Last visit was: 04 Sep 2026, 00:24 It is currently 04 Sep 2026, 00:24
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: 03 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,112
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 111,324
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,112
Kudos: 838,966
 [11]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
10
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
yashikaaggarwal
User avatar
Senior Moderator - Masters Forum
Joined: 19 Jan 2020
Last visit: 10 Aug 2026
Posts: 3,095
Own Kudos:
3,218
 [4]
Given Kudos: 1,510
Location: India
GPA: 4
WE:Analyst (Internet and New Media)
Posts: 3,095
Kudos: 3,218
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
binzdelabinz
Joined: 02 May 2020
Last visit: 03 Apr 2022
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 82
Posts: 3
Kudos: 1
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
onlyPlanA
Joined: 26 Jul 2024
Last visit: 03 Sep 2026
Posts: 139
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 55
Posts: 139
Kudos: 46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Initial amount of alcohol = (7/12) * 120 = 70lt
Initial amount of water = (5/12) * 120 = 50lt

\(\frac{7}{12} * 120 = \frac{5}{11} * (120 + x)\)
x = 34

So, new percentage of water = \(\frac{6}{11} * (120 + 34)\) = 84

Hence, we want the value of = \(\frac{84}{50} * 100\) = 168%
User avatar
Riyaagoell
Joined: 01 Sep 2025
Last visit: 03 Sep 2026
Posts: 19
Given Kudos: 17
Products:
Posts: 19
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can you please explain from alligation?
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 02 Sep 2026
Posts: 16,638
Own Kudos:
81,156
 [1]
Given Kudos: 489
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,638
Kudos: 81,156
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
There is a 120 liter mixture of alcohol and water. The ratio of alcohol to water is 7 : 5. A shopkeeper mixes a certain amount of water in order to make the ratio of alcohol to water as 5 : 6. Find the new quantity of water is what percentage of original quantity of water in the mixture?

(A) 160%
(B) 168%
(C) 172%
(D) 175%
(E) 178%
When dealing with volume of parts, direct algebra is typically more straight forward. Still, here is the weighted averages approach:

In the original solution, alcohol concentration is 7/12.
In water, the alcohol concentration is 0.
When they are mixed, alcohol concentration is 5/11.

\(\frac{w1}{w2 }= \frac{(0 - 5/11)}{(5/11 - 7/12)} = \frac{60}{17}\)

Hence for every 60 liter of original solution, 17 liters of water was added. The 60 liter original solution would have 5/12th of water which means that the 60 liter solution will have 25 liters of water. So new quantity of water is 17 + 25 = 42 which is 42/25 * 100 =168% of original solution.

Answer (B)

Weighted Averages Approach:
https://anaprep.com/arithmetic-weighted-averages/
https://anaprep.com/arithmetic-mixtures/
User avatar
egmat
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Last visit: 03 Sep 2026
Posts: 6,289
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 715
GMAT Date: 08-19-2020
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 6,289
Kudos: 33,897
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Riyaagoell,

Every solution in the thread got to 84 L of water and 168%, just through direct ratios. You want the same result from alligation, so let me set that up. The key idea: alligation compares concentrations, so first pick one component to track and treat this as mixing two things - the original mixture and the pure water you pour in.

Track alcohol as a fraction of the whole:

- Original mixture: alcohol = 7/12
- Water being added: alcohol = 0 (it's pure water)
- Final mixture: alcohol = 5/11

The alligation cross

Put the two ingredients on top, the target in the middle, and take the differences on the diagonals:

- Arm for the original mixture = (target - water) = 5/11 - 0 = 5/11
- Arm for the added water = (mixture - target) = 7/12 - 5/11 = 17/132

So the ratio of mixture : added water is:

5/11 : 17/132 = 60/132 : 17/132 = 60 : 17

Turn parts into liters

The original mixture is 120 L, and that is the 60 part. So one part = 120 ÷ 60 = 2 L.

Added water = 17 parts = 17 × 2 = 34 L.

Now finish exactly as the thread did:

- Original water = 50 L
- New water = 50 + 34 = 84 L
- 84 ÷ 50 = 1.68 = 168% - B

The one thing to remember with alligation here: because you're adding a pure component, its concentration is simply 0 - that's what makes the second arm work. Everything else is the same cross you'd use for any two-ingredient mix.

Answer: B

Riyaagoell
Can you please explain from alligation?
Moderator:
Math Expert
113112 posts