Last visit was: 21 May 2025, 10:04 It is currently 21 May 2025, 10:04
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
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 21 May 2025
Posts: 101,611
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,578
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,611
Kudos: 725,990
 [27]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
24
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
NagrajB
Joined: 27 Oct 2015
Last visit: 14 Jan 2016
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
7
 [1]
Posts: 19
Kudos: 7
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
CounterSniper
Joined: 20 Feb 2015
Last visit: 14 Apr 2023
Posts: 620
Own Kudos:
787
 [3]
Given Kudos: 74
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Posts: 620
Kudos: 787
 [3]
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,791
Own Kudos:
12,378
 [3]
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,791
Kudos: 12,378
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

This question can be solved by TESTing THE ANSWERS.

We're told that a certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. However, for a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound. We're told that a certain package cost $38 to ship. We're asked for the weight, in pounds, of that package.

Let's TEST Answer B: 17 pounds

According to the pricing 'rules' a 17 pound package would cost $6 + 17($2) = $40. This is TOO EXPENSIVE. Thus, the package must weigh LESS than 17 pounds. There's only one answer that fits...

Final Answer:
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
peachfuzz
Joined: 28 Feb 2014
Last visit: 27 Jan 2018
Posts: 269
Own Kudos:
346
 [1]
Given Kudos: 132
Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Products:
Posts: 269
Kudos: 346
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
6+2x=38
x=16

(A) 16
User avatar
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,086
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,086
Kudos: 18,548
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In PS, IVY approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer.


A certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound. If the company charged $38 to ship a certain package, which of the following was the weight of the package, in pounds?

(A) 16
(B) 17
(C) 19
(D) 20
(E) 22


Let the weight of the package be X. Then the cost is 2*X + 6= 38 ---> 2X=32 ---> X=16.

So the answer is (A).
User avatar
stonecold
Joined: 12 Aug 2015
Last visit: 09 Apr 2024
Posts: 2,254
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 893
GRE 1: Q169 V154
GRE 1: Q169 V154
Posts: 2,254
Kudos: 3,423
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Here Price = 6+2*x=38
Hence 2x=32
x=16

Hence A
User avatar
stne
Joined: 27 May 2012
Last visit: 20 May 2025
Posts: 1,760
Own Kudos:
1,790
 [2]
Given Kudos: 653
Posts: 1,760
Kudos: 1,790
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound. If the company charged $38 to ship a certain package, which of the following was the weight of the package, in pounds?

(A) 16
(B) 17
(C) 19
(D) 20
(E) 22

Just another thought:
Good tricky question.Important thing to realize is that the package cannot be less than 2 pounds as then for a cost of $38 there would be more than one package.

Since there is only a single package whose cost is $38 hence the package must be over 2 pounds.
In this case only the second equation i.e. 6 + 2(y) = 38 is applicable
where Y is the weight of the package and Y>2 , now we can easily get the weight of the package.
avatar
minatminat
Joined: 11 Jan 2018
Last visit: 25 Jun 2018
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 19
Posts: 17
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can i say the first sentence "A certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. " is just there to confuse us?
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 21 May 2025
Posts: 20,802
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 292
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 20,802
Kudos: 25,870
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound. If the company charged $38 to ship a certain package, which of the following was the weight of the package, in pounds?

(A) 16
(B) 17
(C) 19
(D) 20
(E) 22

Letting n = the weight of the package, we can create the equation:

38 = 6 + 2n

32 = 2n

16 = n

Answer: A
User avatar
Hoozan
Joined: 28 Sep 2018
Last visit: 18 May 2025
Posts: 690
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 248
GMAT 1: 660 Q48 V33 (Online)
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V37
Products:
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V37
Posts: 690
Kudos: 661
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle after reading the forum I notice that everyone has assumed the total weight of the package to be X and thus derived the equation $6 + $2X = $38. BUT isn't $6 charged for some weight less than 2? Shouldn't it be $6p + $2X = $38 where p < 2 pounds and X ≥ 2 pounds?
User avatar
EducationAisle
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 21 May 2025
Posts: 3,837
Own Kudos:
3,568
 [4]
Given Kudos: 158
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,837
Kudos: 3,568
 [4]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hoozan
EducationAisle after reading the forum I notice that everyone has assumed the total weight of the package to be X and thus derived the equation $6 + $2X = $38. BUT isn't $6 charged for some weight less than 2? Shouldn't it be $6p + $2X = $38 where p < 2 pounds and X ≥ 2 pounds?
Notice that the question says:

For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound.

So, if a package weighs 3 pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*3
Similarly, if a package weighs 4 pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*4
Similarly, if a package weighs 7 pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*7
Similarly, if a package weighs x pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*x

Note that the question does not mention: The company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per additional pound.
User avatar
Kimberly77
Joined: 16 Nov 2021
Last visit: 07 Sep 2024
Posts: 443
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5,901
Location: United Kingdom
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Products:
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Posts: 443
Kudos: 41
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
Hoozan
EducationAisle after reading the forum I notice that everyone has assumed the total weight of the package to be X and thus derived the equation $6 + $2X = $38. BUT isn't $6 charged for some weight less than 2? Shouldn't it be $6p + $2X = $38 where p < 2 pounds and X ≥ 2 pounds?
Notice that the question says:

For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound.

So, if a package weighs 3 pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*3
Similarly, if a package weighs 4 pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*4
Similarly, if a package weighs 7 pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*7
Similarly, if a package weighs x pounds, total charges = 6 + 2*x

Note that the question does not mention: The company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per additional pound.


Thanks EducationAisle and great explanation.
If the question had been $2 per additional pound, will it be 6 + 2(n-1) = 38 ? Thanks for your time in advanced.
User avatar
EducationAisle
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 21 May 2025
Posts: 3,837
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 158
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,837
Kudos: 3,568
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Kimberly77
If the question had been $2 per additional pound, will it be 6 + 2(n-1) = 38 ? Thanks for your time in advanced.
Shouldn't the equation be:

6 + 2(n-2) = 38
User avatar
Kimberly77
Joined: 16 Nov 2021
Last visit: 07 Sep 2024
Posts: 443
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5,901
Location: United Kingdom
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Products:
GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34
Posts: 443
Kudos: 41
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
Kimberly77
If the question had been $2 per additional pound, will it be 6 + 2(n-1) = 38 ? Thanks for your time in advanced.
Shouldn't the equation be:

6 + 2(n-2) = 38

Ah my bad :lol: thanks EducationAisle for your reply and yes it should be n-2 here since is $2 per additional pound. My main point is to confirm the equation format is right and thanks for your confirmation.
User avatar
Paras96
Joined: 11 Sep 2022
Last visit: 30 Dec 2023
Posts: 492
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2
Location: India
Paras: Bhawsar
GMAT 1: 590 Q47 V24
GMAT 2: 580 Q49 V21
GMAT 3: 700 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.2
WE:Project Management (Other)
GMAT 3: 700 Q49 V35
Posts: 492
Kudos: 269
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound. If the company charged $38 to ship a certain package, which of the following was the weight of the package, in pounds?

For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, Shipping charge = 6 + 2w, where w is weight in pound of the package
=> 38 = 6 + 2w
=> 32 = 2w
=> w = 16

Hence A
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 36,913
Own Kudos:
Posts: 36,913
Kudos: 990
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Math Expert
101610 posts
PS Forum Moderator
585 posts