Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 05:56 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 05:56
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: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,778
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,778
Kudos: 810,772
 [19]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
14
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
bimalr9
Joined: 20 Mar 2015
Last visit: 07 Nov 2017
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
342
 [5]
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 39
Kudos: 342
 [5]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
davedekoos
Joined: 09 Jul 2013
Last visit: 07 Nov 2025
Posts: 96
Own Kudos:
347
 [3]
Given Kudos: 11
Posts: 96
Kudos: 347
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
rhine29388
Joined: 24 Nov 2015
Last visit: 21 Oct 2019
Posts: 386
Own Kudos:
146
 [2]
Given Kudos: 231
Location: United States (LA)
Products:
Posts: 386
Kudos: 146
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
2 possible arrangements are possible
AOAOAOAO
OAOAOAOA
2 unique type of trees are present consisting of 4 trees each
4 apple trees can be arranged in 4! ways
4 orange trees can be arranged in 4! ways
as 2 arrangements are possible
total arrangements = 2 *4! * 4! = 1152
correct answer option D
User avatar
Ayush1692
Joined: 18 Jun 2017
Last visit: 09 Jun 2019
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 40
Posts: 18
Kudos: 52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let the unique Apple trees be A1, A2, A3 and A4
Similary, unique Orange Trees be O1,O2,O3 and O4

Condition: No Apple or orange trees should be adjacent to each other.

Two arrangements are possible:-

Case1:

_A1_A2_A3_A4 (_ represents orange trees)

Apple trees can arrange themselves in 4! way since all are unique and order matters.
Similarly, Orange trees can arrange in 4! ways.

number of arrangements: 4! * 4! = 576

Case2:

A1_A2_A3_A4_

number of arrangements: 4! * 4! = 576

Total number of arrangements : Case 1 + Case 2 = 576 *2 = 1152 (Answer)
avatar
Funsho84
Joined: 08 Sep 2016
Last visit: 13 Aug 2022
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 25
Posts: 74
Kudos: 69
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
There are 2 ways to arrange the trees.
1) AOAOAOAO
2) OAOAOAOA

For the first arrangement, the multiplication sequence will be: 4*4*3*3*2*2*1*1. 4 apples can be placed in the first slot. 4 oranges in the second slot. 3 apples in the 3rd slot. 3 oranges in the 4th slot...etc. This arrangement will equal 576.

The second arrangement will be similar to the first arrangement, but you will consider oranges being placed in the first slot. This arrangement will also equal 576.

576+576 = 1152.

Answer D
User avatar
Omp
Joined: 20 Mar 2020
Last visit: 17 Apr 2026
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 21
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
why 4!*5c4*4! is wrong here

davedekoos
Since no trees of the same type can be adjacent to one another, there must be one apple tree between each pair of orange trees, and one orange tree between each pair of apple trees. In other words, the trees must alternate. This can be done in two ways:
1. AOAOAOAO
2. OAOAOAOA

The two types of trees have 4 unique trees each, so the 4 trees of each type can be arranged in 4! ways.
The orange trees can be arranged in 4! ways, and the apple trees can be arranged in 4! ways.

Total number of arrangements = 4!*4!*2 = 24*24*2 = 1152

Answer: D
User avatar
apoorva171102
Joined: 03 Jul 2024
Last visit: 27 Nov 2025
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 18
Concentration: General Management, Economics
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Posts: 5
Kudos: 13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
We want to find the number of ways he can plant the trees and since we know that there cannot be two same types of trees planted together, it is definitely an alternative plantation and since it can start with either an orange or an apple, there are two ways to go about it. Hence, we do 4! x 4! x 2.
Not sure where 5c4 is coming from.
Omp
why 4!*5c4*4! is wrong here

davedekoos
Since no trees of the same type can be adjacent to one another, there must be one apple tree between each pair of orange trees, and one orange tree between each pair of apple trees. In other words, the trees must alternate. This can be done in two ways:
1. AOAOAOAO
2. OAOAOAOA

The two types of trees have 4 unique trees each, so the 4 trees of each type can be arranged in 4! ways.
The orange trees can be arranged in 4! ways, and the apple trees can be arranged in 4! ways.

Total number of arrangements = 4!*4!*2 = 24*24*2 = 1152

Answer: D
User avatar
Omp
Joined: 20 Mar 2020
Last visit: 17 Apr 2026
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 21
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
if we arrange 4 apple tree , -A-A-A-A- now we have we have 5 places for 4 orange tree so 5c4
so over all answer 4!( apple tree arrangement) 5c4( selecting 4 places for orange ) 4! arranging orange tree
apoorva171102
We want to find the number of ways he can plant the trees and since we know that there cannot be two same types of trees planted together, it is definitely an alternative plantation and since it can start with either an orange or an apple, there are two ways to go about it. Hence, we do 4! x 4! x 2.
Not sure where 5c4 is coming from.
Omp
why 4!*5c4*4! is wrong here

davedekoos
Since no trees of the same type can be adjacent to one another, there must be one apple tree between each pair of orange trees, and one orange tree between each pair of apple trees. In other words, the trees must alternate. This can be done in two ways:
1. AOAOAOAO
2. OAOAOAOA

The two types of trees have 4 unique trees each, so the 4 trees of each type can be arranged in 4! ways.
The orange trees can be arranged in 4! ways, and the apple trees can be arranged in 4! ways.

Total number of arrangements = 4!*4!*2 = 24*24*2 = 1152

Answer: D
User avatar
Dooperman
Joined: 06 Jun 2019
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 115
Own Kudos:
60
 [1]
Given Kudos: 326
Location: India
Concentration: Leadership, Strategy
Schools: ISB '27 Kellogg
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V40
Schools: ISB '27 Kellogg
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 115
Kudos: 60
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Omp This approach wont work here.
-A-A-A-A-
Here if you place two oranges on two leftmost spaces and 2 oranges on the two righmost spaces then the middle space is empty. Meaning two apples are placed next to one another. (OAOAAOAOA)

So basically 5C4 will have a few cases where apples are placed next to one another.
Omp
if we arrange 4 apple tree , -A-A-A-A- now we have we have 5 places for 4 orange tree so 5c4
so over all answer 4!( apple tree arrangement) 5c4( selecting 4 places for orange ) 4! arranging orange tree
Moderators:
Math Expert
109778 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts