|
Author |
Message |
|
TAGS:
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 176
|
At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
 22 Oct 2009, 15:11
6
This post was
BOOKMARKED
D
E
Question Stats:
68% (01:46) correct
32% (00:31) wrong based on 388 sessions
HideShow timer Statistics
At a certain college there are twice as many English majors as history majors and three times as many English majors as mathematics majors. What is the ratio of the number of history majors to the number of mathematics majors? A. 6 to 1 B. 3 to 2 C. 2 to 3 D. 1 to 5 E. 1 to 6 Hi, I have a problem reading such questions. Does it mean for each one English major, there are 2 history majors and 3 math majors? or is it for every one history major there are 2 english majors and for each math major, there are 3 english ones. 
Official Answer and Stats are available only to registered users. Register/ Login.
Last edited by Bunuel on 17 Dec 2013, 01:48, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic, edited the question and added the OA.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Location: Los Angeles
|
Re: how to read math questions in English? [#permalink]
Show Tags
26 Oct 2009, 12:04
1
This post received
KUDOS
This is how I translated the question:
At a certain college there are twice as many english majors as history majors
E = 2H
and three times as many english majors as mathematics majors.
E = 3M
What is the ratio of the number of history majors to the number of mathematics majors?
What is H:M?
Just set E equal to each other to get the ratio in terms of H and M.
2H = 3M
H/M = 3/2
The answer is 3:2
Last edited by GMATBootcamp on 27 Oct 2009, 22:17, edited 2 times in total.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 39723
|
Re: how to read math questions in English? [#permalink]
Show Tags
27 Oct 2009, 17:16
6
This post received
KUDOS
Expert's post
7
This post was
BOOKMARKED
At a certain college there are twice as many english majors as history majors and three times as many english majors as mathematics majors. What is the ratio of the number of history majors to the number of mathematics majors?Think above is not correct, though the final answer IS correct. But again there is a mistake in calculations, if it were as it's written above answer would be 2/3. So there are two mistakes in the solution, one in ratio translation and the second in calculation. At a certain college there are twice as many english majors as history majors: E = 2H (as there are MORE english majors) and three times as many english majors as mathematics majors: E = 3M (as there are MORE english majors) What is the ratio of the number of history majors to the number of mathematics majors?
What is \(\frac{H}{M}\)? \(H=\frac{E}{2}\), \(M=\frac{E}{3}\) --> \(\frac{H}{M}=\frac{3}{2}\) Answer: B.
_________________
New to the Math Forum?
Please read this: All You Need for Quant | PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW: 12 Rules for Posting!!!
Resources:
GMAT Math Book | Triangles | Polygons | Coordinate Geometry | Factorials | Circles | Number Theory | Remainders; 8. Overlapping Sets | PDF of Math Book; 10. Remainders | GMAT Prep Software Analysis | SEVEN SAMURAI OF 2012 (BEST DISCUSSIONS) | Tricky questions from previous years.
Collection of Questions:
PS: 1. Tough and Tricky questions; 2. Hard questions; 3. Hard questions part 2; 4. Standard deviation; 5. Tough Problem Solving Questions With Solutions; 6. Probability and Combinations Questions With Solutions; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 12 Easy Pieces (or not?); 9 Bakers' Dozen; 10 Algebra set. ,11 Mixed Questions, 12 Fresh Meat
DS: 1. DS tough questions; 2. DS tough questions part 2; 3. DS tough questions part 3; 4. DS Standard deviation; 5. Inequalities; 6. 700+ GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions With Explanations; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 The Discreet Charm of the DS; 9 Devil's Dozen!!!; 10 Number Properties set., 11 New DS set.
What are GMAT Club Tests?
Extra-hard Quant Tests with Brilliant Analytics
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Posts: 43
Location: Los Angeles
|
Re: how to read math questions in English? [#permalink]
Show Tags
27 Oct 2009, 18:19
HAHA you are right. I can't believe I did that. Just goes to show you how two wrongs can make a right? Kudos to you sir, thanks for pointing out my blunder.
_________________
Paul
Focused GMAT Prep
http://www.thegmatbootcamp.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 16008
|
Re: how to read math questions in English? [#permalink]
Show Tags
16 Dec 2013, 19:20
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.
_________________
GMAT Books | GMAT Club Tests | Best Prices on GMAT Courses | GMAT Mobile App | Math Resources | Verbal Resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 16008
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
15 Feb 2015, 10:56
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.
_________________
GMAT Books | GMAT Club Tests | Best Prices on GMAT Courses | GMAT Mobile App | Math Resources | Verbal Resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Posts: 9279
Location: United States (CA)
GRE 1: 340 Q170 V170
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
15 Feb 2015, 14:35
Hi All, Since this question just describes how 1 variables relates to 2 other variables, we can TEST VALUES to put those relationships in terms of real numbers... We're told that: 1) There are TWICE as many English majors as History majors. 2) There are THREE TIMES as many English majors as Math majors. Since, the number of English majors is 2 times a number and 3 times another number, let's choose... English majors = 6 Using the two given facts, we have.... History majors = 3 Math majors = 2 The question asks for the ratio of the number of History majors to the number of Math majors. Using the numbers above, we have... H:M 3:2 Final Answer: GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich
_________________
760+: Learn What GMAT Assassins Do to Score at the Highest Levels
Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com
Rich Cohen
Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin
***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!***********************
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intern
Joined: 28 Jul 2015
Posts: 1
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
12 Jan 2016, 13:57
I've seen different solutions to this exercise. I wanted to share how I approached it. I looked for the unknown multiplier. This is what I wrote down: E : H : M 2 : 1 : ? 3 : ? : 1 Multiplied line 1 by 3 Multiplied line 2 by 2 The combined ratio is E : H : M 6 : 3 : 2 Therefore, the ratio of H : M is 3 : 2 Hope it helps! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 16008
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
19 Jan 2017, 09:07
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.
_________________
GMAT Books | GMAT Club Tests | Best Prices on GMAT Courses | GMAT Mobile App | Math Resources | Verbal Resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 19 Aug 2016
Posts: 91
Location: India
GPA: 3.82
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
22 Apr 2017, 14:39
Bunuel wrote: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors as history majors and three times as many english majors as mathematics majors. What is the ratio of the number of history majors to the number of mathematics majors?
Think above is not correct, though the final answer IS correct. But again there is a mistake in calculations, if it were as it's written above answer would be 2/3. So there are two mistakes in the solution, one in ratio translation and the second in calculation.
At a certain college there are twice as many english majors as history majors:
E = 2H (as there are MORE english majors)
and three times as many english majors as mathematics majors:
E = 3M (as there are MORE english majors)
What is the ratio of the number of history majors to the number of mathematics majors?
What is \(\frac{H}{M}\)?
\(H=\frac{E}{2}\), \(M=\frac{E}{3}\) --> \(\frac{H}{M}=\frac{3}{2}\)
Answer: B. Hi Bunuel, I also marked my answer as 2:3 only to find it wrong. Can you please explain what am I doing wrong if I am directly putting 2H/3M to take out the ratio?
_________________
Consider giving me Kudos if you find my posts useful, challenging and helpful!
|
|
|
|
|
|
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Posts: 9279
Location: United States (CA)
GRE 1: 340 Q170 V170
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
22 Apr 2017, 16:29
Hi ashikaverma13, It's important to remember what the question ASKS for... You have not shown any of the work that you've done, so I assume that when you get to 2H/3M in your work, you were actually looking at 2H = 3M. In math terms, this means "2 times the number of History majors is equal to 3 times the number of Math majors." From here, you can either continue to do algebra or you can think in terms of real-world numbers. Algebraically, you'd have... 2H = 3M 2H/M = 3 H/M = 3/2 So the ratio of H to M is 3:2 In real-world terms, you cannot have a 'fraction' of a person, so let's look for a number that's both a multiple of 2 and a multiple of 3.... 6 2H = 3M 6 = 6 So, if 2H = 6 and 3M = 6, then... H = 3 and M = 2... So the ratio of H to M is 3:2 GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich
_________________
760+: Learn What GMAT Assassins Do to Score at the Highest Levels
Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com
Rich Cohen
Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin
***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!***********************
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manager
Joined: 19 Aug 2016
Posts: 91
Location: India
GPA: 3.82
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors [#permalink]
Show Tags
23 Apr 2017, 02:57
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote: Hi ashikaverma13,
It's important to remember what the question ASKS for...
You have not shown any of the work that you've done, so I assume that when you get to 2H/3M in your work, you were actually looking at 2H = 3M. In math terms, this means "2 times the number of History majors is equal to 3 times the number of Math majors."
From here, you can either continue to do algebra or you can think in terms of real-world numbers.
Algebraically, you'd have...
2H = 3M
2H/M = 3
H/M = 3/2
So the ratio of H to M is 3:2
In real-world terms, you cannot have a 'fraction' of a person, so let's look for a number that's both a multiple of 2 and a multiple of 3.... 6
2H = 3M
6 = 6
So, if 2H = 6 and 3M = 6, then...
H = 3 and M = 2...
So the ratio of H to M is 3:2
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich Hi, Yea, I miscalculated at the last step. missed the last step of calculation actually and converted 2H=3M in the ratio of 2:3 and missed the conversion. Thanks, it is clear to me now.
_________________
Consider giving me Kudos if you find my posts useful, challenging and helpful!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re: At a certain college there are twice as many english majors
[#permalink]
23 Apr 2017, 02:57
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
