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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 11:38
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given: each J destroys 10 D's in 1 minute and each P destroys 5 D's in 1 minute.
at start only 12 J's are there and after each minute 4 J's retreat and are replaced by 4 P's.
all fight with their full strengths and a total of 720 D's are destroyed.
for how many minutes P's fight for alone after the total retreat of J's?
minute team compositionno of D's destroyed
1st12J120
2nd8J+4P100
3rd4J+8P80
for the 4th minute onwards 12P's are there which can destroy a total of 60 D's per minute
and as per given condition 720-300=420 D's are left for the destruction which will take a total of 420/60=7minutes
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 11:51
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Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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0 to 1 min : 12 J will destroy 120 drones
1 to 2 min : 8J + 4P will destroy 100 drones
2 to 3 min : 4 J + 8J will destroy 80 drones
After the 4th min only Ps will fight

Drones destroyed = 720 - 300 = 420

12*5* p = 420

p = 420/60 = 7

Option D
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 12:22
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Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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1 jedi destroys 10 droid/min
1 padawans destroys 5 droids/min
after 1 min, 4 jedi are replaced by 4 padawans

After 1 min end 12J destroys 12x10 droid=120
After 2min end 8J+4P destroys 8x10 + 54x5 = 100
After 3 min end 4J +8P destroys 4x10 +8x5 = 80
After 4 min end 12P destroys 12x5 = 60... At end of 4 min, total 120+100+80+60 = 360 droid destroyed.
Total Droids destroyed as per questions = 720. Thus (720-360) will be destroyed by 12 padawans.

t x 12 x 5 = 360 => t=6min
Ans- C
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 14:29
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total jedi= 12
rate of each jedi= 10 d/min
at the end of each min, 4 jedi retreat and 4 padawans added.
rate of each padawans= 5 d/min
in 1 min work done= 12*10= 120
at the start of 2nd min, we have 8 jedi + 4 padawans.
work done= 80+ 20 = 100
at the start of 3 min we have 4 jedi + 8 padawans
work done= 40+ 40 = 80
now at the start of 4th min we will have only padawans and they are 12
so remaining wrok left= 720-300= 420
rate of 12 padawans= 60
time=7 min

Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 14:47
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Equation:

(12*10)+(8*10+2*5)+(4*10+8*5)+(8*5*n) = 720

On solving, we will get n =7
(D) is the answer
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 15:12
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Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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4 jedi can kill= 10 x 4 =40 droids
4 padwans can kill= 5x 4 = 20 droids
t= 1 min, 4 jedi replaced , droids killed= 40x3=120
t=2 min , 4 jedi replaced with 4 padwans = rate of kill = 120-40+20= 100
killed = 100
t=3 again 4 jedi replaced , droids killed= 100-40+20=80
t=4 now all jedi removed , droids left = 720- 120-100-80=420
time to kill by 12 droids= 420/(20x3)= 7 min
ans=D
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 18:39
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Killing rate of Jedi=10 driods/minute
Killing rate of Padawans= 5 droids/minute

Initially, 12 jedi engage in combat,
After 1 minute, No. of droids destroyed= 12X10 = 120

Four Jedi retreat, Four padawans replaced
No. of droids destroyed in 2nd minute= (8X10) + (4X5) = 100

No. of droids destroyed in 3rd minute= (4X10) + (8X5) = 80

After 3rd minute, no Jedis are left only Padawans
No. of droids killed in a minute by 12 Padwans= 12X5 = 60
No. of minutes Padwans alone fight= x

Then, 120 + 100 + 80 + (60x) = 720 ==> 60x = 420 ==> x = 7 minutes
Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 19:15
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answer D 7

1st minute
12 jedi at 10 droids per minute = 120

2nd minute
8 jedi at 10 = 80 4 Padawans at 5 = 20 total 100

3rd minute
4 jedi at 10 40 8 Padawans at 5 = 40 total 80

4th minute on
12 Padawanst at 5 = 60 droids

total first three minutes 300 droids
total killed 720
therefore 420 killed after first three minutes

420 divided by 60 = 7 minutes
Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 19:55
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From the time of t=0 to t = 3 mins , Jedi will be getting replaced by Padawans. Now in between t=0 to t=1 min , 12 Jedi will be present , and will kill 12*10 = 120 Droids. Similarly from t=1 to t=2 , 8 Jedi will kill 80 Droids , 4 Padawans will kill 20 Droids , t=2 to t=3 , 4 Jedi will kill 40 ,8 Padawans will kill 40. Now total Droids killed till this time is 120+80+20+40+40 = 300 Droids. Now still 420 Droids are remaining to be killed. Now since only Padawans will be fighting , each min 12 padawans will kill 60 Driods. Time taken to kill 420 is 7 mins.

So Padawans fight alone for 7 mins after the last Jedi is retreated.

So , answer is D
Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 20:16
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In first minute 12*10 droids destroid and 4 Jedi replaced with 4 padawans. In 2nd minute 4*5 + 8*10 droids detroyed and another 4 Jedi replaced with 4 Padawans. In third minute 8*5 + 4*10 droids destroyed and after it all 12 Jedi replaced with 12 Padawans. So from 4th minute 12*5 droids will be destroyed by 12 Padawans. Hence total droids destroed in three minutes are 120 + 100 + 80 = 300. From Question 300 + 60*n = 720 ----> n = 7. After last Jedi retreated Padawans fight alone for 7 minutes.
Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 20:17
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Given in the question that at the end of each minutes 4 Jedi will be replaced by 4 Padwan & therefore all the 12 jedi gets replaced by 12 Padwans after 3 mins

From the 4th min only Padwans confront droids

The rate of Jedi killing droid is 10/min
Padwan is 5/min

1st min = 12 jedi , 120droids got killed
2nd min = 8 jedi + 4 padwan ; 100 droids gets killed
3rd min = 4 jedi + 8 padwan; 80 droid gets killed
4- 10 mins = 12 padwan ; 60 droid gets killed -> 7 mins is the answer
Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 20:23
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Given a Jedi destroys 10 droids per minute, Padavans perform half of jedi => 5 droids per minute; Total 720 were destroyed with padawan replacement
In first minute 12 jedi destroys 120 droids; Balance 600
In second minute 8 jedi and 4 padwan destroys 100 droids; Balance 500
In third minute 4 jedi and 8 padawan destroys 80 droids; Balance 420 droids

Hence 12 padawans can destroy 60 droids per minute.
Hence it takes 7 minutes to destroy droids completely (Option D)
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 21:44
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jedi -> destroys 10 droids per minute
pawn -> destroys 5 droids per minute

before 1st minute config:
12 jedi

after 1st minute number of kills:
12 * 10 =120

before 2nd minute config:
8 jedi + 4 pawns

after 2nd minute number of kills:
8 * 10 + 4* 5=100

before 3rd minute config:
4 jedi + 8 pawns

after 3rd min number of kills:
4*10 + 8 * 5 = 80

before 4th minute config:
12 pawns

from 4th min number of kills:
12 * 5 * number of mins = 60 * number of mins

total number of kills:
120 + 100 + 80 + 60 * number of mins starting from 4th min
let T be total number of mins
300 + 60 * n = 720
60*n =420
n = 7 mins

We dont need to include the first 3 mins because questions asked after about number of mins after last jedi retreated

ans: option D
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 22:05
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Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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We can go through minute by minute as it's a quick calculation.

Minute 1: \(12*10=120\)
Minute 2: \(8*10+4*5=100\)
Minute 3: \(4*10+8*5=80\)

So we're counting from Minute 4 onwards. So far they've killed 300 out of 720, so 420 remaining. The Padawans fight at a rate of \(12*5=60\) and \(\frac{420}{60}=7\)

Thus answer is D, 7.
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 22:07
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Jedi, rate of destroying droid = 10 droids/min
Padawan, rate of destroying droids = 5 droids/min

Minutes elapsed S s+1min s+2 s+3
# of Jedi left 12 8 4 0
# of Padawan replaced 0 4 8 12

Total droids destroyed = 720

Using the combined work formula, W1+W2+....+Wn=Total work
Number of droids destroyed until all Jedis are replaced by padawans = #droids destroyed by 12 jedi+ #droids destroyed by 8J and 4P + #droids destroyed by 4J and 8P + #droids destroyed by 12P

12x10 + (8x10+4x5) + (4x10+8x5) + 12x5 = 360

Droids left to destroy = 720-360 = 360

Number of minutes padawans fight alone (t) = droids left (W) / #padawans x padawans rate of destroying droids (R)
t = 360/5x12 = 6mins


Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 22:16
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Jedi rate = 10d/min, Pada rate = 5d/min
In 1st minute: 12*10 = 120 droids
In 2nd minute: 8*10+4*5 = 100
In 3rd minute: 4*10+8*5 = 80
At the end of 3rd minute, all Jedi are replaced with Padawans
=> 120+100+80+12*5*a = 720 (a is the number of minutes the Padawans fight alone)
=> a = 7

Answer: D
Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 22:30
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imo D. 7 mins
rate of Jedi's =10/min & Padawans=5/min
with 12J for 1 mins == 120 defeated
likewise, 8J+4P == 100
4J + 8P == 80
i.e. after 3 mins of fighting, there will be only padawans that are left to fight the remaining 420 droids. i.e. mins of fighting left = 420/60 = 7 mins
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 23 Dec 2025, 23:17
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Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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The rate at which Jedi destroys droids = 10 Droids / min.

The rate at which Padawans destroy droids = 5 Droids/ min.

720 Droids are destroyed in total.

Initially, 12 J = 12*10 = 120 Droids are destroyed.

At t = 1 min, 4 Jedi leave and 4 padawans gets added.

8J + 4P = 8*10 + 4*5 = 100 Droids are destroyed.

At t= 2 min, 4 Jedi leave and 4 padawans gets added.

4J + 8P = 4*10 + 8*5 = 80 Droids are destroyed.

Total droids destroyed till now = 120+100+80 = 300 Droids are destroyed.

Remaining Droids = 720-300 = 420 Droids.

At t= 3 min, 4 Jedi leave and 4 Padawans gets added.

0J + 12P , which leaves us with 12P

12*5 droids /min * t mins = 420

t = 7 mins.

Padawans fought for 7 mins alone, after the last Jedi retreated.

Option D
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 24 Dec 2025, 00:27
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Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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Jedi Rate = 10 droids/min
Padawan Rate = 5 droids/min

AT Minute 1

Jedi = 12, Padawan = 0
Hence Droids Destroyed = 12x10 + 0x5 = 120


At Minute 2
Jedi = 8 (4 jedi retreates every min replaced with Padawans ) , Padawans = 4
Hence Droids Destroyed = 8x10 + 4x5 = 100

At Minute 3
J = 4, P = 8
Droids Destroyed = 4x10+8x5 = 80

Remaining droids = 720 - (120+100+80) = 420.

Time taken by 12 Padawans to kill the rest or time 12 Padawans fought alone without Jedis =

t x (12x5) = 420
t= 7 mins

Option D
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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition 2025 - Day 7: In a confrontation 24 Dec 2025, 00:47
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Jedi = 10 droids per min while Padawans 5 droids per min
1st min = 12x10= 120d
2nd= 8x10+4x5= 100d
3rd= 4x10+8x5= 80d
Total= 300d
From 4th minute Padawns do 12x5= 60d/min
Remaining 720-300= 420d/60d/min= 7 min
Ans D
Bunuel
In a confrontation with battle droids, twelve Jedi engage in combat. Each Jedi can destroy 10 droids per minute. At the end of each minute, four Jedi retreat and are replaced by four Padawans, each of whom can destroy half as many droids as a Jedi per minute. After the last four Jedi retreat, the Padawans continue fighting the droids alone. At the end of the confrontation, a total of 720 battle droids are destroyed. Throughout the confrontation, all Jedi and Padawans fight at their full rates, with none incapacitated. How many minutes did the Padawans fight alone after the last Jedi retreated?

A. 3
B. 3.5
C. 6
D. 7
E. 10

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