Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 17:18 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 17:18
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
Chembeti
Joined: 25 Nov 2011
Last visit: 26 Jun 2012
Posts: 123
Own Kudos:
1,047
 [40]
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GPA: 3.95
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 123
Kudos: 1,047
 [40]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
35
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,785
Own Kudos:
810,870
 [4]
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,785
Kudos: 810,870
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
WillEconomistGMAT
User avatar
Economist GMAT Tutor Instructor
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 19 Dec 2013
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
193
 [3]
Given Kudos: 7
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 58
Kudos: 193
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Elliefry
Joined: 06 Sep 2015
Last visit: 20 Mar 2016
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Question - why wouldn't it be 12C1 x 11C1, because you're picking one endpoint, then a second endpoint?
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,451
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Chembeti
Assume that there are 12 points on a straight line as shown below:

--*-*-*----*-*-*-*-*--*-*-*-*

How many circles can be drawn on the line segment above if each circle is subject to the rule that the endpoints of one of its diameters must be any two of the points?

A. 36
B. 66
C. 72
D. 78
E. 121

Any 2 different points out of given 12 colinear points can be the endpoints of the diameter, so there can be \(C^2_{12}=66\) circles drawn.

Answer: B.

Bunuel's solution is the best/fastest approach I can think of.

If anyone is interested, we have a free video on quickly calculating combinations (like 12C2) in your head: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/789

Cheers,
Brent
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,047
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

There's a great built-in pattern that you can use to solve this question with just a bit of 'brute force' arithmetic.

Let's call the points A,B,C,D,E F,G,H,I,J K and L

The circles that include point A are...
AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, AH, AI, AJ, AK and AL = 11 circles.

Since AB has already been accounted for, here are the additional circles that contain point B...
BC, BD, BE, BF, BG, BH, BI, BJ, BK and BL = 10 circles

Since AC and BC have already been accounted for, here are the additional circles that contain point C...
CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CI, CJ, CK and CL = 9 circles

Notice how the numbers decrease by 1 with each set of new circles? That pattern will continue, so we have...

11+10+9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1 = 66 total circles

Final Answer:
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,964
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,964
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109785 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts