Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthda

Question

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthdays today. Joan is 2 years younger than Kylie, Kylie is 3 years older than Lillian, and Miriam is one year older than Joan. Which of the following could be the combined age of all four women today?

A. 51
B. 52
C. 53
D. 54
E. 55

A. 51 
B. 52 
C. 53 
D. 54 
E. 55

axl_oz · Accepted Answer

Some time ago I read in Kaplan... that if a question has the phrase "Which of the following..." (verbal or Quant) try the answer choices from the bottom (from E up)...

That's how I got in my very second choice (D) I got the answer without attempting the other 3...

Just thought I'd share that piece of info...

If u guys already know this... discard this message

Bunuel · Answer

Similar "age" problems to practice: today-rose-is-twice-as-old-as-sam-and-sam-is-3-years-younger-131477.html jack-is-now-14-years-older-than-bill-if-in-10-years-jack-144435.html age-problem-m03q13-74810.html if-father-s-age-is-1-less-than-twice-the-son-s-age-what-is-126832.html john-is-20-years-older-than-brian-12-years-ago-john-was-132135.html 8-years-ago-george-was-half-as-old-as-sarah-sarah-is-now-132076.html in-ten-years-david-will-be-four-times-as-old-as-aaron-twen-104243.html roy-is-now-4-years-older-than-erik-and-half-of-that-amount-90386.html three-years-from-now-dathan-will-be-three-times-as-old-as-e-162041.html if-mario-was-32-years-old-8-years-ago-how-old-was-he-x-year-164898.html what-is-ricky-s-age-now-165766.html the-sum-of-the-ages-of-doris-and-fred-is-y-years-if-doris-167918.html

NightAlum · Answer

Answer D

total- x+x+1+x+2+x+3
total= 4x+6
birthdays at the same day, so total = integer
54 -6 = 48, which is divisible by 4
so, x= 12
4*12 +6 = 54

bkk145 · Answer

D

K = J + 2
K = L + 3
M = J + 1
Total = K + J + M + L = K + K - 2 + K - 2 + 1 + K - 3 = 4K - 6

I tried out all numbers and only 54 works as an integer of K. 
(54 + 6)/4 = K = integer
The rest give fractions.

FN · Answer

the way i did is very similar to Bkk's approach..

j=k-2
k=L+3
m=1+J
L=L

j=L+1; M=L+2

total sum of ages= (L+1+L+2+L+3+L=4L+6

then i subtract 6 from all the answer choices..the resulting number should be divisible by 4..

54 is the only one

D it is..

Safiya · Answer

I'd say 54 as well...

J= K-2 = K-2
K= L+3 = K
L= K-3 = K-3
M= J+1 = K-1

Then, I gave K=15 so 15+14+13+12= 54

FN · Answer

i was just thinking..if you are in a tight spot and have to quickly think..maybe you have 3 questions left and only 1 minute left to do em..

you know that one of the girls is 2 years younger and one is 3 years older..

so then of the answer choice..1 of these choices must be divisble by 3..now look at 2..the answer choice has to be even..so 54 is the best choice..51 is close but its not divisible by 2..

PareshGmat · Answer

Let present age of Kylie = x, then present ages of....

Joan = x-2

Lillian = x-3

Miriam = x-1

Total age = x + x-1 + x-2 + x-3

= 4x - 6

Option A, C, E are odd, hence can be discarded

54 + 6 = 60 which is divisible by 4

Answer = D

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

The first part of this question requires translating sentences into formulas:

J + 2 = K 
L + 3 = K 
J + 1 = M

Even if you translated these formulas differently (but correctly), you still have a relationship among the 4 variables that needs to be discovered. You can TEST VALUES to figure out the relationship:

If K = 10, then 
J = 8 
L = 7 
M = 9

Now we know that the 4 values are consecutive.

To solve, you can either use "brute-force" (since the answers are small) or algebra:

Brute-Force: 
11 + 12 + 13 + 14 = 50 NOT ENOUGH BASED ON THE ANSWERS 
12 + 13 + 14 + 15 = 54 WINNER

Algebra: 
Call the youngest person X 
X + (X+1) + (X+2) + (X+3) = 4X + 6 
If X = 11, total = 50 NOT ENOUGH BASED ON THE ANSWERS 
If X = 12, total = 54 WINNER

Either way, you have the correct answer.

Final Answer:  D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

testcracker · Answer

the problem is solved as soon as the data, given, are elegantly simplified

given
j = k -2
k = L + 3
m = j + 1

So

j = k-2 so far so good
k = L +3
L = k - 3 now manageable
m = j + 1
or m = k-2 + 1 putting the value of j
or m = k - 1

now we are in business

j + k + L + m
= k -2 + k + k-3 + k-1
=4k - 6

only D fits in

dave13 · Answer

VeritasKarishma can you pls provide your solution

KarishmaB · Answer

Say Joan's age = J
Kylie = J + 2
Lillian = (J + 2) - 3 = J - 1
Miriam = J + 1

If you add them all, you get 4J + 2 ( a multiple of 2 but not of 4)
So only 54 is possible.

Answer (D)

bumpbot · Answer

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.

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthda

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Problem Solving (PS) Questions

Joan, Kylie, Lillian, and Miriam all celebrate their birthda

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards