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

 It is currently 22 Apr 2019, 05:15

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

M07-15

Author Message
TAGS:

Hide Tags

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 54434

Show Tags

16 Sep 2014, 00:34
00:00

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

79% (01:35) correct 21% (01:28) wrong based on 66 sessions

HideShow timer Statistics

At Springfield High, three-fourths of the male students and half of the female students speak a foreign language. If the number of males is two-thirds the number of females, what fraction of the students speak a foreign language?

A. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
B. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
C. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
D. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
E. $$\frac{3}{5}$$

_________________
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 54434

Show Tags

16 Sep 2014, 00:34
Official Solution:

At Springfield High, three-fourths of the male students and half of the female students speak a foreign language. If the number of males is two-thirds the number of females, what fraction of the students speak a foreign language?

A. $$\frac{1}{3}$$
B. $$\frac{2}{3}$$
C. $$\frac{1}{2}$$
D. $$\frac{3}{4}$$
E. $$\frac{3}{5}$$

The number of males is two-thirds the number of females: $$M=\frac{2}{3}F$$, so $$M:F=2:3$$.

Now, say the total number of students is 100, then there are 40 males and 60 females (ratio 40:60=2:3).

So, $$\frac{3}{4}*40+\frac{1}{2}*60=60$$ students speak foreign language, which is $$\frac{60}{100}=\frac{3}{5}$$ of total students.

_________________
Intern
Joined: 26 Jul 2016
Posts: 28
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Entrepreneurship
Schools: Tepper '19
GPA: 3.69
WE: Analyst (Manufacturing)

Show Tags

11 Oct 2016, 13:02
WHY DID I GET A WRONG ANSWER WHEN I TOOK THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AS 30 = 20 MALE,10 FEMALE

3/4*20(BOYS) +1/2(10) GIRLS = TOTAL

15+5=20

RATIO = 20/30

=2/3
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 54434

Show Tags

13 Oct 2016, 02:34
yashrakhiani wrote:
WHY DID I GET A WRONG ANSWER WHEN I TOOK THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AS 30 = 20 MALE,10 FEMALE

3/4*20(BOYS) +1/2(10) GIRLS = TOTAL

15+5=20

RATIO = 20/30

=2/3

The ratio between male and female students is 2:3. If there are 30 students then m = 12 boys (not 20) and f = 18 (not 10) --> m:f = 12:18 = 2:3.
_________________
Manager
Joined: 25 Mar 2013
Posts: 238
Location: United States
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Marketing
GPA: 3.5

Show Tags

13 Nov 2016, 18:23
Yes , Even i did the same mistake. On re - do Males are 12 and Females are 18 with Total students 30 as the ratio is 2:3
_________________
I welcome analysis on my posts and kudo +1 if helpful. It helps me to improve my craft.Thank you
Manager
Joined: 12 Jun 2016
Posts: 214
Location: India
WE: Sales (Telecommunications)

Show Tags

08 Jul 2017, 03:43
I guess the key take away of this question is picking numbers by carefully reading the questions.

Pick number of female to be a number divisible by 3 and 4. It will make the calculation easier

Let Females = 12.

Males = $$\frac{2}{3}* 12 = 8$$

Total = 20

Males speaking foreign = $$\frac{3}{4} * 8 = 6$$

Females speaking foreign = $$\frac{1}{2} * 12 = 6$$

Total speaking foreign $$= 6+ 6 = 12$$

Required Ratio $$= \frac{12}{20}= \frac{3}{5}$$
_________________
My Best is yet to come!
Re: M07-15   [#permalink] 08 Jul 2017, 03:43
Display posts from previous: Sort by

M07-15

Moderators: chetan2u, Bunuel

 Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.