Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 08:03 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 08:03
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,389
Own Kudos:
778,260
 [4]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,389
Kudos: 778,260
 [4]
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
OC2910
Joined: 04 Apr 2015
Last visit: 09 Feb 2023
Posts: 230
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 269
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31
GPA: 3.59
Products:
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31
Posts: 230
Kudos: 139
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 8,422
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,422
Kudos: 4,981
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
nick1816
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Oct 2018
Last visit: 06 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,849
Own Kudos:
8,237
 [1]
Given Kudos: 707
Location: India
Posts: 1,849
Kudos: 8,237
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
StrugglingGmat2910 Archit3110

At b=1, a=c=3.

It's mentioned in the question that 4 numbers are distinct.

At b=2, a=6; c=4; and d=24 (this case satisfies all the conditions)
User avatar
OC2910
Joined: 04 Apr 2015
Last visit: 09 Feb 2023
Posts: 230
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 269
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31
GPA: 3.59
Products:
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31
Posts: 230
Kudos: 139
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nick1816
StrugglingGmat2910 Archit3110

At b=1, a=c=3.

It's mentioned in the question that 4 numbers are distinct.

At b=2, a=6; c=4; and d=24 (this case satisfies all the conditions)

Nope this misses the condition of D to be maximum : please refer my solution
As per your numbers you have assumed B =2 in my final equation,which gives one of the many solutions not the maximum
User avatar
nick1816
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Oct 2018
Last visit: 06 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,849
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 707
Location: India
Posts: 1,849
Kudos: 8,237
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
You can't have a case in which D greater than 24 and satisfies all the conditions mentioned in the questions. Anyways, you can wait till the OA gonna revealed.

StrugglingGmat2910
nick1816
StrugglingGmat2910 Archit3110

At b=1, a=c=3.

It's mentioned in the question that 4 numbers are distinct.

At b=2, a=6; c=4; and d=24 (this case satisfies all the conditions)

Nope this misses the condition of D to be maximum : please refer my solution
As per your numbers you have assumed B =2 in my final equation,which gives one of the many solutions not the maximum
User avatar
OC2910
Joined: 04 Apr 2015
Last visit: 09 Feb 2023
Posts: 230
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 269
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31
GPA: 3.59
Products:
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31
Posts: 230
Kudos: 139
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nick1816
You can't have a case in which D greater than 24 and satisfies all the conditions mentioned in the questions. Anyways, you can wait till the OA gonna revealed.

StrugglingGmat2910
nick1816
StrugglingGmat2910 Archit3110

At b=1, a=c=3.

It's mentioned in the question that 4 numbers are distinct.

At b=2, a=6; c=4; and d=24 (this case satisfies all the conditions)

Nope this misses the condition of D to be maximum : please refer my solution
As per your numbers you have assumed B =2 in my final equation,which gives one of the many solutions not the maximum

absolutely pardon i missed that you perfectly correct
User avatar
pandajee
Joined: 27 Nov 2018
Last visit: 17 Dec 2022
Posts: 56
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 70
Posts: 56
Kudos: 45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
StrugglingGmat2910
nick1816
StrugglingGmat2910 Archit3110

At b=1, a=c=3.

It's mentioned in the question that 4 numbers are distinct.

At b=2, a=6; c=4; and d=24 (this case satisfies all the conditions)

Nope this misses the condition of D to be maximum : please refer my solution
As per your numbers you have assumed B =2 in my final equation,which gives one of the many solutions not the maximum

I think nick1816 is right.
There is restriction on the selection of numbers.. i.e first the numbers should be different & secondly they should be +ve . The maximum value of D is to be arrived keeping these two restrictions in mind. You are ignoring "different numbers" restriction. Similarly, if we ignore +ve numbers restrictions, we may get even higher value of D like considering b as -ve
d= 34-5b
d= 34-5(-1) = 34+5 = 39.. even higher value of D.

So, i think both restrictions are to be followed--- DIFFERENT & +VE..
avatar
Stonely
Joined: 25 Nov 2019
Last visit: 12 Feb 2020
Posts: 33
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 33
Kudos: 35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
X+1/3x+1/3x+2+y/4=9
34=5/3x+y
34-5/3x=y
If x=3 we have 34-5=29 every thing else is a non positive or non integer or smaller

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
exc4libur
Joined: 24 Nov 2016
Last visit: 22 Mar 2022
Posts: 1,684
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 607
Location: United States
Posts: 1,684
Kudos: 1,447
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The average (arithmetic mean) of four different positive integers is 9. If the first of these integers in 3 times the second integer and the second integer is 2 less than the third integer, what is the highest possible value of the fourth integer?

A. 39
B. 34
C. 30
D. 29
E. 24

a,b,c,d=9*4=36 (distinct positive integers)
a=3b, c=b+2;
3b+b+2+b+d=36
5b+d=34
b=34-d/5
d=4,9,…24,29

d=29: b=34-29/5=1, a=3b=3, c=b+2=3, a=c, invalid;
d=24: b=34-24/5=2, a=6, c=4, valid.

Ans (E)
User avatar
akbar5096
Joined: 03 Dec 2022
Last visit: 04 Feb 2024
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
3x+x+x+2+y=36
y=34-5x
now ,x=2 is satisfied the condition , 3x=6,x=2,x+2=4
so,y=34-5*2=24
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,588
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,588
Kudos: 1,079
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
Moderators:
Math Expert
105389 posts
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts