Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 03:02 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 03:02
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: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,187
 [34]
11
Kudos
Add Kudos
23
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
778,187
 [9]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,187
 [9]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Fantasy_app
Joined: 17 Jun 2024
Last visit: 14 Aug 2024
Posts: 16
Own Kudos:
20
 [1]
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 16
Kudos: 20
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
meet459
User avatar
Goizueta / Scheller Moderator
Joined: 03 Jun 2024
Last visit: 29 May 2025
Posts: 85
Own Kudos:
95
 [2]
Given Kudos: 32
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q90 V81 DI79
GPA: 8.55
Products:
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
­Homer and Marge are in a ticket line containing fewer than 100 people, and Homer is ahead of Marge in the line. The ratio of the number of people between them to the number of people behind Homer to the number of people ahead of Marge is 2 to 5 to 9. What is the maximum number of people that could be ahead of Homer?­

Let us assume this is the line:  (x) ---- Homer ------ (y) ------ Marge ----- (z)

Where,
x represents the number of people ahead of Homer
y represents the number of people between Homer and Marge
z represents the number of people behind Marge

According to the question, it is given that,

y : y+z+1 : x+y+1 = 2 : 5 : 9

And x + y + z + 2 < 100

Using the ratio given to us, we can say that

y / (y+z+1) = 2/5     which gives us z = (3y-2)/2

and

y / (x+y+1) = 2/9    which gives us x = (7y-2)/2

Replacing x and z in the above equation, we get

(7y-2)/2 + y + (3y-2)/2 < 100

which can be simplified as     12y < 200    -> 3y < 50, Hence the max value of y can be 16

So replacing that value to get the value of x (which is the ask of the question), we get x = 55

Hence the anwer is (D) 55
User avatar
Oppenheimer1945
Joined: 16 Jul 2019
Last visit: 14 Nov 2025
Posts: 784
Own Kudos:
639
 [2]
Given Kudos: 223
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q90 V76 DI80
GPA: 7.81
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
9x+(5x-2x)<100
12x<100
x_max=8

Gives no of people behind H: 5x=40

total people 12*8=96
No of people ahead of H (including H)=96-40=56
No of people ahead of H=56-1=55­
Attachments

image_2024-07-11_210021052.png
image_2024-07-11_210021052.png [ 11.48 KiB | Viewed 2687 times ]

User avatar
said.tojiboev
User avatar
PhD Forum Moderator
Joined: 04 Oct 2018
Last visit: 20 Oct 2025
Posts: 65
Own Kudos:
60
 [1]
Given Kudos: 10
Location: Uzbekistan
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: Stanford '27
GPA: 4.49
WE:Project Management (Education)
Schools: Stanford '27
Posts: 65
Kudos: 60
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
­Homer and Marge are in a ticket line containing fewer than 100 people, and Homer is ahead of Marge in the line. The ratio of the number of people between them to the number of people behind Homer to the number of people ahead of Marge is 2 to 5 to 9. What is the maximum number of people that could be ahead of Homer?­

A. 40
B. 48
C. 54
D. 55
E. 56­

­
 


This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT Club Olympics Competition

Win over $30,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 

­
­
Attachment:
GMAT-Club-Forum-mb9fmjwj.png
GMAT-Club-Forum-mb9fmjwj.png [ 45.57 KiB | Viewed 1709 times ]
User avatar
sakshijjw
Joined: 14 May 2024
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 47
Given Kudos: 48
Location: India
Posts: 47
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

Bunuel
­Homer and Marge are in a ticket line containing fewer than 100 people, and Homer is ahead of Marge in the line. The ratio of the number of people between them to the number of people behind Homer to the number of people ahead of Marge is 2 to 5 to 9. What is the maximum number of people that could be ahead of Homer?­

A. 40
B. 48
C. 54
D. 55
E. 56
­
­

GMAT Club Official Explanation:



Given:


  • 2x people between Homer and Marge
  • 5x people behind Homer (including Marge)
  • 9x people ahead of Marge (including Homer)­

The total number of people in the line can be expressed as: 9x + 5x - 2x = 12x. Since this should be fewer than 100 people, we get 12x < 100, which gives x < 8.something. Since x must be a positive integer, the maximum value for x is 8, making the maximum number of people in the line equal to 12x = 96. Thus, the maximum number of people behind Homer would be 5x = 40. Therefore, Homer is 96 - 40 = 56th in the line.

Therefore, the maximum number of people that could be ahead of Homer is 55.

Answer: D.­
­Hello Bunuel,

I just wanna know why did you subtarct 2x from 9x and 5x
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,187
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sakshijjw

Bunuel

Bunuel
­Homer and Marge are in a ticket line containing fewer than 100 people, and Homer is ahead of Marge in the line. The ratio of the number of people between them to the number of people behind Homer to the number of people ahead of Marge is 2 to 5 to 9. What is the maximum number of people that could be ahead of Homer?­

A. 40
B. 48
C. 54
D. 55
E. 56
­
­

GMAT Club Official Explanation:



Given:



  • 2x people between Homer and Marge
  • 5x people behind Homer (including Marge)
  • 9x people ahead of Marge (including Homer)­

The total number of people in the line can be expressed as: 9x + 5x - 2x = 12x. Since this should be fewer than 100 people, we get 12x < 100, which gives x < 8.something. Since x must be a positive integer, the maximum value for x is 8, making the maximum number of people in the line equal to 12x = 96. Thus, the maximum number of people behind Homer would be 5x = 40. Therefore, Homer is 96 - 40 = 56th in the line.

Therefore, the maximum number of people that could be ahead of Homer is 55.

Answer: D.­
­Hello Bunuel,

I just wanna know why did you subtarct 2x from 9x and 5x
­
The 2x people between Homer and Marge are subtracted because they are counted in both groups: the 5x people behind Homer and the 9x people ahead of Marge. Subtracting 2x avoids double-counting these individuals.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,582
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,582
Kudos: 1,079
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
105379 posts
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts