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# A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils,

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Director
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
Posts: 881
Name: Ronak Amin
Schools: IIM Lucknow (IPMX) - Class of 2014
A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, [#permalink]

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04 Jul 2009, 21:43
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Difficulty:

75% (hard)

Question Stats:

46% (01:47) correct 54% (00:47) wrong based on 121 sessions

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A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, and pads among the staff in the department, with each staff member receiving x pens, y pencils, and z pads. How many staff members were in the department?

(1) The numbers of pens, pencils, and pads that each staff member received were in the ratio 2:3:4, respectively.
(2) The manager distributed a total of 18 pens, 27 pencils, and 36 pads.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: a-department-manager-distributed-a-number-of-pens-pencils-104852.html
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
Current Student
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 366
Location: India

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05 Jul 2009, 07:27
C
Q stem gives n(ax+by+cz)
A gives n(2x+3y+4z)
B gives 18x+27y+36z

Compare with q stem you will get the answer.
Director
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
Posts: 881
Name: Ronak Amin
Schools: IIM Lucknow (IPMX) - Class of 2014

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05 Jul 2009, 07:49
Even I got C.
But OA is E. I wonder why ?
Manager
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 50
Location: Moscow

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05 Jul 2009, 10:18
Pens: 18 = 2 x 3 x 3
Pencils: 27 = 3 x 3 x 3
Pads: 36 = 4 x 3 x 3
Then, number of staff members: 3 or 3x3=9
Manager
Joined: 16 Apr 2009
Posts: 233
Schools: Ross

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07 Jul 2009, 18:22
I don't understand whether the answer is C or E. If it is C, then it is a straightforward question. If it is E, Could someone elaborate..
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Senior Manager
Joined: 04 Jun 2008
Posts: 289

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07 Jul 2009, 19:03
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vannu wrote:
I don't understand whether the answer is C or E. If it is C, then it is a straightforward question. If it is E, Could someone elaborate..

To know the number of people, simply knowing the ratio of division is not enough. Both the statements only provide the ratio of distribution.

combine them and check, the ratio will remain 2:3:4

either there can be 3 people, each getting 6, 9 and 12
or there can be 9 people, each getting 2, 3, and 4

in both cases, both statements 1 and 2 are being satisfied. You don't get a unique answer.
Intern
Joined: 07 Feb 2013
Posts: 13
GMAT 1: 650 Q48 V32
GMAT 2: 730 Q49 V41
WE: Engineering (Other)
Re: A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, [#permalink]

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19 Jun 2013, 20:26
Going by someone's earlier equation :
Stmt 1: x:y:z=2a:3a:4a => equation above becomes =n*9a -cant find n, neither do we know a- insufficient
Stmt 2: x+y+z=81, above equations is =n*(81) - insufficient
Both : n*81=n*9a =>a=9 , so the equation becomes 9n, still cant find n . Ans E
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 39726
Re: A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, [#permalink]

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20 Jun 2013, 01:38
Economist wrote:
A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils, and pads among the staff in the department, with each staff member receiving x pens, y pencils, and z pads. How many staff members were in the department?

(1) The numbers of pens, pencils, and pads that each staff member received were in the ratio 2:3:4, respectively.
(2) The manager distributed a total of 18 pens, 27 pencils, and 36 pads.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THIS QUESTION IS HERE: a-department-manager-distributed-a-number-of-pens-pencils-104852.html

ALL OG 13 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS ARE HERE: the-official-guide-quantitative-question-directory-143450.html

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Re: A department manager distributed a number of pens, pencils,   [#permalink] 20 Jun 2013, 01:38
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