Kyle and Reed together have p baseball cards, where p is a

Question

Kyle and Reed together have p baseball cards, where p is a positive integer. Reed has q less baseball cards then Kyle, where q is a positive integer less than p. Which of the following represents the number of baseball cards Kyle has?

A. (p-q)/2
B. (p+2)/q
C. p/q
D. (p+q)/2
E. 2q - p

A. (p-q)/2
B. (p+2)/q
C. p/q
D. (p+q)/2
E. 2q - p

Bunuel · Answer

Say Kyle has K cards and Reed has R cards.

Given:
K+R=P
K-R=Q

Sum these two equations: (K+R)+(K-R)=P+Q --> 2K=P+Q --> K=(P+Q)/2.

Answer: D.

macjas · Answer

What is wrong with this algebraically:

K+R = P
R+Q = K

R+Q+R = P
2R = P-Q
R = (P-Q)/2

I know this is the wrong answer, but isn't this algebraically sound? So where is the discrepancy?

Swoosh617 · Answer

Algebraically that looks correct, but in that case you solved for how many cards Reed has. The question asks for how many cards Kyle has.

So really if you took your answer of R=(P-Q)/2 and substituted it back into K=R+Q, then K would equal (P+Q)/2.

macjas · Answer

Gotta read the questions more carefully!! :oops:

manulath · Answer

No Discrepancy.
 You solved for R .

Solve for K , you will get the answer.

macjas · Answer

Too many tequilas the night before can do this to you.. :drunk

damstamnd · Answer

Answer: D

The trick is that once you solve the unknown, look back at the problem and make sure you answer the question asked.

k+r = p
r = k -q
k+k-q=p

k=(p+q)/2

PareshGmat · Answer

Let cards with Kyle = x
So, cards with Reed = (p-x).............. as both in total have p cards.
From the other information
x-q = p -x ....
So x = (p+q) / 2

veergmat · Answer

This one doesnt deserve any explanation

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

This question is perfect for TESTing VALUES

We're told Kyle and Reed have a total of P cards and that Reed has Q fewer cards than Kyle:

Kyle = 5
Reed = 2
Total = P = 7
Q = 3

We're asked for the number of cards KYLE has. Based on these VALUES, the answer is 5. Now lets TEST our values for P and Q....

Answer A: (7-3)/2 = 2 NOT a match
Answer B: (7+2)/3 = 3 NOT a match
Answer C: 7/3 NOT a match
Answer D: (7+3)/2 = 5 This IS a MATCH
Answer E: 6 - 7 = -1 NOT a match

Final Answer:  D

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

RajKomanapalli · Answer

I think the Best way to solve this problem is to assume some values for variables p and q

let p = 7 and q = 3

that means Kyle has 5 and Reed has 2

now substitute the values in the options D is the answer.

Abhishek009 · Answer

Great Approach, Kudos added.

Kyle and Reed together have p baseball cards, where p is a

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Kyle and Reed together have p baseball cards, where p is a

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