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# A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter

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Director
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A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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08 Jan 2013, 21:16
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A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter both plates have holes of one inch diameter that are equally placed and are the same from the edges as shown above. one plate is placed on top of the other so that their centers are aligned and two of the holes are perfectly aligned. If one plate remains stationary what is the least number of degrees that the other plate must be rotated so that a different pair of holes is perfectly aligned.

A. 6
B. 12
C. 18
D. 24
E. 36
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Last edited by fozzzy on 09 Jan 2013, 03:54, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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08 Jan 2013, 22:20
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As the holes are equidistant on both the plates, they form pentagon and square on their respective plate (as shown in the figure)

Lets consider two circular plates as below:
Plate1: Consider holes A & B are on Pentagon in plate1
Plate2: Consider holes P & Q are on square in plate2

Its given that two plates are kept over other and two of their holes are coinciding. Lets assume holes A & P are coinciding.
From the diagram you can see, holes B & Q can be aligned with minimum rotation. i.e. we need to find out <BOQ = x =?

Central angle formed by two vertices of pentagon i.e. $$<AOB = y = \frac{360}{5} = 72$$
Central angle formed by two vertices of square i.e. $$<POQ = \frac{360}{4} = 90$$

$$<AOB + <BOQ = <AOQ$$
i.e. $$y + x = 90$$
i.e. $$72 + x = 90$$
Resolve to $$x = 18$$

Hence choice (C) is the answer
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Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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16 Jun 2014, 22:03
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fozzzy wrote:
A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter both plates have holes of one inch diameter that are equally placed and are the same from the edges as shown above. one plate is placed on top of the other so that their centers are aligned and two of the holes are perfectly aligned. If one plate remains stationary what is the least number of degrees that the other plate must be rotated so that a different pair of holes is perfectly aligned.

A. 6
B. 12
C. 18
D. 24
E. 36

The question might be a bit complicated to understand but the solution is very simple and straight forward:
Attachment:

Ques3.jpg [ 5.38 KiB | Viewed 4867 times ]

Let's look at how the holes are placed with respect to each other. The plate which has 4 holes has holes which are 90 degrees away from each other. The plate which has 5 holes has holes which are 360/5 = 72 degrees away from each other. Assume that the holes at the top are aligned.

This is how the rest of the holes are placed on the two plates:
5 hole plate - 72 degrees, 144 degrees, 216 degrees, 288 degrees
4 hole plate - 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees

To align the first holes with each other, we can move the 5 hole plate clockwise 18 degrees. Or the second hole of 5 hole plate 36 degrees clockwise. The minimum movement required to align any two holes is 18 degrees (the difference between any two angles of the two plates)

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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for 199 Veritas Prep Reviews Manager Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 135 Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink] ### Show Tags 16 Jun 2014, 20:24 3 This post received KUDOS "Align a pair of circles..." When I read this question, in my mind, I understood it as two circle from each plate have to be aligned. I spent 10 minutes tryin to figure out how the f@#, you align two sets of holes on a plate with 4 90* seprated circle on top of 5 holed plate with 72* seperation. What they meant was a pair of holes from the TWO DIFFERENT PLATES.

Is this really math exam or an english exam. Honest to christ, I dont know.

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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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09 Jan 2013, 16:30
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The four equidistant circular rings on the first circular plate divides it into four equal parts; so each part is 1/4
The five equidistant rings on the second cirular plate divides it into five equal parts; each part is 1/5

If one of the circular plate is overlaid on the other with a pair of circular holes aligned, the holes will be 1/4 minus 1/5 = 1/20 apart from each other. If we have to align a different pair of circles, we have to move the circular plate on the top 1/20 * 360 degrees.
1/20*360 = 18 degrees.

Further explanation: I interpreted this as a form of a circle and its sector problem. Area covered by a sector is given by A = angle/360 * area of the circle
If we take area of the circular plate as 1, the area covered by each sector will be 1/20. We are asked to find out the angle subtended by the sector between the holes.

1/20 = angle/360 *1

angle = 360/20

Hope this approach helps.
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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08 Jan 2013, 21:18
Where is the screenshot!
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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08 Jan 2013, 21:19
PraPon wrote:
Where is the screenshot!

sorry it was a bit blurry tried changing it doesn't look any better
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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09 Jan 2013, 02:29
PraPon wrote:
Attachment:
Circular Plates.jpg

As the holes are equidistant on both the plates, they form pentagon and square on their respective plate (as shown in the figure)

Lets consider two circular plates as below:
Plate1: Consider holes A & B are on Pentagon in plate1
Plate2: Consider holes P & Q are on square in plate2

Its given that two plates are kept over other and two of their holes are coinciding. Lets assume holes A & P are coinciding.
From the diagram you can see, holes B & Q can be aligned with minimum rotation. i.e. we need to find out <BOQ = x =?

Central angle formed by two vertices of pentagon i.e. $$<AOB = y = \frac{360}{5} = 72$$
Central angle formed by two vertices of square i.e. $$<POQ = \frac{360}{4} = 90$$

$$<AOB + <BOQ = <AOQ$$
i.e. $$y + x = 90$$
i.e. $$72 + x = 90$$
Resolve to $$x = 18$$

Hence choice (C) is the answer

Great explanation! I didn't realize they were testing the concepts of polygon! kudos to you!
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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09 Jan 2013, 09:12
fozzzy wrote:
PraPon wrote:
Attachment:
Circular Plates.jpg

As the holes are equidistant on both the plates, they form pentagon and square on their respective plate (as shown in the figure)

Lets consider two circular plates as below:
Plate1: Consider holes A & B are on Pentagon in plate1
Plate2: Consider holes P & Q are on square in plate2

Its given that two plates are kept over other and two of their holes are coinciding. Lets assume holes A & P are coinciding.
From the diagram you can see, holes B & Q can be aligned with minimum rotation. i.e. we need to find out <BOQ = x =?

Central angle formed by two vertices of pentagon i.e. $$<AOB = y = \frac{360}{5} = 72$$
Central angle formed by two vertices of square i.e. $$<POQ = \frac{360}{4} = 90$$

$$<AOB + <BOQ = <AOQ$$
i.e. $$y + x = 90$$
i.e. $$72 + x = 90$$
Resolve to $$x = 18$$

Hence choice (C) is the answer

Great explanation! I didn't realize they were testing the concepts of polygon! kudos to you!

see the new Gmatclub math book. is well explained inside
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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09 Jan 2013, 19:19
fozzzy wrote:
A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter both plates have holes of one inch diameter that are equally placed and are the same from the edges as shown above. one plate is placed on top of the other so that their centers are aligned and two of the holes are perfectly aligned. If one plate remains stationary what is the least number of degrees that the other plate must be rotated so that a different pair of holes is perfectly aligned.

6
12
18
24
36

First plate (4 holes) = 360/4 = 90
Second Plate (5 holes) = 360/5 = 72

So least degree to get a hole aligned with other = 90 - 72 =18

Will this method be useful for similar type problems ?
Or did i go wrong anywhere?
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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09 Jan 2013, 21:57
chvrmohan4 wrote:
The four equidistant circular rings on the first circular plate divides it into four equal parts; so each part is 1/4
The five equidistant rings on the second cirular plate divides it into five equal parts; each part is 1/5

If one of the circular plate is overlaid on the other with a pair of circular holes aligned, the holes will be 1/4 minus 1/5 = 1/20 apart from each other. If we have to align a different pair of circles, we have to move the circular plate on the top 1/20 * 360 degrees.
1/20*360 = 18 degrees.

Further explanation: I interpreted this as a form of a circle and its sector problem. Area covered by a sector is given by A = angle/360 * area of the circle
If we take area of the circular plate as 1, the area covered by each sector will be 1/20. We are asked to find out the angle subtended by the sector between the holes.

1/20 = angle/360 *1

angle = 360/20

Hope this approach helps.

Really nice solution! very well thought! kudos to you
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Re: A machine has 2 flat [#permalink]

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03 Jun 2014, 22:50
carcass wrote:
fozzzy wrote:
PraPon wrote:
Attachment:
Circular Plates.jpg

As the holes are equidistant on both the plates, they form pentagon and square on their respective plate (as shown in the figure)

Lets consider two circular plates as below:
Plate1: Consider holes A & B are on Pentagon in plate1
Plate2: Consider holes P & Q are on square in plate2

Its given that two plates are kept over other and two of their holes are coinciding. Lets assume holes A & P are coinciding.
From the diagram you can see, holes B & Q can be aligned with minimum rotation. i.e. we need to find out <BOQ = x =?

Central angle formed by two vertices of pentagon i.e. $$<AOB = y = \frac{360}{5} = 72$$
Central angle formed by two vertices of square i.e. $$<POQ = \frac{360}{4} = 90$$

$$<AOB + <BOQ = <AOQ$$
i.e. $$y + x = 90$$
i.e. $$72 + x = 90$$
Resolve to $$x = 18$$

Hence choice (C) is the answer

Great explanation! I didn't realize they were testing the concepts of polygon! kudos to you!

see the new Gmatclub math book. is well explained inside

There is a potential pitfall in this approach. We cannot rely on visual inspection that <BOQ is the least. In fact there are two different pairs of holes which are the least distance apart here and hence two least degree angles though both are 18 degrees. And hence your answer happens to be correct.

Here is a different approach which I believe is more water tight.
Let plate A have 4 holes and B 5.
So holes on plate will divide the circle in the following fractions: 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4
Similarly holes on B will divide the circle in the following fractions: 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, 4/5 and 5/5
Lets multiply all values by the LCM of 4 & 5:
Holes on A: 5/20, 10/20, 15/20, 20/20 and holes on B: 4/20, 8/20, 12/20, 16/20, 20/20
4/4(20/20) from and 5/5(20/20) are already coinciding. So the next closet pairs are : 1) 5/20 & 4/20 2) 15/20 & 16/20
Both these pairs are 1/20 fraction apart. On a circle this means 360*1/20 = 18 degrees apart
Ans: C
Hope it is clear!
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Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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04 Jun 2014, 23:52
Refer screenshot below:

I just believe that it takes more time to read the problem than to solve it
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Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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18 Aug 2015, 12:40
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Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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08 Oct 2016, 09:04
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Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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13 Nov 2016, 12:39
Can some one please explain to me what does this mean:
"one plate is placed on top of the other so that their centers are aligned and two of the holes are perfectly aligned. "

How can two holes be aligned in this scenario ... I am not able to figure this out.
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Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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14 Nov 2016, 04:57
thapliya wrote:
Can some one please explain to me what does this mean:
"one plate is placed on top of the other so that their centers are aligned and two of the holes are perfectly aligned. "

How can two holes be aligned in this scenario ... I am not able to figure this out.

Look at the original diagram given. If you just put one plate perfectly on top of the other, in their current position, their top holes will be aligned.
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Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter [#permalink]

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14 Nov 2016, 05:32
thapliya wrote:
Can some one please explain to me what does this mean:
"one plate is placed on top of the other so that their centers are aligned and two of the holes are perfectly aligned. "

How can two holes be aligned in this scenario ... I am not able to figure this out.

one hole from each plate is coinciding that is how two holes are aligned in this scenario
Re: A machine has two flat circular plates of the same diameter   [#permalink] 14 Nov 2016, 05:32
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