Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 15:55 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 15:55
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,355
Own Kudos:
778,069
 [4]
Given Kudos: 99,964
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,355
Kudos: 778,069
 [4]
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 09 Jan 2021, 11:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

5% (low)

Question Stats:

86% (01:13) correct 14% (02:00) wrong based on 142 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 4 finishes. If a company gets 2 newsletters copied on different paper, there are how many distinct possible combinations of newsletter, color, and finish?

(A) 40
(B) 20
(C) 11
(D) 10
(E) 5
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
A
User avatar
twobagels
User avatar
Joined: 12 Jul 2020
Last visit: 16 Oct 2025
Posts: 137
Own Kudos:
648
 [1]
Given Kudos: 2,927
Location: United States (CA)
WE:Science (Other)
Posts: 137
Kudos: 648
 [1]
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 09 Jan 2021, 12:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
paper types 2
colors 5
finishes 4

type 1 + type 2 = total
5*4 + 5*4 = 40

A
User avatar
Baps
User avatar
Joined: 02 Jun 2020
Last visit: 27 Jul 2022
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 15
Posts: 29
Kudos: 18
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 21 Jan 2021, 00:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 4 finishes. If a company gets 2 newsletters copied on different paper, there are how many distinct possible combinations of newsletter, color, and finish?

(A) 40
(B) 20
(C) 11
(D) 10
(E) 5
Show more

Hi Team,
I was wondering if you could help me to understand this question. I got this one wrong by picking "B" because I thought that "how many distinct possible combinations" meant that if there were Newsletter A in Blue and Newsletter B in Red this combination would be the same as if there were Newsletter A in Red and Newsletter B in Blue. Therefore, you should not be multiplying by 2 because you don't want to count the same combination twice.
How could I make sure to not make the same mistake again?
Thanks !
User avatar
CEdward
User avatar
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 Apr 2022
Posts: 1,203
Own Kudos:
272
Given Kudos: 332
Posts: 1,203
Kudos: 272
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 28 Jan 2021, 19:05
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Baps
Bunuel
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 4 finishes. If a company gets 2 newsletters copied on different paper, there are how many distinct possible combinations of newsletter, color, and finish?

(A) 40
(B) 20
(C) 11
(D) 10
(E) 5

Hi Team,
I was wondering if you could help me to understand this question. I got this one wrong by picking "B" because I thought that "how many distinct possible combinations" meant that if there were Newsletter A in Blue and Newsletter B in Red this combination would be the same as if there were Newsletter A in Red and Newsletter B in Blue. Therefore, you should not be multiplying by 2 because you don't want to count the same combination twice.
How could I make sure to not make the same mistake again?
Thanks !
Show more

Your assessment is in my opinion accurate. I agree with you. The number of combinations remains constant. If the question instead had asked something along the lines of what's the total number of combinations available that A and B chose from independent of each other, then yeah 40.
User avatar
unraveled
User avatar
Joined: 07 Mar 2019
Last visit: 10 Apr 2025
Posts: 2,721
Own Kudos:
2,258
Given Kudos: 763
Location: India
WE:Sales (Energy)
Posts: 2,721
Kudos: 2,258
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 14 Mar 2021, 10:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
CEdward
Baps
Bunuel
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 4 finishes. If a company gets 2 newsletters copied on different paper, there are how many distinct possible combinations of newsletter, color, and finish?

(A) 40
(B) 20
(C) 11
(D) 10
(E) 5

Hi Team,
I was wondering if you could help me to understand this question. I got this one wrong by picking "B" because I thought that "how many distinct possible combinations" meant that if there were Newsletter A in Blue and Newsletter B in Red this combination would be the same as if there were Newsletter A in Red and Newsletter B in Blue. Therefore, you should not be multiplying by 2 because you don't want to count the same combination twice.
How could I make sure to not make the same mistake again?
Thanks !

Your assessment is in my opinion accurate. I agree with you. The number of combinations remains constant. If the question instead had asked something along the lines of what's the total number of combinations available that A and B chose from independent of each other, then yeah 40.
Show more
CEdward Baps
I did got stuck with B for sometime and i see no issue in your analysis.
But there's a finer detail that i think is being missed here.
In the question itself, it is mentioned "distinct possible combinations of newsletter, color, and finish" where in the three distinct things are highlighted in different colors.

Distinctness is not about color and finish only. So, how can Newsletter A in Blue and Newsletter B in Red combination be same as Newsletter A in Red and Newsletter B in Blue.

Hope now it makes sense.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,586
Own Kudos:
1,079
Posts: 38,586
Kudos: 1,079
A copy shop offers copies on 5 colors of paper, each of which comes in 05 Oct 2022, 15:47
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:
Bunuel
Math Expert
105355 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts