Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 01:58 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 01:58
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
ShahadatHJ
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
131
 [13]
Given Kudos: 256
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.41
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
 [13]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
11
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
ThatDudeKnows
Joined: 11 May 2022
Last visit: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 1,070
Own Kudos:
1,030
 [10]
Given Kudos: 79
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,070
Kudos: 1,030
 [10]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
harshittahuja
Joined: 18 Apr 2022
Last visit: 13 Nov 2024
Posts: 76
Own Kudos:
73
 [2]
Given Kudos: 165
Location: India
GPA: 3
Posts: 76
Kudos: 73
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ShahadatHJ
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 256
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.41
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
harshittahuja ThatDudeKnows
If the ratio is 18:7; can we say 18*4 : 7*4 = 72:28?
Meaning, the sum of those 8 is 100.
The remaining number is 35, which is the greatest, and we don't include it in the sum of the greatest 4 numbers.

Am I missing sth?
User avatar
ThatDudeKnows
Joined: 11 May 2022
Last visit: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 1,070
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 79
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,070
Kudos: 1,030
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ShahadatHJ
harshittahuja ThatDudeKnows
If the ratio is 18:7; can we say 18*4 : 7*4 = 72:28?
Sure, why not?
Meaning, the sum of those 8 is 100.
:? Nope!
The remaining number is 35, which is the greatest, and we don't include it in the sum of the greatest 4 numbers.

Am I missing sth?

ShahadatHJ

A ratio is just a comparison between the sizes of two things.

Let's take an easy example to see if you can spot where your approach stops working.

Start with two numbers: 2 and 3.
The ratio is 2:3.
We can say 2*20 : 3*20 = 40:60.
Does that mean that our numbers are actually 40 and 60? Or does it still just mean that the second is 1.5x the first?
Is the sum 100? Or is the sum still 5?
User avatar
ShahadatHJ
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 256
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.41
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ThatDudeKnows
ShahadatHJ
harshittahuja ThatDudeKnows
If the ratio is 18:7; can we say 18*4 : 7*4 = 72:28?
Sure, why not?
Meaning, the sum of those 8 is 100.
:? Nope!
The remaining number is 35, which is the greatest, and we don't include it in the sum of the greatest 4 numbers.

Am I missing sth?

ShahadatHJ

A ratio is just a comparison between the sizes of two things.

Let's take an easy example to see if you can spot where your approach stops working.

Start with two numbers: 2 and 3.
The ratio is 2:3.
We can say 2*20 : 3*20 = 40:60.
Does that mean that our numbers are actually 40 and 60? Or does it still just mean that the second is 1.5x the first?
Is the sum 100? Or is the sum still 5?
The sum could be 100/1000/5 (a multiple of 5, for a 2:3 ratio).
Anyway, I got the math. I considered multiplying a common factor to the ratio to get the totals. I was evaluating answer choices.
Could you explain why 20:9 is a wrong choice?
User avatar
ShahadatHJ
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 256
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.41
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ShahadatHJ
The average of 9 numbers is 15. The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9 and the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20. What is the ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers?

A. 20:7
B. 20:9
C. None
D. 9:20
E. 18:7
KarishmaB Bunuel Archit3110 chetan2u please solve me this one.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,438
Own Kudos:
79,368
 [1]
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: 79,368
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ShahadatHJ
ShahadatHJ
The average of 9 numbers is 15. The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9 and the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20. What is the ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers?

A. 20:7
B. 20:9
C. None
D. 9:20
E. 18:7
KarishmaB Bunuel please solve me this one.


The average of 9 numbers is 15.

Sum of 9 numbers = 9*15 = 135

The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9

Sum of smallest 5 numbers = 5*9 = 45

and the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20.

Sum of 5 greatest numbers = 100

So 45 + 100 = 145 is the sum of 10 numbers such that middle number is counted twice.
Since the sum of 9 numbers is 135 and the sum is 145 when the middle number (5th number) is counted twice, the middle number is 10.

What is the ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers?

Sum of 4 smallest numbers = 45 - 10 = 35
Sum of 4 greatest numbers = 100 - 10 = 90

Ratio of sum of 4 greatest : sum of 4 smallest = 90 : 35 = 18 : 7

Answer (E)
User avatar
ShahadatHJ
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 256
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.41
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
KarishmaB
ShahadatHJ
ShahadatHJ
The average of 9 numbers is 15. The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9 and the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20. What is the ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers?

A. 20:7
B. 20:9
C. None
D. 9:20
E. 18:7
KarishmaB Bunuel please solve me this one.


The average of 9 numbers is 15.

Sum of 9 numbers = 9*15 = 135

The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9

Sum of smallest 5 numbers = 5*9 = 45

and the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20.

Sum of 5 greatest numbers = 100

So 45 + 100 = 145 is the sum of 10 numbers such that middle number is counted twice.
Since the sum of 9 numbers is 135 and the sum is 145 when the middle number (5th number) is counted twice, the middle number is 10.

What is the ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers?

Sum of 4 smallest numbers = 45 - 10 = 35
Sum of 4 greatest numbers = 100 - 10 = 90

Ratio of sum of 4 greatest : sum of 4 smallest = 90 : 35 = 18 : 7

Answer (E)
Thank you, KarishmaB ma'am.
And, could you please explain why B cannot be the choice?
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 8,625
Own Kudos:
5,190
 [1]
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
Products:
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,625
Kudos: 5,190
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
total numbers in list is 9 whose sum is 135
Let A1 be smallest number and A9 be the largest number
The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9
Sum from A1 to A5 = 9*5 ; 45
the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20
Sum from A5 to A9 ; 5*20 ; 100
we see that there is overlap of A5 in both
total sum is 135
135-(100+45) ; 10 which is nothing but A5 which has been considered twice


sum of greatest 4 number will be
Sum from A5 to A9 ; 5*20 ; 100-10 ; 90

Sum from A1 to A5 = 9*5 ; 45 - 10 ; 35

ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers
90/35; 18/7


ShahadatHJ


ShahadatHJ
ShahadatHJ
The average of 9 numbers is 15. The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9 and the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20. What is the ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers?

A. 20:7
B. 20:9
C. None
D. 9:20
E. 18:7
.
User avatar
ShahadatHJ
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 256
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.41
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archit3110
total numbers in list is 9 whose sum is 135
Let A1 be smallest number and A9 be the largest number
The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9
Sum from A1 to A5 = 9*5 ; 45
the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20
Sum from A5 to A9 ; 5*20 ; 100
we see that there is overlap of A5 in both
total sum is 135
135-(100+45) ; 10 which is nothing but A5 which has been considered twice


sum of greatest 4 number will be
Sum from A5 to A9 ; 5*20 ; 100-10 ; 90

Sum from A1 to A5 = 9*5 ; 45 - 10 ; 35

ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers
90/35; 18/7


ShahadatHJ


ShahadatHJ
ShahadatHJ
The average of 9 numbers is 15. The average of the 5 smallest numbers in this list is 9 and the average of the 5 greatest numbers in the list is 20. What is the ratio of the sum of the 4 greatest numbers to the sum of the 4 smallest numbers?

A. 20:7
B. 20:9
C. None
D. 9:20
E. 18:7
.
Archit3110 Why B is not the correct option?
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,438
Own Kudos:
79,368
 [1]
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: 79,368
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ShahadatHJ

Thank you, KarishmaB ma'am.
And, could you please explain why B cannot be the choice?

Because 18:7 is not the same as 20:9. Adding/subtracting the same number to/from the numerator and the denominator does not keep the fraction same.

18:7 is 18/7 = 2.57/1
20:9 is 20/9 = 2.22/1
They are not the same.

3:4 is the same as 6:8 (we multiply both terms by 2). 3/4 = 6/8
20:30 is the same as 2:3 (we divide both terms by 10). 20/30 = 2/3. But 21/31 is not the same as 20/30.

Suggest you to check out the ratios theory.
User avatar
Round2Hopeful
Joined: 02 Aug 2021
Last visit: 01 Jan 2024
Posts: 52
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 52
Kudos: 22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I dont understand why since the middle number is counted twice and equals 10 (i.e., 145 - 135 = 10) that the middle number is thus not 5?
User avatar
ShahadatHJ
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 256
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.41
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GmatMike1234
I dont understand why since the middle number is counted twice and equals 10 (i.e., 145 - 135 = 10) that the middle number is thus not 5?
The middle number is counted twice does not mean 2X = 10; rather 10 (the middle) is counted with the large and smaller numbers.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,942
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,942
Kudos: 1,116
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
109715 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts