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# The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added

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The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 29 Oct 2012, 00:26
1
30
00:00

Difficulty:

45% (medium)

Question Stats:

72% (02:41) correct 28% (02:42) wrong based on 635 sessions

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The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ?

A. 1
B. 13
C. 14
D. 18
E. 21

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Originally posted by Hussain15 on 03 Jun 2010, 07:17.
Last edited by Bunuel on 29 Oct 2012, 00:26, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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03 Jun 2010, 07:34
9
14
Hussain15 wrote:
The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ?

A. 1
B. 13
C. 14
D. 18
E. 21

Kindly share the time in which you have answered the question.

The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4 --> $$\frac{a}{b}=\frac{3x}{4x}$$, for some positive integer $$x$$.

If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5 --> $$\frac{3x+k}{4x+k}=\frac{4}{5}$$ --> $$15x+5k=16x+4k$$ --> $$x=k$$.

The sum of the numbers will be 117 (I believe it means that the sum of the numbers after we add k to each) --> $$3x+k+4x+k=117$$ --> $$7x+2k=117$$ --> as from above $$x=k$$ --> $$7k+2k=117$$ --> $$k=13$$.

With the above approach it shouldn't take more than 30 secs.
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04 Jun 2010, 13:07
5
Hussain15 wrote:
The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ?

A. 1
B. 13
C. 14
D. 18
E. 21

Kindly share the time in which you have answered the question.

I think I approached this in a slightly different manner than Bunuel:

9x = 117
7x = 117 - 2k

Combine the equations:

2x = 2k

k = x = 117 / 9 = 13

Took about the same time as Bunuel but I found it easier.

Thanks
##### General Discussion
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04 Jun 2010, 00:46
1
Thanks Bunuel!! 13 is the answer
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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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10 Mar 2014, 20:11
5
One more method:

Just look at the ratio's provided

Earlier it was 3:4 & after addition of K to numerator & denominator, ratio went to 4:5

In such cases, we are just adding the same no. to numerator & denominator, so calculation can be done directly

4x + 5x = 117; 9x = 117; x = 13 = K
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10 Mar 2014, 20:16
1
Bunuel wrote:
Hussain15 wrote:
The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ?

A. 1
B. 13
C. 14
D. 18
E. 21

Kindly share the time in which you have answered the question.

The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4 --> $$\frac{a}{b}=\frac{3x}{4x}$$, for some positive integer $$x$$.

If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5 --> $$\frac{3x+k}{4x+k}=\frac{4}{5}$$ --> $$15x+5k=16x+4k$$ --> $$x=k$$.

The sum of the numbers will be 117 (I believe it means that the sum of the numbers after we add k to each) --> $$3x+k+4x+k=117$$ --> $$7x+2k=117$$ --> as from above $$x=k$$ --> $$7k+2k=117$$ --> $$k=13$$.

With the above approach it shouldn't take more than 30 secs.

We have $$\frac{3x}{4x} = \frac{3}{4}$$................ (1)

Also, $$\frac{3x+k}{4x+k} = \frac{4}{5}$$ .............. (2)

Looking at (1) & (2), we know that denominator of (1) = numerator of (2)

So we can directly equate:

4x = 3x + k

x = k = 13 = Answer
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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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06 Oct 2015, 09:05
Bunuel wrote:
Hussain15 wrote:
The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ?

A. 1
B. 13
C. 14
D. 18
E. 21

Kindly share the time in which you have answered the question.

The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4 --> $$\frac{a}{b}=\frac{3x}{4x}$$, for some positive integer $$x$$.

If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5 --> $$\frac{3x+k}{4x+k}=\frac{4}{5}$$ --> $$15x+5k=16x+4k$$ --> $$x=k$$.

The sum of the numbers will be 117 (I believe it means that the sum of the numbers after we add k to each) --> $$3x+k+4x+k=117$$ --> $$7x+2k=117$$ --> as from above $$x=k$$ --> $$7k+2k=117$$ --> $$k=13$$.

With the above approach it shouldn't take more than 30 secs.

Some general question to the number properties in this case.
I thought when we have a ratio of two numbers, like 3 to 4, this means --> 3:4 = 3/7 and 4/7
Why can we here express this in the fraction 3x/4x and not 3x/(4x+3x) and 4x/(3x+4x) ???
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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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06 Oct 2015, 20:50
1
Hi LaxAvenger,

You could refer to both parts of the ratio as you've described, but it would create more work for you overall. In these types of ratio question, when taking a 'math' approach, it's almost always easiest to do the work in 'part to part' format and not "part-to-whole TO "part-to-whole."

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Special Offer: Save $75 + GMAT Club Tests Free Official GMAT Exam Packs + 70 Pt. Improvement Guarantee www.empowergmat.com/ *****Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!***** Manager Joined: 08 Sep 2012 Posts: 61 Location: India Concentration: Social Entrepreneurship, General Management WE: Engineering (Investment Banking) Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added [#permalink] ### Show Tags 25 Oct 2015, 03:29 Bunuel wrote: Hussain15 wrote: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ? A. 1 B. 13 C. 14 D. 18 E. 21 Kindly share the time in which you have answered the question. The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4 --> $$\frac{a}{b}=\frac{3x}{4x}$$, for some positive integer $$x$$. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5 --> $$\frac{3x+k}{4x+k}=\frac{4}{5}$$ --> $$15x+5k=16x+4k$$ --> $$x=k$$. The sum of the numbers will be 117 (I believe it means that the sum of the numbers after we add k to each) --> $$3x+k+4x+k=117$$ --> $$7x+2k=117$$ --> as from above $$x=k$$ --> $$7k+2k=117$$ --> $$k=13$$. Answer: B. With the above approach it shouldn't take more than 30 secs. Bunuel, I couldnt understand why you took a/b = 3x / 4x I started with a/b = 3/4 and completely lost the plot. Is this wrong approach? _________________ +1 Kudos if you liked my post! Thank you! EMPOWERgmat Instructor Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat Joined: 19 Dec 2014 Posts: 13577 Location: United States (CA) GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49 GRE 1: Q170 V170 Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added [#permalink] ### Show Tags 25 Oct 2015, 11:39 2 Hi sagar2911, When we're told that the ratio of A:B is 3 to 4, that means that A = some multiple of 3 and B = the equivalent multiple of 4. For example: A = 3 and B = 4 A = 6 and B = 8 A = 9 and B = 12 Etc. Mathematically, since we don't know WHICH multiple we're dealing with, we have to assign a variable to it. Thus... A/B = 3X/4X This allows us to construct more complex equations that are based on that original ratio. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ 760+: Learn What GMAT Assassins Do to Score at the Highest Levels Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com # Rich Cohen Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin Special Offer: Save$75 + GMAT Club Tests Free
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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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01 Nov 2016, 03:56
thanks Bunuel! the way you solved this question is great
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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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07 Dec 2017, 15:03
Hi All,

Many Test Takers would approach this question algebraically, but you can also approach this question by working back from the final piece of information and TESTing THE ANSWERS.

We're told that two numbers will end up in the ratio of 4:5 and their sum will be 117

4:5 is the same as saying 4X:5X

4X + 5X = 117
9X = 117
X = 13

Thus, the two "end" numbers are 4(13) and 5(13): 52 and 65

The question asks for the value of K - the value that was added to the ORIGINAL 2 numbers to get us to 52 and 65.

We know from the original ratio of 3:4 that the first number is a multiple of 3 and the second number is the equivalent multiple of 4. So we're looking for whichever answer, when subtracted from 52 and 65, gives us a number that's a multiple of 3 and another that's the SAME multiple of 4....

52-1 = 51 = 3(17)
65-1 = 64 = 4(16)
NOT the same multiple.

52-13 = 39 = 3(13)
65-13 = 52 = 4(13)
This IS the SAME multiple, so this must be the answer.

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The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 13 Jan 2018, 11:11
Hussain15 wrote:
The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ?

A. 1
B. 13
C. 14
D. 18
E. 21

9x=117
x=13
7x=91
91+2k=117
k=13
B

Originally posted by gracie on 07 Dec 2017, 22:18.
Last edited by gracie on 13 Jan 2018, 11:11, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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13 Jan 2018, 08:44
Top Contributor
Hussain15 wrote:
The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5, and the sum of the numbers will be 117. What is the value of k ?

A. 1
B. 13
C. 14
D. 18
E. 21

The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4.
Let 3x = the smaller number
Let 4x = the larger number

Aside: Notice that this ensures that their ratio will equal 3/4, since 3x/4x = 3/4

If k is added to each number the new ratio will be 4 to 5 . . .
When k is added to each value, the NEW values are 3x + k and 4x + k
So, (3x + k)/(4x + k) = 4/5
Cross multiply to get: 16x + 4k = 15x + 5k
Rearrange terms to get: x = k

. . . and the sum of the numbers will be 117
The two NEW values are 3x + k and 4x + k
So, we can write: (3x + k) + (4x + k) = 117
Simplify to get 7x + 2k = 117

Since x = k , we can take the above equation and replace x with k to get...
7k + 2k = 117
Simplify: 9k = 117
Solve: k = 13

Cheers,
Brent
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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added  [#permalink]

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Re: The ratio of two positive numbers is 3 to 4. If k is added   [#permalink] 24 Jan 2019, 04:14
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