Last visit was: 17 Jul 2025, 09:13 It is currently 17 Jul 2025, 09:13
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
avatar
Mseemab
Joined: 15 Feb 2017
Last visit: 13 Feb 2023
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
147
 [132]
Given Kudos: 8
Location: Pakistan
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
GPA: 3.31
WE:General Management (Telecommunications)
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
Posts: 5
Kudos: 147
 [132]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
128
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 17 Jul 2025
Posts: 16,111
Own Kudos:
74,367
 [36]
Given Kudos: 475
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,111
Kudos: 74,367
 [36]
22
Kudos
Add Kudos
14
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
MidhilaMohan
Joined: 03 Mar 2017
Last visit: 22 Oct 2024
Posts: 113
Own Kudos:
69
 [10]
Given Kudos: 76
Location: India
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Products:
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Posts: 113
Kudos: 69
 [10]
8
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
Mseemab
Joined: 15 Feb 2017
Last visit: 13 Feb 2023
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 8
Location: Pakistan
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
GPA: 3.31
WE:General Management (Telecommunications)
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
Posts: 5
Kudos: 147
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Midhila
Mseemab
A certain class is divided into two sections A and B of equal number of students. If the ratio of girls to boys for whole class is 3/5 and the ratio of girls to boys in section A is 5/7. What is the ratio of girls to boys in section B?

A. 3 to 1
B. 2 to 1
C. 1 to 3
D. 1 to 2
E. 7 to 12

Experts please help identify the different ways to solve such questions. Thanks

I did this question by selectingsmart numbers.

G total/B total= 3/5 that is
G total=3/8 of the total strength
B total=5/8 of the Toal strength

G classA/B ClassA= 5/7 that is
G ClassA=5/12 of the total strength of A
B ClassA=7/12 of the Toal strength ofA

Now lets assume a number to be total strength of the class. Let that number be 24(LCM of 8,12)

Gtotal= 24x3/8 =9
Btotal= 24x 5/8 =15

strength of A=strength of B=12

G class a= 12x5/12=5
B class a=12x7/12=7

G class B=9-5=4
B class B=15-7=8

hence 1:2 IMO option D

how much time did it take you?
User avatar
MidhilaMohan
Joined: 03 Mar 2017
Last visit: 22 Oct 2024
Posts: 113
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 76
Location: India
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Products:
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Posts: 113
Kudos: 69
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mseemab
Midhila
Mseemab
A certain class is divided into two sections A and B of equal number of students. If the ratio of girls to boys for whole class is 3/5 and the ratio of girls to boys in section A is 5/7. What is the ratio of girls to boys in section B?

A. 3 to 1
B. 2 to 1
C. 1 to 3
D. 1 to 2
E. 7 to 12

Experts please help identify the different ways to solve such questions. Thanks

I did this question by selectingsmart numbers.

G total/B total= 3/5 that is
G total=3/8 of the total strength
B total=5/8 of the Toal strength

G classA/B ClassA= 5/7 that is
G ClassA=5/12 of the total strength of A
B ClassA=7/12 of the Toal strength ofA

Now lets assume a number to be total strength of the class. Let that number be 24(LCM of 8,12)

Gtotal= 24x3/8 =9
Btotal= 24x 5/8 =15

strength of A=strength of B=12

G class a= 12x5/12=5
B class a=12x7/12=7

G class B=9-5=4
B class B=15-7=8

hence 1:2 IMO option D

how much time did it take you?


After you take the total strength into picture it will take you hardly a minute
avatar
Mseemab
Joined: 15 Feb 2017
Last visit: 13 Feb 2023
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
147
 [1]
Given Kudos: 8
Location: Pakistan
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
GPA: 3.31
WE:General Management (Telecommunications)
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
Posts: 5
Kudos: 147
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Midhila
Mseemab
Midhila

I did this question by selectingsmart numbers.

G total/B total= 3/5 that is
G total=3/8 of the total strength
B total=5/8 of the Toal strength

G classA/B ClassA= 5/7 that is
G ClassA=5/12 of the total strength of A
B ClassA=7/12 of the Toal strength ofA

Now lets assume a number to be total strength of the class. Let that number be 24(LCM of 8,12)

Gtotal= 24x3/8 =9
Btotal= 24x 5/8 =15

strength of A=strength of B=12

G class a= 12x5/12=5
B class a=12x7/12=7

G class B=9-5=4
B class B=15-7=8

hence 1:2 IMO option D

how much time did it take you?


After you take the total strength into picture it will take you hardly a minute

This question was my undoing. It was so easy, n yet couldn't grasp it properly. Ended up wasting 10 minutes, before finally deciding to use smart numbers.. :facepalm_man:

Can you think of any Algebraic way to solve this question?
User avatar
firas92
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 16 Jan 2019
Last visit: 02 Dec 2024
Posts: 617
Own Kudos:
1,667
 [6]
Given Kudos: 142
Location: India
Concentration: General Management
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
WE:Sales (Other)
Products:
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 617
Kudos: 1,667
 [6]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mseemab

This question was my undoing. It was so easy, n yet couldn't grasp it properly. Ended up wasting 10 minutes, before finally deciding to use smart numbers.. :facepalm_man:

Can you think of any Algebraic way to solve this question?

Let the percentage of girls in class B be \(x\)

When \(\frac{5}{12}\) of A's class combine with \(\frac{x}{100}\) of B's class we get \(\frac{3}{8}\) of (A+B)'s class. That is,

\(\frac{5}{12}A + \frac{x}{100}B = \frac{3}{8}(A+B)\)

We know \(A=B\)

\(\frac{5}{12}A + \frac{x}{100}A = \frac{3}{8}(A+A)\)

Solving this we get \(x=\frac{1}{3}\)

This means, girls are \(\frac{1}{3}\) of class B and so boys are \(\frac{2}{3}\) of class B

Ratio of girls to boys in class B = \(\frac{1}{2}\)
User avatar
GMATMBA5
Joined: 07 Aug 2017
Last visit: 08 Dec 2019
Posts: 67
Own Kudos:
204
 [3]
Given Kudos: 23
Location: India
GPA: 4
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Posts: 67
Kudos: 204
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mseemab
A certain class is divided into two sections A and B of equal number of students. If the ratio of girls to boys for whole class is 3/5 and the ratio of girls to boys in section A is 5/7. What is the ratio of girls to boys in section B?

A. 3 to 1
B. 2 to 1
C. 1 to 3
D. 1 to 2
E. 7 to 12

Experts please help identify the different ways to solve such questions. Thanks


Let T be total students. Section A and B will each have T/2 Boys and Girls.

Gt = total girls; Ga = Girls in section A; Gb= Girls in section B
Bt = total boys; Ba = Boys in section A; Bb = boys in section B

Given that, Gt/Bt = 3/5
this means, Gt=(3/8)*T and Bt = (5/8)*T

Also given that, Ga/Ba = 5/7
this means, Ga = (5/12)*T/2 and Ba = (7/12)*T/2

Gt = Ga + Gb
(3/8)*T = (5/12)*T/2 + Gb
Gb = 3T/8 - 5T/24 =T/6

Bt = Ba + Bb
(5/8)*T = (7/12)*T/2 + Bb
Bb = 5T/8 - 7T/24 = T/3

Therefore, Gb/Bb = (T/6)/(T/3) = 1/2

Ans - D

----------------------------------------
Kudos if helpful!
User avatar
nick1816
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Oct 2018
Last visit: 28 Jun 2025
Posts: 1,853
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 707
Location: India
Posts: 1,853
Kudos: 7,838
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
10/24................a/24
..........9/24.........
1.........................1

a=8

Girls to boys ratio in section B= 8/(24-8)= 1/2





Mseemab
A certain class is divided into two sections A and B of equal number of students. If the ratio of girls to boys for whole class is 3/5 and the ratio of girls to boys in section A is 5/7. What is the ratio of girls to boys in section B?

A. 3 to 1
B. 2 to 1
C. 1 to 3
D. 1 to 2
E. 7 to 12

Experts please help identify the different ways to solve such questions. Thanks
User avatar
Prasannathawait
Joined: 10 Aug 2018
Last visit: 15 Jun 2020
Posts: 221
Own Kudos:
149
 [6]
Given Kudos: 179
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Operations
WE:Operations (Energy)
Products:
Posts: 221
Kudos: 149
 [6]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I did it this way:

Given For section (A): G:B = 5:7
For section (B): let G:B = x:y

Given Total ratio : G:B = 3:5

we can make a equation
\(\frac{(5+x)}{(7+y)}\) = \(\frac{(3)}{(5)}\)
also taking x+y = 12 (as per question)

Solving this will give y=8, x=4. That is a ratio of 1:2

Am I doing correct ?
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 16 Jul 2025
Posts: 5,703
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 161
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,703
Kudos: 5,229
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Given: A certain class is divided into two sections A and B of equal number of students.
Asked: If the ratio of girls to boys for whole class is 3/5 and the ratio of girls to boys in section A is 5/7. What is the ratio of girls to boys in section B?

Let the number of students in each section be x.

Section A + Section B:
Girls = 3*2x/8 = 3x/4
Boys = 5*2x/8 = 5x/4
Total = 2x

Section A:
Girls = 5x/12
Boys = 7x/12
Total = x

Section B:
Girls = 3x/4 - 5x/12 = 4x/12 = x/3
Boys = 5x/4 - 7x/12 = 8x/12 = 2x/3
Total = x
Ratio of girls to boys in Section B = 1/2

IMO D
User avatar
Rebaz
Joined: 14 Feb 2014
Last visit: 17 July 2025
Posts: 134
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4,739
Products:
Posts: 134
Kudos: 31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
KarishmaB

Could you please explain why you divide (5/12 + x) by 2?

Thanks in advance!
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 17 Jul 2025
Posts: 16,111
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 475
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,111
Kudos: 74,367
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Rebaz
KarishmaB

Could you please explain why you divide (5/12 + x) by 2?

Thanks in advance!

This is because both sections have equal number of students. This means that they have equal weights. So the average concentration of girls will just be the simple average of the concentration of girls in the two sections.

In section A, concentration of girls is 5/12
In section B, concentration of girls is x

Average concentration of girls is 3/8. This will be the simple average of 5/12 and x. This is why sum of 5/12 and x is divided by 2 - to find the simple average (arithmetic mean).

Check out these discussions on Weighted averages and Arithmetic mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOAU7moZ2Q
https://youtu.be/W-qhIZ29UIs
User avatar
HarshavardhanR
Joined: 16 Mar 2023
Last visit: 17 Jul 2025
Posts: 382
Own Kudos:
362
 [5]
Given Kudos: 56
Status:Independent GMAT Tutor
Affiliations: Ex - Director, Subject Matter Expertise at e-GMAT
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 382
Kudos: 362
 [5]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post


Harsha
Attachment:
GMAT-Club-Forum-e8gcgmkm.png
GMAT-Club-Forum-e8gcgmkm.png [ 223.03 KiB | Viewed 1064 times ]
User avatar
mbaaccount1234
Joined: 11 Jan 2024
Last visit: 17 Jul 2025
Posts: 38
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 100
Location: Brazil
GMAT Focus 1: 655 Q86 V83 DI78
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 655 Q86 V83 DI78
Posts: 38
Kudos: 9
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
How I solved quickly

Class A is 5x/7x, so it is a multiple of 12
Whole class is 3y/5y, or 6y/10y, or 9y/15y, ...

Using the answer choices, we see that 1/2 is the same as 4/8. As they are equal in number of students, if you sum this in 5/7 you get 9/15

So, answer 1/2
Moderators:
Math Expert
102601 posts
PS Forum Moderator
697 posts