Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 21:22 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 21:22
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: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,728
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,800
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,728
Kudos: 810,489
 [20]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
19
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
firas92
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 16 Jan 2019
Last visit: 02 Dec 2024
Posts: 616
Own Kudos:
1,765
 [5]
Given Kudos: 142
Location: India
Concentration: General Management
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
WE:Sales (Other)
Products:
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 616
Kudos: 1,765
 [5]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
yashikaaggarwal
User avatar
Senior Moderator - Masters Forum
Joined: 19 Jan 2020
Last visit: 29 Mar 2026
Posts: 3,089
Own Kudos:
3,158
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,510
Location: India
GPA: 4
WE:Analyst (Internet and New Media)
Posts: 3,089
Kudos: 3,158
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
sambitspm
Joined: 05 Aug 2019
Last visit: 13 Jan 2022
Posts: 317
Own Kudos:
311
 [3]
Given Kudos: 130
Location: India
Concentration: Leadership, Technology
GMAT 1: 600 Q50 V22
GMAT 2: 670 Q50 V28 (Online)
GPA: 4
GMAT 2: 670 Q50 V28 (Online)
Posts: 317
Kudos: 311
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
See the attachment
My answer = B
Attachments

1.PNG
1.PNG [ 19.42 KiB | Viewed 18827 times ]

User avatar
N22J
Joined: 21 Jan 2019
Last visit: 06 Sep 2023
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
60
 [3]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 11
Kudos: 60
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
2x+5y= 103
No need to try values rather understand pattern.
Find least possible value for X,
It's 4 and y will be 19.
Now, X will increase by 5 and y will decrease by 2.

(4,19),(9,17)....(49,1)
10 pairs.

Can be applied for any equation of type ax+by=c, to find integral solutions.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
NitishJain
User avatar
IESE School Moderator
Joined: 11 Feb 2019
Last visit: 05 Jan 2025
Posts: 266
Own Kudos:
203
 [1]
Given Kudos: 53
Posts: 266
Kudos: 203
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
B.

2x + 5y = 103
Given: x,y >0
solve for x: x = (103-5y)/2

Lets put y = 1: x = 49 ok
Lets put y = 2: x = 93/2 NO
Lets put y = 3: x = 44 ok

this means only odd values of y will satisfy the requirement that x is an integer.

Lets put y = 19: x = 4 ok
Lets put y = 20: x = 3/2 NO

for y = 21, x <0

so values of y = {1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19} = 10 values
User avatar
naveenban
Joined: 10 Oct 2017
Last visit: 25 Jul 2021
Posts: 66
Own Kudos:
56
 [1]
Given Kudos: 14
Posts: 66
Kudos: 56
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Ans. B
2x + 5y = 103.

We need 2x to end with 8 and 5y to end with 5, for the result to have unit digit 3.
X = 49, Y = 1. ( First value with the result 103 )
X = 44, Y = 3.
X = 39, Y = 5.
We can observe that an Arithematic Progression has been formed.
Last value pair would be (4,19) for (x,y)
If we solve A.P for either X or Y, we would get 10.
Option B - 10
User avatar
GMATWhizTeam
User avatar
GMATWhiz Representative
Joined: 07 May 2019
Last visit: 17 Mar 2026
Posts: 3,374
Own Kudos:
2,193
 [1]
Given Kudos: 70
Location: India
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V41
GMAT 2: 760 Q51 V40
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 760 Q51 V40
Posts: 3,374
Kudos: 2,193
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If 2x + 5y = 103, then how many pairs of (x, y), where x and y are positive integers, are there ?

A. 9
B. 10
C. 11
D. 12
E. 20


Solution


    • x and y are positive integers.
    • \(2x + 5y = 103\)
      o Or, \(x = \frac{(103 – 5y)}{2}⟹ x = \frac{ (102 – 4y)}{2} +\frac{(1-y)}{2} ⟹ x = 51 - 2y + \frac{(1 – y)}{2}\)
      o Now y can be 1, in that case \( x = 51 - 2y + \frac{(1 – y)}{2} = 51-2*1 + \frac{1-1}{2} = 49\)
      o Next value of y can be 3, in the case \(x = 51 -2*3 + \frac{(1-3)}{2} = 44\)
      o Next value of y can be 5, in that case \(x = 51 -2*5 +\frac{(1- 5)}{2} = 39\)….. And so on.
    • We can notice that value of x is decreasing by 5 and maximum possible value of x = 49.
    • Since, x is a positive integer, minimum value of x can be 4
      o In that case \(y = \frac{103 – 4*2}{5} = 19\)
    • Thus, the values of x are in A.P. such that first term is 4, last term is 49 and the common difference is 5.
      o Now, let us assume that the total possible positive integral values of x is n.
         Then, \(49 = 4 + (n – 1)*5 ⟹ n = \frac{45}{5} + 1 = 10\)
    • Therefore, total possible values of x will be 10 and correspondingly y will also have 10 values.
    • So, the required number of (x,y ) pairs = 10
Thus, the correct answer is Option B.
User avatar
yashikaaggarwal
User avatar
Senior Moderator - Masters Forum
Joined: 19 Jan 2020
Last visit: 29 Mar 2026
Posts: 3,089
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,510
Location: India
GPA: 4
WE:Analyst (Internet and New Media)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
firas92
\(2x + 5y = 103\)

\(x=\frac{103-5y}{2}\), so \(103-5y\) must be even for \(x\) to be an integer which means \(5y\) is odd and so \(y\) is odd

And since \(x\) and \(y\) are positive, we have \(5y<103\) or \(y<20.6\)

This means that \(y\) can take any odd value between \(1\) and \(19\) inclusive for each of which \(x\) has a corresponding value

So \(y=1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19\) that is \(10\) values

Answer is (D)

Posted from my mobile device

You might have to change your option From D to B. Since your solution represent B answer
User avatar
satya2029
Joined: 10 Dec 2017
Last visit: 29 Sep 2025
Posts: 229
Own Kudos:
254
 [1]
Given Kudos: 138
Location: India
Posts: 229
Kudos: 254
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If 2x + 5y = 103, then how many pairs of (x, y), where x and y are positive integers, are there ?

A. 9
B. 10
C. 11
D. 12
E. 20

Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions
Y=(103-2X)/5
Since 13-8=5 and the number will be divisible by 5
so when 2X has a unit digit 8 we will get Y positive integer
X=4,9,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49
10 values
B :)­
avatar
gradschool2021
Joined: 01 Feb 2020
Last visit: 09 Sep 2021
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
7
 [1]
Given Kudos: 64
Location: United States (TX)
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GMAT 1: 560 Q39 V28
GMAT 2: 660 Q40 V40
WE:Analyst (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
GMAT 2: 660 Q40 V40
Posts: 4
Kudos: 7
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In order for 2X + 5Y = 103 to be true, 5Y must be odd therefore Y must be an odd number.

The largest number that Y could be for this would be 19 as 5*19 = 95. The smallest number that Y could be would be 1.

Therefore the number of pairs would be the count of odd numbers, inclusive, between 1 and 19.

Answer is B.
User avatar
firas92
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 16 Jan 2019
Last visit: 02 Dec 2024
Posts: 616
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 142
Location: India
Concentration: General Management
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
WE:Sales (Other)
Products:
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 616
Kudos: 1,765
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
yashikaaggarwal
firas92
\(2x + 5y = 103\)

\(x=\frac{103-5y}{2}\), so \(103-5y\) must be even for \(x\) to be an integer which means \(5y\) is odd and so \(y\) is odd

And since \(x\) and \(y\) are positive, we have \(5y<103\) or \(y<20.6\)

This means that \(y\) can take any odd value between \(1\) and \(19\) inclusive for each of which \(x\) has a corresponding value

So \(y=1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19\) that is \(10\) values

Answer is (D)

Posted from my mobile device

You might have to change your option From D to B. Since your solution represent B answer

Edited. Thank you :)
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,986
Own Kudos:
5,855
 [1]
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,986
Kudos: 5,855
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If 2x + 5y = 103, then how many pairs of (x, y), where x and y are positive integers, are there ?

A. 9
B. 10
C. 11
D. 12
E. 20


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions
Asked: If 2x + 5y = 103, then how many pairs of (x, y), where x and y are positive integers, are there ?

y = (103-2x)/5 ; x & y are positive integers
(x,y) = (4,19) is one solution
x is increased by 5 and y is decreased by 2 for each successive solution
(x,y) = {(4,19),(9,17),(14,15),(19,13),(24,11),(29,9),(34,7),(39,5),(44,3),(49,1)}; 10 solutions

IMO B­
User avatar
GMATinsight
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 08 Jul 2010
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 6,976
Own Kudos:
16,892
 [1]
Given Kudos: 128
Status:GMAT/GRE Tutor l Admission Consultant l On-Demand Course creator
Location: India
GMAT: QUANT+DI EXPERT
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
WE:Education (Education)
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
Posts: 6,976
Kudos: 16,892
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If 2x + 5y = 103, then how many pairs of (x, y), where x and y are positive integers, are there ?

A. 9
B. 10
C. 11
D. 12
E. 20


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions
The equation that we have is 2x + 5y = 103

WHich we can re-write as \(x = \frac{103-5y}{2}\)

SInce x and y both have to be Integers so y must be ODD for 5y to be odd so that 103-5y is even for x to be integer

at y = 1, x = 49

RULE:
- The value of x changes (increases or decreases) by coefficient of y (i.e. 5 in this case and value of y changes (increases or decreases) by coefficient of x (i.e. 2 in this case and
- Value of x will decrease for increase in the value of y (for x and y to be positive integers) so the number of solution can be counted by possible values of x

5 can be subtracted 9 times from 49 to keep it positive and least

so total solutions = 1 (for x=49) + 9 (9 more solutions) = 10 SOlutions



Answer: Option B­
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 8,626
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
Products:
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,626
Kudos: 5,190
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
2x+5y=103
given x& y are integers
so
x=103-5y/2
we know odd-odd = even so value of y has to be odd to get integer value of x
and maximum value of y can be 20 i.e total 10 odd and 10 even
so we get 10 odd values of y from 1 to 19 and 10 integer values of x whose unit digit would always be either (4,9) i.e ∆ of 5
OPTION B ; 10
Bunuel
If 2x + 5y = 103, then how many pairs of (x, y), where x and y are positive integers, are there ?

A. 9
B. 10
C. 11
D. 12
E. 20


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions
­
User avatar
jhaamod10
Joined: 31 Oct 2018
Last visit: 29 Dec 2024
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 6
Posts: 12
Kudos: 3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
2x+5y=103 ,x>0, y>0
Now x is integer if y is odd
So possible values are
(49, 1) ,(44,3) ,(39, 5),(34, 7)
(29, 9),(24,11), (19, 13), (14,15)
(9, 17) and (4, 19) total 10 pairs
Hence ans is B.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,657
Own Kudos:
20,860
 [1]
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,657
Kudos: 20,860
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

Solution


Given
    • \(2x + 5y = 103\), x and y are positive integers.

To Find
    • Pairs of (x,y) that satisfy the equation.

Approach and Working Out
    • The expression can be rearranged as \(2x = 103 –5y.\)
    • Thus \(x = (103-5y)/2\). Now since x and y are positive integers, the term \((103-5y)\) should be a multiple of 2. In other words, \(103-5y\) should be even.
      o Since odd – 5y should be even, therefore 5y should be odd as well and thus y should be odd (since odd *odd = odd).
    • Therefore, the problem has been reduced to finding the possible values of positive integer ‘x’ when ‘y’ is an odd positive integer and \(x =(103-5y)/2\), where x is a positive integer.

Now smallest positive odd integer is 1, when y = 1, we get \(x = (103-5)/2 = 49.\)
    • Similarly, when \(y= 3, x = (103-15)/2 = 88/2 = 44.\)
    • Since \(103 –5y >0\), therefore \(y < 103/5\). Therefore \(y <=20 \) (since ‘y’ is a positive integer)
      o But since y is odd, therefore maximum possible value of \(y = 19\).

Number of pairs (x, y) that satisfy the equation are therefore all the pairs possible for each possible value of ‘y’.
    • Least value of \(y = 1\), greatest \(y = 19\). ‘y’ has to be odd, therefore number of possible values of \( y = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9,… 19. = 10\) total possible values.
      o We can find ‘x’ for each such possible value of ‘y’.

Correct Answer: Option B
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,959
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,959
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
109728 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts