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805+ (Hard)|   Graphs|      
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RonPurewal
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A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold Updated on: 12 Mar 2026, 07:01
Originally posted by RonPurewal on 23 Feb 2026, 22:12.
Last edited by Bunuel on 12 Mar 2026, 07:01, edited 1 time in total.
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Dropdown 1: 5 Dropdown 2: 1 empty lipstick
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

95% (hard)

Question Stats:

43% (02:41) correct 57% (02:27) wrong based on 205 sessions

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A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold to the supplier for recycling. To encourage customers to return their empty lipsticks to its stores rather than throw them in the trash, the drugstore chain has instituted a new policy allowing customers to bring empty lipsticks to a store and exchange them for a new, full lipstick, as shown in the diagram.

Select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information provided.

Dara has 11 empty lipsticks originally purchased from this drugstore chain. If Dara exchanges these for new lipsticks under the store policy, wears the new lipsticks until they run out, and then repeats these actions (with the lipsticks that are now empty) to the fullest extent possible—without acquiring any additional lipsticks outside of the exchange program—then Dara will be able to acquire and wear new lipsticks, and will have upon reaching “End”.
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Dropdown 1: 5 Dropdown 2: 1 empty lipstick
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I32-07

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A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold 28 Feb 2026, 10:15
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RonPurewal


A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold to the supplier for recycling. To encourage customers to return their empty lipsticks to its stores rather than throw them in the trash, the drugstore chain has instituted a new policy allowing customers to bring empty lipsticks to a store and exchange them for a new, full lipstick, as shown in the diagram.

Select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information provided.

Dara has 11 empty lipsticks originally purchased from this drugstore chain. If Dara exchanges these for new lipsticks under the store policy, wears the new lipsticks until they run out, and then repeats these actions (with the lipsticks that are now empty) to the fullest extent possible—without acquiring any additional lipsticks outside of the exchange program—then Dara will be able to acquire and wear new lipsticks, and will have upon reaching “End”.
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Official Explanation:

The store’s program allows Dara to trade 3 empty lipsticks for 1 new full one, as shown by the “Yes” path at the first question. With 11 empty lipsticks to begin with, Dara will be able to make this exchange three times (following the “Yes” arrow and then looping back, three times each). In so doing, Dara will trade 9 empty lipsticks for 3 full ones—and thus will have 3 full and 2 empty lipsticks.

At this point, Dara will not be able to make another exchange. So Dara wears one of the new lipsticks until it runs out, at which point Dara will have 2 full and 3 empty lipsticks, and will have worn 1.

Dara can now trade those 3 empty lipsticks for an additional full one—ending up with 3 full lipsticks (and no empties).

At this point, Dara will wear all three of these lipsticks one by one. After wearing all three, Dara will have just the 3 empty lipsticks, and will now have worn 4 lipsticks total.

Dara can then trade those 3 empties for one last full lipstick, and then wear that lipstick—the fifth and final one that Dara can wear. Dara will then reach “End” with the empty container of this one last lipstick. So, Dara acquires and wears 5 lipsticks total, and reaches “End” wih 1 empty lipstick.
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A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold 24 Feb 2026, 01:40
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RonPurewal


A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold to the supplier for recycling. To encourage customers to return their empty lipsticks to its stores rather than throw them in the trash, the drugstore chain has instituted a new policy allowing customers to bring empty lipsticks to a store and exchange them for a new, full lipstick, as shown in the diagram.

Select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information provided.

Dara has 11 empty lipsticks originally purchased from this drugstore chain. If Dara exchanges these for new lipsticks under the store policy, wears the new lipsticks until they run out, and then repeats these actions (with the lipsticks that are now empty) to the fullest extent possible—without acquiring any additional lipsticks outside of the exchange program—then Dara will be able to acquire and wear new lipsticks, and will have upon reaching “End”.
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With 11 empty lipsticks,

Decision box : Have 3 or more empty lipsticks ? Yes

For 3 empty , you get a new one.

9 empty , you get 3 new ones.

So, now we are left with 2 Empty and 3 New.

So, now the Decision box : Have 3 or more empty lipsticks ? NO.

We use a new lipstick, so 3 empty and 2 new.

now the Decision box : Have 3 or more empty lipsticks ? yes.

So, the quantity becomes 0 empty and 3 new. ( added a new lipstick)

After using all the three, we get 3 empty, 0 new.

now the Decision box : Have 3 or more empty lipsticks ? yes.

0 empty and 1 new is what we add at final. After using , we have 1 empty.


Number of new sticks bought is :

3 (initially) + 1 in the middle and 1 at last = 3+1+1 = 5

Answer:

5 new lipsticks

1 Empty lipstick.
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A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold Updated on: 24 Feb 2026, 03:10
Originally posted by MS26 on 24 Feb 2026, 02:05.
Last edited by Bunuel on 24 Feb 2026, 03:10, edited 1 time in total.
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RonPurewal


A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold to the supplier for recycling. To encourage customers to return their empty lipsticks to its stores rather than throw them in the trash, the drugstore chain has instituted a new policy allowing customers to bring empty lipsticks to a store and exchange them for a new, full lipstick, as shown in the diagram.

Select from each drop-down menu the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information provided.

Dara has 11 empty lipsticks originally purchased from this drugstore chain. If Dara exchanges these for new lipsticks under the store policy, wears the new lipsticks until they run out, and then repeats these actions (with the lipsticks that are now empty) to the fullest extent possible—without acquiring any additional lipsticks outside of the exchange program—then Dara will be able to acquire and wear new lipsticks, and will have upon reaching “End”.
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nice question , she will have a total of 5 lipsticks to use for after replacing 11 lipsticks in seq (9 empty lipsticks will yield 3 lipsticks & 2 empty lipsticks and 1 full lipsticks used which along with other 2 lipsticks will be replaced to add 1 full so now we have 3 full again which once used fully will yield 1 full and this again used full will not yield any more this the cycle ends) and 1 empty lipstick at the end
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A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold 24 Feb 2026, 19:07
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Nice flowchart question — this is pure process simulation, which is the core skill in Graphs and Tables questions involving decision-tree diagrams. The walkthrough above is correct, but let me explain the conceptual approach that makes these go faster on test day.

The key concept: When you see a flowchart with a loop (an arrow that cycles back to a decision box), treat it like a "while loop" — keep iterating until the exit condition is met.

The exchange rule from the diagram:
- Have 3 or more empty lipsticks? → Yes → Exchange 3 empties for 1 new full → use it → loop back
- Have 1 or more full lipstick? → Yes → Use it until empty → loop back
- Neither condition met → End

The common trap: Students count only "how many new lipsticks she exchanged for" but forget that each new lipstick she uses also becomes an empty that re-enters the loop. You have to track both counts simultaneously: empties in hand AND new lipsticks acquired.

Simulation with 11 empties:

Round 1: 11 empties → 11 ÷ 3 = 3 exchanges (remainder 2) → get 3 new lipsticks, use all 3 → now have 2 (leftover) + 3 (from used ones) = 5 empties. New acquired: 3.

Round 2: 5 empties → 5 ÷ 3 = 1 exchange (remainder 2) → get 1 new lipstick, use it → now have 2 + 1 = 3 empties. New acquired: 1.

Round 3: 3 empties → 3 ÷ 3 = 1 exchange (remainder 0) → get 1 new lipstick, use it → now have 0 + 1 = 1 empty. New acquired: 1.

End: 1 empty left. Less than 3 empties and no full lipsticks → exit the loop.

Total new lipsticks acquired and worn: 3 + 1 + 1 = 5
Empties remaining at "End": 1

Answer: 5 new lipsticks, 1 empty lipstick remaining.

The time-saving trick is handling Round 1 as a batch — 11 ÷ 3 = 3 remainder 2 — rather than going one exchange at a time (which some people do and lose 30-45 seconds). Group the exchanges within each iteration, then move to the next round.

(Kavya | 725 on GMAT Focus Edition)
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A drugstore chain can return empty lipsticks that it originally sold 02 Mar 2026, 12:07
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Nice solutions Dereno, MS26, and Edskore.


Edskore
The key concept: When you see a flowchart with a loop (an arrow that cycles back to a decision box), treat it like a "while loop" —
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Well, only if you actually have coding experience ahahhah. For those of us who don't code, this would be a whole pile of new stuff to learn on top of what's actually in the problems.
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