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

Solve this step by step:

We know:
- Each person bets $2 per round
- Jordan lost $8 in total
- Alex won x rounds
Jordan's perspective:
- Jordan loses $2 each time he loses (when Alex wins)
- Jordan wins $2 each time he wins
- Total loss = $8 = (Losses × $2) - (Wins × $2)
If Alex won x rounds:
- Jordan lost x rounds (same number)
- Jordan won (y-x) rounds (where y is the total rounds)
Putting it in the equation:
- $8 = (x × $2) - ((y-x) × $2)
- 4 = x - (y-x)
- 4 = 2x - y
Using values:
- For y = 6: 2x - 6 = 4 → x = 5
- For y = 7: 2x - 7 = 4 → x = 5.5 (impossible)
- For y = 8: 2x - 8 = 4 → x = 6
- For y = 9: 2x - 9 = 4 → x = 6.5 (impossible)

Therefore, x = 6 and y = 8 is the only valid solution.

Lizaza

Joined: 16 Jan 2021

Last visit: 17 Nov 2025

Posts: 165

Own Kudos:

219

[1]

Given Kudos: 5

GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V40 Verified score

Posts: 165

Kudos: 219

[1]

26 Dec 2024, 03:08

Kudos

Bookmarks

If Jordan lost only 8 dollars, it means that his losses were only 4 higher then wins.
For Alex, it's the opposite - he won 4 times more than he lost.

Then, judging from Alex's perspective, total is going to be his wins X plus his losses X-4:
$ y=x+(x-4) = 2x-4$

Therefore, we need the values to fit into the above equation, and the only suitable values are $2*6-4=8$
So, the answer is x=6 and y=8

Navya442001

Joined: 26 Jan 2024

Last visit: 17 Nov 2025

Posts: 67

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 1

Products:

Posts: 67

Kudos: 72

[1]

26 Dec 2024, 04:59

Kudos

Bookmarks

Bunuel

12 Days of Christmas 2024 - 2025 Competition with $40,000 of Prizes

This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

Win $40,000 in prizes: Courses, Tests & more

Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins. At the end:

Alex won x rounds.
Jordan lost $8 in total.

Alex and Jordan play a game where:

Each bets $2 per round.
In each round, one of them wins, and the other loses $2.
At the end:
- Alex won x rounds.
- Jordan lost $8 in total.

We need to determine x (the number of rounds Alex won) and y (the total number of rounds played) based on the given conditions.

Let us analyze the options
If x=3, Alex won $6, however since the money Jordon lost overall is $8, this cannot be correct

If x=6, Alex won $12, therefore Jordon must have lost $12. But we're given that Jordon lost $8 in total
To arrive at $8 loss from $12 loss, Jordan must have won two games since (-12 + 4 = -8), And Alex must have lost 2 games, therefore total games should be (6+2=8). Therefore y=8.

If x=7, Alex won $14, therefore Jordon must have lost $14. But we're given that Jordon lost $8 in total
To arrive at $8 loss from $14 loss, Jordan must have won three games since (-14 + 6 = -8), And Alex must have lost 3 games, therefore total games should be (7+3=10). However this is not an option choice.

Similary we can check for other options but since the total will keep on increasing, therefore only (x=6, y=8) will satisfy.

pintukr

Joined: 03 Jul 2022

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 1,590

Own Kudos:

1,088

[1]

Given Kudos: 22

GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34 Verified score

Products:

GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34 Verified score

Posts: 1,590

Kudos: 1,088

[1]

26 Dec 2024, 05:06

Kudos

Bookmarks

Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins. At the end:

Alex won x rounds.
Jordan lost $8 in total.

x	y
		3
		6
		7
		8
		9

say, Total rounds = Y

If Alex won x rounds, then Alex lost (Y-x) rounds
Gain for Alex = $ 2 * x
Loss for Alex = $ 2 * (Y-x)

Overall , for Alex = (2 * x) - ( 2 * (Y-x))..............(1)

Similarly, Jordan won Y-x rounds, and lost x rounds
Gain for Alex = $ 2 * (Y-x)
Loss for Alex = $ 2 * x

Overall , for Jordan = ( 2 * (Y-x)) - (2 * x) ..............(1)

Since, Jordan lost $8 in total

Putting Y = 8, and x = 6; we get
for Alex = $ 8 (gain)...--->i.e. Won = 6, Lost =2
for Jordan = $ 8 (loss)...----> i.e. Lost = 6, Won =2

x=6; y =8 is the CORRECT answer

Prakhar9802

Joined: 07 Aug 2023

Last visit: 14 Nov 2025

Posts: 63

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 63

Kudos: 67

[1]

26 Dec 2024, 05:26

Kudos

Bookmarks

HIT AND TRIAL

Each round, each one of them bets $2 and one of them wins.

Jordan lost $8 in total, which means after winning and losing certain games, his total was a loss of $8.
This means Alex has a final profit of $8.

Alex won x rounds. Which means Jordan lost x rounds.

Y is the total number of rounds played.

If Alex has a total profit in the end, it means that out of the total games played, Alex has won more than half of them and Jordan has won less than half of them.

Therefore, putting in x=3 and y=9 cannot be the answer.
Infact, putting x=3 with y as anything above 5 cannot be the answer.

put x=6 and y = 8,
this means that alex won 6 games and lost 2 games.

Total earnings of alex = +12 - 4 = +8

This also means that Jordan lost 6 games and won 2 games.

Total earnings of Jordan = -12 + 4 = -8

Therefore, x = 6, y = 8.

Bunuel

12 Days of Christmas 2024 - 2025 Competition with $40,000 of Prizes

This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

Win $40,000 in prizes: Courses, Tests & more

Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins. At the end:

Alex won x rounds.
Jordan lost $8 in total.

maddscientistt

Joined: 09 Mar 2023

Last visit: 17 Jul 2025

Posts: 41

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 64

Posts: 41

Kudos: 47

[1]

26 Dec 2024, 08:53

Kudos

Bookmarks

winning one round will get +2
losing one round will get -2

calculating only the wins and losses for alex and jordan

Rounds	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Win	a	a	a	a	a	j	a	j
Alex	2	4	6	8	10	8	10	8
Jordan	-2	-4	-6	-8	-10	-8	-10	-8

The values that match with the given options are
x = 6, y=8

Bunuel

12 Days of Christmas 2024 - 2025 Competition with $40,000 of Prizes

This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

Win $40,000 in prizes: Courses, Tests & more

Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins. At the end:

Alex won x rounds.
Jordan lost $8 in total.

prashantthawrani

Joined: 07 Feb 2023

Last visit: 23 Jun 2025

Posts: 71

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 43

Location: India

Posts: 71

Kudos: 93

[1]

26 Dec 2024, 08:59

Kudos

Bookmarks

Alex and Jordan play a game, each betting $2 on each round. In each round, one of them wins.

At the end:
Alex won x rounds.
Jordan lost $8 in total, which means he lost at least 4 rounds and Alex won at least 4 rounds.
x=4, y=4 (no option available)

Additionally, Alex may have won 1 round and lost 1 round
x=5, y=6 (no option available)

Additionally, Alex may have won 1 more round and lost 1 more round
x=6, y=8 option available

Moderators:

Bunuel

Math Expert

105355 posts

kingbucky

496 posts

Prep Toolkit

Announcements

Master in Management, Finance, Business Analytics and more Master’s Programs!

Solving 705+ Level MSR Questions with Data Synthesis Skils

Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025
10:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai

Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with ARINGO

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
09:00 am PDT | 10:30 pm IST
Location: GMAT Club Chat

Top GMAT Focus Debriefs

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 8: Alex and Jordan play

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Two-part Analysis (TPA) Questions

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 8: Alex and Jordan play

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards