Last visit was: 03 Sep 2026, 16:35 It is currently 03 Sep 2026, 16:35
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
RenB
Joined: 13 Jul 2022
Last visit: 06 Jul 2026
Posts: 388
Own Kudos:
1,629
 [51]
Given Kudos: 302
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Nonprofit
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q90 V84 DI82
GPA: 3.74
WE:Corporate Finance (Consulting)
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
48
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 03 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,098
Own Kudos:
838,929
 [2]
Given Kudos: 111,302
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,098
Kudos: 838,929
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
gmatophobia
User avatar
Quant Chat Moderator
Joined: 22 Dec 2016
Last visit: 30 Aug 2026
Posts: 3,174
Own Kudos:
12,310
 [3]
Given Kudos: 1,860
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Posts: 3,174
Kudos: 12,310
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
RiyazAhamed
Joined: 27 May 2022
Last visit: 17 Feb 2024
Posts: 16
Own Kudos:
25
 [1]
Given Kudos: 369
GMAT 1: 400 Q32 V14
GMAT 2: 500 Q38 V21
GMAT 3: 550 Q41 V26
GMAT 3: 550 Q41 V26
Posts: 16
Kudos: 25
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
RenB
In a certain meatpacking plant, one-fifth of the shipments are tainted with salmonella, and 80 percent of the shipments with salmonella are rejected. If the total number of rejected shipments is equal to one-third of the number of untainted shipments that are NOT rejected, approximately what percent of the rejected shipments are NOT tainted with salmonella?

(A) 8%
(B) 16%
(C) 20%
(D) 24%
(E) 33.3%

Really good question.

Let's take 150 as total shipments. T=150.

S = Stained (salmonella)
SR1 = Stained (salmonella) Rejected
SR2 = Stained (salmonella) Not Rejected

U = Unstained
UR1 = Unstained (salmonella) Rejected
UR2 = Unstained (salmonella) Not Rejected

Total = 150
Stained = \(\frac{1}{5}*150\) = 30
Unstained = 120

80% of S is rejected.
SR1 = 24.
SR2 = 6.

We know that U = 120.

So, UR1 = x and UR2 = 120-x

Given: the total number of rejected shipments is equal to one-third of the number of untainted shipments that are NOT rejected.

Translating to the equation:

SR1 + UR1 = \(\frac{1}{3}*UR2\)
24 + x = \(\frac{1}{3}*(120-x)\)
x = 12

Question is asking for: \(\frac{x}{SR1+US1}\)
\(\frac{12}{24+12}\) = \(\frac{1}{3}\)

Answer = E: 33.3%
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,973
Own Kudos:
8,947
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,973
Kudos: 8,947
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
RenB
In a certain meatpacking plant, one-fifth of the shipments are tainted with salmonella, and 80 percent of the shipments with salmonella are rejected. If the total number of rejected shipments is equal to one-third of the number of untainted shipments that are NOT rejected, approximately what percent of the rejected shipments are NOT tainted with salmonella?

(A) 8%
(B) 16%
(C) 20%
(D) 24%
(E) 33.3%

If T is the total number of shipments, we have:

#Salmonella = #Rejected Salmonella + #Not-rejected Salmonella
(1/5)T = (4/5)(1/5)T + (1/5)(1/5)T
T/5 = 4T/25 + T/25

#Not-salmonella = #Rejected Not-salmonella + #Not-rejected Not-salmonella
(4/5)T = [4T/5 – x] + x

Since the total number of rejected shipments is equal to one-third of the number of untainted shipments that are not rejected, we have:

4T/25 + 4T/5 – x = x/3
24T/25 = 4x/3
T/x = 25/18

The percentage of the rejected shipments that are not tainted with salmonella is:

[(4T/5 – x)/(x/3)]100% = [(12/5)(T/x) – 3]100% =
[(12/5)(25/18) – 3]100% =
[10/3 – 3]100% =
[100/3]% ≈ 33.3%

Answer: E
User avatar
QuantMadeEasy
Joined: 28 Feb 2014
Last visit: 01 Mar 2026
Posts: 502
Own Kudos:
826
 [2]
Given Kudos: 78
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, International Business
GPA: 3.97
WE:Engineering (Education)
Posts: 502
Kudos: 826
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I've solved this using values—check out the detailed video solution here. Hope you find it helpful!



Smart Prep (Tutor)

RenB
In a certain meatpacking plant, one-fifth of the shipments are tainted with salmonella, and 80 percent of the shipments with salmonella are rejected. If the total number of rejected shipments is equal to one-third of the number of untainted shipments that are NOT rejected, approximately what percent of the rejected shipments are NOT tainted with salmonella?

(A) 8%
(B) 16%
(C) 20%
(D) 24%
(E) 33.3%
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 03 Sep 2026
Posts: 6,129
Own Kudos:
6,086
 [1]
Given Kudos: 164
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 6,129
Kudos: 6,086
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In a certain meatpacking plant, one-fifth of the shipments are tainted with salmonella, and 80 percent of the shipments with salmonella are rejected. If the total number of rejected shipments is equal to one-third of the number of untainted shipments that are NOT rejected, approximately what percent of the rejected shipments are NOT tainted with salmonella?

Tainted with SalmonellaNot Tainted with SalmonellaTotal
Rejected80%*20%=16%x%-16%x%
Not Rejected4%96%-x%100%-x%
Total20%80%100%

x% = 1/3 (96%-x%)
3x% = 96% - x%
x% = 96%/4 = 24%


Tainted with SalmonellaNot Tainted with SalmonellaTotal
Rejected80%*20%=16%x%-16%=8%x%=24%
Not Rejected4%96%-x%=72%100%-x%=76%
Total20%80%100%

The percent of the rejected shipments are NOT tainted with salmonella = 8%/24% = 33.33%

IMO E
User avatar
BinodBhai
Joined: 19 Feb 2025
Last visit: 15 Oct 2025
Posts: 106
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 252
Posts: 106
Kudos: 35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I wonder why can't we answer it 8%? ... 8% is nothing but Rejected & Non Tainted Kinshook
User avatar
Krunaal
User avatar
Tuck School Moderator
Joined: 15 Feb 2021
Last visit: 24 Jul 2026
Posts: 850
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 252
Status:Under the Square and Compass
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82
GPA: 5.78
WE:Marketing (Consulting)
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82
Posts: 850
Kudos: 967
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
BinodBhai
I wonder why can't we answer it 8%? ... 8% is nothing but Rejected & Non Tainted Kinshook
Because we want to find percentage of the rejected shipments that are NOT tainted with salmonella, thus 8/24 = 33.33%

8% is the percentage of total shipments that are rejected and not tainted with salmonella

Hope it helps.
Moderator:
Math Expert
113098 posts