GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 21 May 2019, 21:56

### 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

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

# If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 55231
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Sep 2018, 23:13
00:00

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

77% (01:12) correct 23% (01:57) wrong based on 110 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim. If Jim is 10 years younger than Sam, how old is Sam?

A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 60

_________________
Director
Joined: 20 Feb 2015
Posts: 795
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 18 Sep 2018, 00:19
1
Bunuel wrote:
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim. If Jim is 10 years younger than Sam, how old is Sam?

A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 60

2S=40+J -----1
J=S-10 -------2

substituting 2 in 1

2J+20 = 40 + J
J=20
S=30

Originally posted by CounterSniper on 17 Sep 2018, 23:41.
Last edited by CounterSniper on 18 Sep 2018, 00:19, edited 2 times in total.
Manager
Joined: 09 Jul 2018
Posts: 65
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 18 Sep 2018, 02:41
Bunuel wrote:
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim. If Jim is 10 years younger than Sam, how old is Sam?

A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 60

Ans is B
Let Sam present age is x
So Jim age=2x-40
Also Jim age= x-10
Therefore x-10=2x-40
x=30

Originally posted by ritu1009 on 17 Sep 2018, 23:53.
Last edited by ritu1009 on 18 Sep 2018, 02:41, edited 1 time in total.
Manager
Joined: 24 Dec 2016
Posts: 96
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, General Management
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Re: If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Sep 2018, 00:11
1
CounterSniper wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim. If Jim is 10 years younger than Sam, how old is Sam?

A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 60

2S=40+J -----1
J-10=S -------2

substituting 2 in 1

2J-20 = 40 + J
J=60
S=50

Hi,
As per the question, Jim is younger than Sam but the highlighted expression implies Sam is 10 years younger than Jim.
It should be $$J = S-10$$.

Same issue with the final values you've calculated as well - Jim's age has turned out to be 10 years more than Sam's
Target Test Prep Representative
Status: Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Posts: 6200
Location: United States (CA)
Re: If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

23 Sep 2018, 16:38
Bunuel wrote:
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim. If Jim is 10 years younger than Sam, how old is Sam?

A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 60

We can let the current age of Sam and Jim = S and J, respectively, and create the equations:

2S = J + 40

and

J = S - 10

Substituting, we have:

2S = S - 10 + 40

S = 30

_________________

# Scott Woodbury-Stewart

Founder and CEO

Scott@TargetTestPrep.com
122 Reviews

5-star rated online GMAT quant
self study course

See why Target Test Prep is the top rated GMAT quant course on GMAT Club. Read Our Reviews

If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "Kudos" button.

Intern
Joined: 15 Sep 2018
Posts: 30
Re: If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

27 Sep 2018, 00:57
Let $$x$$ be Sam’s age and let $$y$$be Jim’s age. We can now translate the following phrases into algebraic expressions:

“Twice Sam’s age is 40 years greater than Jim’s age.“

$$2 \times \ Sam’s \ age = Jim’s \ age + 40$$

$$2x = y + 40$$

“Jim’s age is 10 years less than Sam’s age.“
$$Jim’s \ age \ = Sam’s \ age – 10$$
$$y = x – 10$$

We can now solve the system of equations using substitution.

$$2x = y + 40$$

Replace $$y$$ with $$(x – 10)$$:

$$2x =$$ $$(x – 10)$$ $$+ 40$$
$$2x = x + 30$$
$$x = 30$$

Therefore, Sam is 30 years old. The final answer is .
CEO
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Posts: 3722
Re: If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

19 Jan 2019, 09:56
Top Contributor
Bunuel wrote:
If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim. If Jim is 10 years younger than Sam, how old is Sam?

A. 20
B. 30
C. 40
D. 50
E. 60

Jim is 10 years younger than Sam
Let x = Sam's PRESENT age
So, x - 10 = Jim's PRESENT age

If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim.
TWICE Sam's age = 2x
So, we can write: 2x = (x - 10) + 40
Simplify: 2x = x + 30
Solve: x = 30

Cheers,
Brent
_________________
Test confidently with gmatprepnow.com
EMPOWERgmat Instructor
Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Posts: 14188
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Re: If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Jan 2019, 13:51
Hi All,

We're told that if Sam were TWICE as old as he is, then he would be 40 years older than Jim and that Jim is currently 10 years YOUNGER than Sam. We're asked for Sam's current age. This question can be solved in a couple of different ways, including by TESTing THE ANSWERS. Since the difference between the two ages is currently 10 years, and the answer choices are in increasing increments of 10 years, it's likely that we're dealing with one of the smaller answers (since by DOUBLING Sam's age will only increase the difference to 40 years). Let's TEST Answer B first:

IF... Sam is 30 years old
Jim is 30 - 10 = 20 years old
Doubling Sam's age.... (2)(30) = 60 years
60 - 20 = 40 years difference.
This matches everything that we were told, so this must be the 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

*****Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!*****

# Rich Cohen

Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin

Special Offer: Save \$75 + GMAT Club Tests Free
Official GMAT Exam Packs + 70 Pt. Improvement Guarantee
www.empowergmat.com/
Re: If Sam were twice as old as he is, he would be 40 years older than Jim   [#permalink] 20 Jan 2019, 13:51
Display posts from previous: Sort by