Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 05:13 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 05:13
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
Sub 505 Level|   Algebra|   Word Problems|                           
User avatar
nycgirl212
Joined: 22 Sep 2015
Last visit: 25 Oct 2021
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
1,162
 [61]
Given Kudos: 136
Posts: 72
Kudos: 1,162
 [61]
11
Kudos
Add Kudos
50
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
msk0657
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 26 Nov 2012
Last visit: 14 Feb 2020
Posts: 456
Own Kudos:
557
 [16]
Given Kudos: 46
Posts: 456
Kudos: 557
 [16]
11
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
roadrunner
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 23 Jul 2015
Last visit: 05 Sep 2023
Posts: 122
Own Kudos:
142
 [4]
Given Kudos: 31
Posts: 122
Kudos: 142
 [4]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
mohd_int
Joined: 25 May 2015
Last visit: 03 Mar 2022
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
5
 [1]
Given Kudos: 22
Posts: 19
Kudos: 5
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen


Anyone could help me finding my mistake and why?
I assumed that Andy = 100 in the first place, then I started


based on the given info.
Andy=2Ellen
Bob+3 = Ellen
Cary = 2 Bob
Dora = Bob+Ellen


Andy =100
Ellen 50
Bob =47
Cary=94
Dora=97

I know it is a mistake but way!!
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,385
Own Kudos:
778,203
 [2]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,385
Kudos: 778,203
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mohd_int
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen


Anyone could help me finding my mistake and why?
I assumed that Andy = 100 in the first place, then I started


based on the given info.
Andy=2Ellen
Bob+3 = Ellen
Cary = 2 Bob
Dora = Bob+Ellen


Andy =100
Ellen 50
Bob =47
Cary=94
Dora=97

I know it is a mistake but way!!

Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen: Andy = 2*Ellen;

Bob sold 3 more than Ellen: Bob = Ellen + 3;

Cary sold twice as many as Bob: Cary = 2*Bob;

Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together: Dora = Bob + Ellen,

If Andy = 100, then;

Ellen = 50;

Bob = 53;

Cary = 106;

Dora = 53 + 50 = 103.

Answer: C.
avatar
mohd_int
Joined: 25 May 2015
Last visit: 03 Mar 2022
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 22
Posts: 19
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
mohd_int
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen


Anyone could help me finding my mistake and why?
I assumed that Andy = 100 in the first place, then I started


based on the given info.
Andy=2Ellen
Bob+3 = Ellen
Cary = 2 Bob
Dora = Bob+Ellen


Andy =100
Ellen 50
Bob =47
Cary=94
Dora=97

I know it is a mistake but way!!

Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen: Andy = 2*Ellen;

Bob sold 3 more than Ellen: Bob = Ellen + 3;

Cary sold twice as many as Bob: Cary = 2*Bob;

Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together: Dora = Bob + Ellen,

If Andy = 100, then;

Ellen = 50;

Bob = 53;

Cary = 106;

Dora = 53 + 50 = 103.

Answer: C.

Thank you so much for your post. I see now my mistake!
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,272
Own Kudos:
37,386
 [3]
Given Kudos: 9,464
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,272
Kudos: 37,386
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nycgirl212
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen
A = 2E
B = E + 3
C = 2B
D = B + E
E

In problems such as this one, if you can make one variable equal to 100, it makes things simple.

(Here, the base variable does not have to be 100 because there are no percentages involved. I use 100 consistently because it's versatile.)

Once written out as above:
1) every variable is defined by B and/or E; but
2) B is defined by E

Let E = 100
A = 2E = 200
B = E + 3 = 103
C = 2B = 206
D = B + E = 203

C, Cary, sold the most properties.

Answer C­
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 21,712
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 300
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 21,712
Kudos: 26,995
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nycgirl212


There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen

We can create the following equations:

A = 2E

B = E + 3

C = 2B

D = B + E

Looking at our equations, Ellen is not the person who sold the most properties because at least Bob sold more than she did. We also see that Dora sold more than Bob, so Bob is not the person who sold the most properties. Since B = E + 3 (so B > E), we see that Dora sold more than Andy (D > B since B + E > E + E). So Andy is not the person who sold the most properties and we are left with Cary and Dora. Since B > E, we see that Cary sold more than Dora (C > D since B + B > B + E). Thus, Cary sold the most properties.

Answer: C
User avatar
dave13
Joined: 09 Mar 2016
Last visit: 12 Aug 2025
Posts: 1,108
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 3,851
Posts: 1,108
Kudos: 1,113
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nycgirl212
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen

let Ellen sold sold X properties
then Andy = 2x
Bob = x+3
Carry = 2(x+9)
Dora 2(x+3) +2x

now i summed up all these properties :)

x+2x+x+3+2(x+9) +2(x+3) +2x

so i get 9x+27

9x=-27

x = -3 :?

so why my solution is such long and incorrect ? :)

anyone? :)­
User avatar
akadiyan
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 31 May 2017
Last visit: 20 Jun 2025
Posts: 736
Own Kudos:
698
 [1]
Given Kudos: 53
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Products:
Posts: 736
Kudos: 698
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Lets plugin simple numbers

No of properties sold by ellen : 1
Andy (Twice as ellen) : 2
Bob (3 More than ellen) : 4
Cary(Twice as many as ellen): 8
Dora(Bob + Ellen) : 5

Cary has sold the highest number of properties

Ans: C
User avatar
Salsanousi
Joined: 19 Oct 2013
Last visit: 29 Dec 2020
Posts: 393
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 117
Location: Kuwait
GPA: 3.2
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Posts: 393
Kudos: 351
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
dave13

nycgirl212
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen

let Ellen sold sold X properties
then Andy = 2x
Bob = x+3
Carry = 2(x+9) is incorrect it should be Carry = 2 (x+3) = 2x + 6
Dora 2(x+3) +2x if Dora is Bob + Ellen then the equation should be like this Dora = x + 3 + x = 2x + 3

now i summed up all these properties :)

x+2x+x+3+2(x+9) +2(x+3) +2x

so i get 9x+27

9x=-27

x = -3 :?

so why my solution is such long and incorrect ? :)

anyone? :)
You started correctly by assuming x for Ellen.

We are just comparing the values. There is no need to sum any of the them.

If Ellen = x

Then Andy = 2x

Bob = x + 3

Carry = 2*Bob = 2 (x+3) = 2x + 6

Dora = Bob + Ellen = x+3 +x = 2x + 3

For whatever substituted value of x (as long as the x value is an integer > 0). Because they cannot sell in negative nor in fractions :D.

Carry have sold more than anyone else.

I hope this helps.­
avatar
Ross7it
Joined: 18 Jun 2017
Last visit: 24 Apr 2019
Posts: 5
Given Kudos: 80
Posts: 5
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Go straight to "C" answer

Ellen = X
Andy = 2X
Bob = 3X
Carry = 2 * 3X = 6X
Dora = 3X+X = 4X

Carry sold more real estate than anyone else at office
avatar
audentes
Joined: 01 Mar 2019
Last visit: 30 May 2020
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 8
Location: United States
Posts: 29
Kudos: 26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
[1] Create Equations

A = 2E
B = E + 3
C = 2B
D = B+E

[2] Set E = 10 and Solve

A = 2(10) ... A = 20
B = 10 + 3 ... B = 13
C = 2(13) ... C = 26
D = 13 + 10 ... D = 23

Answer C
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,794
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 161
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,794
Kudos: 5,509
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nycgirl212
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

a) Andy
b) Bob
c) Cary
d) Dora
e) Ellen
Given:
1. There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office.
2. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together.

Asked: Who sold the most properties that month?

Let properties sold by Andy, Ellen, Bob, Cary & Dora be a, e, b, c, d respectively

a = 2e (1)
b = 3 + e (2)
c = 2b (3)
d = b + e (4)

Since properties sold are positive integers

a = 2e; a>e
b = 3 + e; b>e
c = 2b = 6 + 2e; c>b>e
d = b + e = 3 + 2e; c>d>{a,b}>e

Cary (c) sold the most properties in the month.

IMO C­
User avatar
Hafez
Joined: 01 Nov 2014
Last visit: 28 Sep 2023
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 91
GMAT 1: 430 Q32 V17
GMAT 2: 620 Q44 V31
GMAT 2: 620 Q44 V31
Posts: 4
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
say,Ellen sold =x
So, Bob=x+3
Andy=2x
Cary= 2(x+3)=2x+6
Dora = x+x+3=2x+3
Thus, C answer
User avatar
bot00078
Joined: 08 Mar 2025
Last visit: 07 Nov 2025
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 14
GMAT Focus 1: 345 Q70 V66 DI62
GMAT Focus 1: 345 Q70 V66 DI62
Posts: 36
Kudos: 4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nycgirl212
There are five sales agents in a certain real estate office. One month Andy sold twice as many properties as Ellen, Bob sold 3 more than Ellen, Cary sold twice as many as Bob, and Dora sold as many as Bob and Ellen together. Who sold the most properties that month?

A. Andy
B. Bob
C. Cary
D. Dora
E. Ellen­

Attachment:
GMAT-Club-Forum-fzjjr6o6.jpeg
GMAT-Club-Forum-fzjjr6o6.jpeg [ 56.7 KiB | Viewed 853 times ]
Moderators:
Math Expert
105385 posts
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts