Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 14:25 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 14:25
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
605-655 (Medium)|   Geometry|            
User avatar
SimaQ
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Last visit: 24 May 2007
Posts: 430
Own Kudos:
649
 [91]
Posts: 430
Kudos: 649
 [91]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
86
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,438
Own Kudos:
79,375
 [21]
Given Kudos: 484
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,438
Kudos: 79,375
 [21]
12
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
kawal27
Joined: 10 Oct 2019
Last visit: 15 Dec 2022
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
442
 [6]
Given Kudos: 82
Location: India
Schools: NTU '21
GMAT 1: 530 Q40 V23
Schools: NTU '21
GMAT 1: 530 Q40 V23
Posts: 81
Kudos: 442
 [6]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
sangarelli
Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Last visit: 24 Mar 2018
Posts: 202
Own Kudos:
23
 [3]
Posts: 202
Kudos: 23
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The answer is (B).

Since the tangents form squares with the radii.

the total length as tangents = 2*80+2*60 = 280

and the total lenght wound around the circles = 270deg/360deg * 2*pi*80
=120pi

for the second circle similarly 90pi
therfore 210pi+280
User avatar
SimaQ
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Last visit: 24 May 2007
Posts: 430
Own Kudos:
Posts: 430
Kudos: 649
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Oh yes, this one was obvious....

Misinterpreted the question a bit....
avatar
manishpal77899
Joined: 10 Sep 2011
Last visit: 18 Sep 2011
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
Posts: 2
Kudos: 44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
important thing where i got stuck...
i found this on another site..its really help full.



I feel we are not supposed to take the literal meaning of the term "cord" {lineseg that lies inside the cirlce with its ends lieing on the circle"} as its meaning but as a piece of wire/some material that goes around the 2 circles.

so.........
The answer is (B).

Since the tangents form squares with the radii.

the total length as tangents = 2*80+2*60 = 280

and the total lenght wound around the circles = 270deg/360deg * 2*pi*80
=120pi

for the second circle similarly 90pi
therfore 210pi+280
User avatar
pradeepss
Joined: 19 Sep 2008
Last visit: 21 Dec 2014
Posts: 68
Own Kudos:
213
 [1]
Given Kudos: 257
Status:Please do not forget to give kudos if you like my post
Location: United States (CA)
Posts: 68
Kudos: 213
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
adymehta29.

Lets me try to explain, this one is more of a verbal question then a quant question. If you read the question correctly, its say "The figure above shows a cord around two circular disks." This makes the question tough but concept it test is easy.

2 squares total chord length: 280
2 arcs for the circle: 210π

So total: 210π+280

Answer: B

adymehta29
bunuel, could you please explain this.

thanks.
User avatar
usre123
Joined: 30 Mar 2013
Last visit: 25 Nov 2022
Posts: 73
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 197
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V44
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V44
Posts: 73
Kudos: 234
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Was this really a 700+ problem?

In any case, this is the way I did it:
(270/360)*2*pie*80 + (270/360)*2*pie*60. that gave me 210 pie and I simply chose option B. But let's try and work out the remaining portion:
If I draw a line dividing the left square into two equal halves, I get an isosceles triangle. That means the two pieces of chord extending from the circle on the left are 80 cm each, and the two extending from the circle on the right are 60 cms each.

Ans is 210pie +80+80+60+60= B
avatar
PareshGmat
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,531
Own Kudos:
8,270
 [2]
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,531
Kudos: 8,270
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\(Length = \frac{3}{4} * 160\pi + \frac{3}{4} * 120\pi + 2*80 + 2*60\)

\(= 120\pi + 90\pi + 280\)

\(= 210\pi + 280\)

Answer = B
User avatar
vipulgoel
Joined: 03 May 2013
Last visit: 09 Oct 2025
Posts: 89
Own Kudos:
63
 [1]
Given Kudos: 114
Location: India
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
how you deduce that both rectangles are squares...
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,728
Own Kudos:
810,463
 [2]
Given Kudos: 105,800
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,728
Kudos: 810,463
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
vipulgoel
how you deduce that both rectangles are squares...



We have three 90 degree angles, thus the fourth one also must be 90 degree angle. So, we have a rectangle. Next, the two adjacent sides are equal to the radii, so they are equal. A rectangle which has equal width and length is a square.

Hope it's clear.
User avatar
Senthil1981
Joined: 23 Apr 2015
Last visit: 14 Oct 2021
Posts: 225
Own Kudos:
617
 [1]
Given Kudos: 36
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, International Business
WE:Engineering (Consulting)
Posts: 225
Kudos: 617
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SimaQ
Attachment:
Circles.png
The figure above shows a cord around two circular disks. If the radii of the two disks are 80 centimeters and 60 centimeters, respectively, what is the total length, in centimeters, of the cord?

(A) 210π
(B) 210π+ 280
(C) 280π
(D) 280π + 80
(E) 280π+ 280


The cord passed through 3/4 of the circumference of both the circles and the 2 tangents.

So total length = \(3/4 *(2 *\pi * 80 + 2 * \pi * 60) + 2 ( 80+60)\) =\(210\pi + 280\)

Answer is B
User avatar
GMATGuruNY
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Last visit: 02 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,347
Own Kudos:
3,904
 [3]
Given Kudos: 9
Schools:Dartmouth College
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,347
Kudos: 3,904
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
manishpal77899
iI feel we are not supposed to take the literal meaning of the term "cord" {lineseg that lies inside the cirlce with its ends lieing on the circle"} as its meaning but as a piece of wire/some material that goes around the 2 circles.

chord = a line segment that connect two points on a circle.
cord = a length of wire.
The two words are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,955
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,955
Kudos: 1,117
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:
Math Expert
109728 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts