Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 01:50 It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 01:50
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,740
Own Kudos:
810,524
 [25]
Given Kudos: 105,816
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,740
Kudos: 810,524
 [25]
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 03 Jan 2017, 23:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
25
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

56% (00:48) correct 44% (00:51) wrong based on 491 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the couples cannot be separated, how many different arrangements are possible?

A. 6
B. 12
C. 24
D. 48
E. 96
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
roadrunner
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 23 Jul 2015
Last visit: 05 Sep 2023
Posts: 122
Own Kudos:
142
 [6]
Given Kudos: 31
Posts: 122
Kudos: 142
 [6]
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 04 Jan 2017, 07:24
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Six spots to fill. Restriction = No couple should be separated

First spot has 6 choices
Second spot has only 1
Third spot = 4 choices
Fourth spot = 1
Fifth spot = 2
Sixth spot = 1

Thus total arrangements = 6 * 4 * 2 = 48
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,276
Own Kudos:
26,528
 [5]
Given Kudos: 302
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: 22,276
Kudos: 26,528
 [5]
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 06 Jan 2017, 11:03
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the couples cannot be separated, how many different arrangements are possible?

A. 6
B. 12
C. 24
D. 48
E. 96
Show more

We need to determine in how many ways three couples can be arranged when each couple must stay together.

We can arrange the three couples as follows:

[A-B], [C-D], [E-F].

(Note: Since each couple must remain together, we have expressed each couple in a bracket.)

Since we have 3 brackets, we can arrange those 3 brackets in 3! or 6 ways. However, we must account for the individual arrangements of each couple, i.e., the number of arrangements within each individual bracket.

Couple AB can be arranged in 2! or 2 ways, couple CD can be arranged in 2! or 2 ways, and couple EF can be arranged in 2! or 2 ways.

Thus, the couples can be arranged in 6 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 48 ways.

Answer: D
General Discussion
avatar
Zoro2016
avatar
Joined: 21 Dec 2016
Last visit: 29 Nov 2017
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 1
Kudos: 1
 [1]
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 03 Jan 2017, 23:46
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I see this as arranging 3 people in a row. My answer would be 3!=3x2x1=6

I hope its correct. This is my first post :)

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
akhiparth
avatar
Joined: 17 Sep 2016
Last visit: 26 Dec 2018
Posts: 35
Own Kudos:
4
Given Kudos: 44
GMAT 1: 640 Q44 V35
GMAT 1: 640 Q44 V35
Posts: 35
Kudos: 4
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 04 Jan 2017, 00:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
48
8 ways each group can be arranged internally & there are such 6 combination of couples possible.
.•. 6×8=48

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
avatar
kishblossom
avatar
Joined: 25 Nov 2016
Last visit: 16 Mar 2017
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
4
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 8
Kudos: 4
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 04 Jan 2017, 08:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
D. 48

Since as group arrangements are 6 x couple arrangement within themselves 2x2x2
User avatar
RastogiSarthak99
User avatar
Joined: 20 Mar 2019
Last visit: 10 Aug 2024
Posts: 139
Own Kudos:
26
Given Kudos: 282
Location: India
Posts: 139
Kudos: 26
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 30 Nov 2023, 20:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I went with the construction:

3! (3 couples) * 2! * 2! * 2! = 48

2! signifies within couple ways.

Upon reading some other ways it seems slot method also works

6 * 1 * 4 * 1 * 2 * 1 = 48
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,957
Own Kudos:
1,117
Posts: 38,957
Kudos: 1,117
Three couples need to arranged in a row for a group photo. If the coup 16 Jun 2025, 06:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109740 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts