Last visit was: 29 Apr 2026, 15:06 It is currently 29 Apr 2026, 15:06
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 29 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,975
Own Kudos:
811,981
 [7]
Given Kudos: 105,949
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,975
Kudos: 811,981
 [7]
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of 18 Aug 2015, 02:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
7
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

82% (02:03) correct 18% (02:39) wrong based on 215 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of Michael and Monica are in the ratio of 3 : 5. If the sum of their ages is 147, what is the difference between the ages of Patrick and Monica?

A. 27
B. 48
C. 45
D. 72
E. 18
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
User avatar
KS15
User avatar
Joined: 21 May 2013
Last visit: 25 Jul 2019
Posts: 531
Own Kudos:
259
 [1]
Given Kudos: 608
Posts: 531
Kudos: 259
 [1]
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of 18 Aug 2015, 02:32
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of Michael and Monica are in the ratio of 3 : 5. If the sum of their ages is 147, what is the difference between the ages of Patrick and Monica?

A. 27
B. 48
C. 45
D. 72
E. 18

Kudos for a correct [i]solution.[/i]
Show more


Ages of P and Mi=3x+5x
Ages of Mi and Mo=3x:5x
Rationalizing their ages. ratio of their ages will be 9x:15x:25x
Sum=47x=147
x=3
Difference if ages of Pa and Mo=25x-9x=16x=16*3=48
Answer B
User avatar
cutegirlsimran
User avatar
Joined: 22 Feb 2015
Last visit: 16 Jul 2016
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
168
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, Operations
Schools: Rotman '18 Jindal UTDallas'18 Sauder '18 Wharton '18
GMAT Date: 04-01-2015
GPA: 3.98
Schools: Rotman '18 Jindal UTDallas'18 Sauder '18 Wharton '18
Posts: 51
Kudos: 168
 [1]
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of 18 Aug 2015, 06:58
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Correct Answer must be 48
Attachments

Capture1.PNG
Capture1.PNG [ 4.59 KiB | Viewed 6691 times ]

User avatar
mathivanan
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jun 2015
Last visit: 20 Sep 2015
Posts: 83
Own Kudos:
79
Posts: 83
Kudos: 79
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of 18 Aug 2015, 07:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of Michael and Monica are in the ratio of 3 : 5. If the sum of their ages is 147, what is the difference between the ages of Patrick and Monica?

A. 27
B. 48
C. 45
D. 72
E. 18

Kudos for a correct [i]solution.[/i]
Show more

P MI Mo
3 5
3 5
--------------
9 15 25 (3*3, 5*3, 5*5)
sum of the ratio =49
147 is three times 49
therefore, the ages are 27, 45, and 75
the difference is 48
Hence, the correct option is B
User avatar
VenoMfTw
User avatar
Joined: 14 Mar 2014
Last visit: 15 Aug 2019
Posts: 133
Own Kudos:
487
 [1]
Given Kudos: 124
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V34
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V34
Posts: 133
Kudos: 487
 [1]
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of 18 Aug 2015, 23:55
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of Michael and Monica are in the ratio of 3 : 5. If the sum of their ages is 147, what is the difference between the ages of Patrick and Monica?

A. 27
B. 48
C. 45
D. 72
E. 18

Kudos for a correct [i]solution.[/i]
Show more

IMO: B

P:Mi = 3:5
Mi:Mo = 3:5
-----------------
P:Mi:Mo = 9:15:25
Thus Let
P = 9x
Mi = 15x
Mo = 25x

Given 9x+15x+25x = 147
x=3
Mo-P = 25x-9x = 16x
= 16*3 =48
User avatar
CEdward
User avatar
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 Apr 2022
Posts: 1,161
Own Kudos:
289
Given Kudos: 332
Posts: 1,161
Kudos: 289
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of 18 Nov 2020, 22:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I got the correct answer, but still don't fully understand the logic behind using Michael as the common term and deriving 9x + 15x + 25x. How does getting 9x/15x for P:Mich and 15x/25x achieve that?
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,996
Own Kudos:
1,120
Posts: 38,996
Kudos: 1,120
The ages of Patrick and Michael are in the ratio of 3 : 5 and that of 06 Dec 2022, 13:16
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:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109975 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts