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The ratio of two quantities is 3 to 4. If each of the quantities is increased by 5, what is the ratio of these two new quantities?
A. 3/4
B. 8/9
C. 18/19
D. 23/24
E. It cannot be determined from the information given.
A. 3/4
B. 8/9
C. 18/19
D. 23/24
E. It cannot be determined from the information given.
calreg11
You can solve this question if you look at it conceptually: if the two numbers are 3 and 4 then adding 5 to each number will have a huge impact on the ratio but if the two numbers are 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 then adding 5 to each number will have very little impact on the ratio. So, the new ratio cannot be determined from the information given.
Answer: E.
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General Discussion
Posts: 44
calreg11
let the actual ratio be 3k/4k, increase numerator and denominator by 5 => 3k+5/4k+5
Until the value of k is unknown we can not determine the actual ratio.
OR
let the actual be 3/4. After increasing 5 => 8/9
let the actual be 6/8. After increasing 5 => 11/13
Therefore without actual quantities we cannot determine the actual ratio.
Answer is E.
Hope this helps.
Bunuel
Bunuel do you think that such question could still appear during the exam ?? just to know
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carcass
Hard to say...
Are you asking because of option E?
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Yes. Basically I know that when you encounter a question where option E is among, then it is never the answer (or at least this is the common place)
the reason is that : iof gmat ask you a question says "is impossible to answer" could be to simple, so a trap answer......for this reason I am asking your opinion about.
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the reason is that : iof gmat ask you a question says "is impossible to answer" could be to simple, so a trap answer......for this reason I am asking your opinion about.
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carcass
This question is marked as 'from Official guide' though.
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calreg11
I have a small doubt :
Cant the answer be 2 .
As if we originally take the numbers 3 and 4 which satisfies the ratio of 2 quantities be 3:4 and the ratio of increased quantities be 8/9.
I was trying to solve the question without reading the answer choices ans when I find out I cannot solve it . I try to follow hit and trial and 8/9 is there in the options and answered B.
Can any one clear this please ?
Regards,
Abhinav
580 to 700 + in one month difficult but not impossible
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abhinav11
But if the numbers are different, say 6 and 8, then the new ratio will also be different. Thus you cannot say for sure that the numbers are 3 and 4. Check here a solution: the-ratio-of-two-quantities-is-3-to-4-if-each-of-the-129569.html#p1064455
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Say the quantities are 3x & 4x
There ratio would be \(\frac{3x}{4x} = \frac{3}{4}\)
After adding 5 to each, new ratio is
\(\frac{3x+5}{4x+5}\)
Answer = E
There ratio would be \(\frac{3x}{4x} = \frac{3}{4}\)
After adding 5 to each, new ratio is
\(\frac{3x+5}{4x+5}\)
Answer = E
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Hey,
I also started in the same way as Paresh, but giving different values to the quantities; I then tried to find the actual quantities, like this:
x/y = 3/4
4x=3y
x=3y/4
Then, the new ratio will be:
(x+5)/(y+5), here I substitued the above value for x:
(3y/4+5) / (y+5)
(3y+20)/(4y+20) since y is in any case y, then we add the same, so the ratio of 3/4 actually corresponds to the quantities.
Then, if we add 5 to each it would be 8/9.
I don't know if this makes any sense at all. But, we know that the 2 quantities cannot be the same. So, why are we using the same values (let's say x) above?
I also started in the same way as Paresh, but giving different values to the quantities; I then tried to find the actual quantities, like this:
x/y = 3/4
4x=3y
x=3y/4
Then, the new ratio will be:
(x+5)/(y+5), here I substitued the above value for x:
(3y/4+5) / (y+5)
(3y+20)/(4y+20) since y is in any case y, then we add the same, so the ratio of 3/4 actually corresponds to the quantities.
Then, if we add 5 to each it would be 8/9.
I don't know if this makes any sense at all. But, we know that the 2 quantities cannot be the same. So, why are we using the same values (let's say x) above?
PareshGmat
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pacifist85
Ratios are pure numeric. For example, the ratio of 4 kg mangoes to 8 kg oranges = 1:2
Putting the same variable (as I did) is just for convenience
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if this question asks ( both increased by 5 "percent") ......the answer is still E ????? it is confusing !
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calreg11
Ratio is NOT the fixed thing-it fluctuates. So, increasing in the ratio can't confirm the fixed value.
Thanks__
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calreg11
This is a great question to test your conceptual understanding of RATIOs
Point to note: RATIOs always, always give you a relationship between numbers, they NEVER give you the actual numbers.
Therefore, whenever something is added/subtracted/multiplied/divided to Numerator (Nr) and Denominator (Dr) of a given RATIO, you cannot determine the new RATIO unless you know the actual values of Nr and Dr.
Here, the ratio of two quantities is 3:4. What this actually means is that for every 3 units of Quantity-1 (in Nr), there are 4-units of Quantity-2 (in Dr). So, when you add 5, you have to add it to actual values of Quantity-1 and Quantity-2 to find the new ratio.
Since we do not know the actual values of Quantity-1 and Quantity-2, we can't find the new RATIO after adding 5 to both Nr and Dr.
Hope this helps!
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The ratio of two quantities is 3 to 4.
Suppose quantities are '3' and '4'.
Each of the quantities is increased by 5
=> 3 + 5 = 8 and 4 + 5 = 9
New ratio: 8: 9.
Let's change the quantities now: Suppose quantities are 36 and 48 ( Ratio is still 3:4).
=> 36 + 5 = 41 and 48 + 5 = 53
New ratio: 41: 53.
So, for the given ration 3:4, there is 'n' number of possible combinations. And adding'5' to both will always give a different results.
Answer E.
Suppose quantities are '3' and '4'.
Each of the quantities is increased by 5
=> 3 + 5 = 8 and 4 + 5 = 9
New ratio: 8: 9.
Let's change the quantities now: Suppose quantities are 36 and 48 ( Ratio is still 3:4).
=> 36 + 5 = 41 and 48 + 5 = 53
New ratio: 41: 53.
So, for the given ration 3:4, there is 'n' number of possible combinations. And adding'5' to both will always give a different results.
Answer E.
Posts: 3,651
Solution
Given
• The ratio of two quantities is 3 to 4.
• Each of the quantities is increased by 5
To find
• The ratio of these two new quantities.
Approach and Working out
• Let the two numbers be 3x and 4x, respectively.
• After the increase, these numbers become 3x + 5 and 4x + 5, respectively.
• Thus, the ratio of these new numbers = (3x + 5)/(4x + 5)
- o We cannot simplify this ratio further. The ratio will depend on the value of x.
- For example, if x = 1, this ratio will be 8/9, while if x = 2, this ratio will be 11/13.
Hence, we cannot determine a sure ratio from the given information.
Correct Answer: Option E
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calreg11
\(\frac{3x+5}{5x+5}\)
Case I
Let x = 1
So, \(\frac{3x+5}{5x+5}=\frac{8}{10}\)
Case II
Let x = 2
So, \(\frac{3x+5}{5x+5}=\frac{11}{15}\)
Thus, no specific/unique value is possible, hence Answer must be (E)
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