Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 13:51 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 13:51
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: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,065
 [20]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
16
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
avatar
PareshGmat
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,531
Own Kudos:
8,274
 [13]
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,531
Kudos: 8,274
 [13]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
iamevitaerc
Joined: 20 Sep 2013
Last visit: 14 Dec 2020
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
27
 [3]
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GPA: 3.81
WE:Design (Aerospace and Defense)
Posts: 3
Kudos: 27
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
manpreetsingh86
Joined: 13 Jun 2013
Last visit: 19 Dec 2022
Posts: 218
Own Kudos:
1,194
 [3]
Given Kudos: 14
Posts: 218
Kudos: 1,194
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

Tough and Tricky questions: Ratios



At the beginning of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors in high school X was 3 to 4. During the year, 10 juniors and twice as many seniors transferred to another high school, while no new students joined high school X. If, at the end of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors was 4 to 5, how many seniors were there in high school X at the beginning of the year?

A. 80
B. 90
C. 100
D. 110
E. 120

let the total number of juniors and seniors at the beginning of the year be 3x and 4x respectively.

now 10 juniors and 20 seniors are transferred to another school. thus no. of juniors and seniors students left in the school X are 3x-10 and 4x-20 respectively. the ratio of these juniors and seniors students = 4/5
thus we have (3x-10)/(4x-20) = 4/5
15x-50= 16x-80
x=30

thus total no. of seniors at the beginning of the year =4(30)= 120
User avatar
LighthousePrep
Joined: 21 Jul 2014
Last visit: 28 Jan 2015
Posts: 110
Own Kudos:
367
 [1]
Given Kudos: 12
Posts: 110
Kudos: 367
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

Tough and Tricky questions: Ratios



At the beginning of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors in high school X was 3 to 4. During the year, 10 juniors and twice as many seniors transferred to another high school, while no new students joined high school X. If, at the end of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors was 4 to 5, how many seniors were there in high school X at the beginning of the year?

A. 80
B. 90
C. 100
D. 110
E. 120


Here's how I did it:

\(j\) = juniors at beginning of year
\(s\) = seniors at beginning of year

Part 1) \(\frac{j}{s}\) = \(\frac{3}{4}\)

Part 2) \(\frac{(j-10)}{(s-20)} = \frac{4}{5}\)

Reframe Part 1 in terms of j:
\(j\) = \(\frac{3}{4}s\) = \(.75s\)

Substitute j in part 2:

\(\frac{(j-10)}{(s-20)} = \frac{4}{5}\)

= \(\frac{(.75s-10)}{(s-20)} = \frac{4}{5}\)

Now, solve for s, and you get your answer.
User avatar
keats
Joined: 28 Nov 2014
Last visit: 08 Jun 2019
Posts: 727
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 86
Concentration: Strategy
GPA: 3.71
Products:
Posts: 727
Kudos: 1,379
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
iamevitaerc
Step1: J/S=3/4 => J=3/4(S)
Step 2: (J+10)/(S+20)=4/5
Step 3: substitute Value of J from step1 in step 2 to get s
s=120 (E)

I am not sure as to why you added 10, and 20 instead of subtracting it iamevitaerc
User avatar
Senthil7
Joined: 31 Mar 2016
Last visit: 05 Mar 2017
Posts: 322
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 197
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Finance
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V34
GPA: 3.8
WE:Operations (Commercial Banking)
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V34
Posts: 322
Kudos: 218
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Beginning of Year J/S = 3/4 => J = (3/4)S

After transfer : (J-10)/(S-20) = 4/5
= 5J-50 = 4S - 80 => Substitute from the first equation
= (1/4)S = 30
=> S = 120 hence choice D
avatar
GMAT01
Joined: 20 Dec 2014
Last visit: 17 Mar 2020
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 32
Posts: 15
Kudos: 8
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
For these ratio questions I would assume it would not matter which method(two methods listed below) you use for any question throughout the GMAT correct?

Just like this question for example you can use3X/4X = J/S > 3X - 10/4X- 20 = 4/5 to start off the equation and solve as opposed to J/S = 3/4 > J - 10 / S - 20 = 4/5
User avatar
ydmuley
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Mar 2014
Last visit: 01 Dec 2019
Posts: 807
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 199
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
At the beginning of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors in high school X was 3 to 4. During the year, 10 juniors and twice as many seniors transferred to another high school, while no new students joined high school X. If, at the end of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors was 4 to 5, how many seniors were there in high school X at the beginning of the year?

No. Of Juniors = 3x

No. Of Seniors = 4x

New No. Of Juniors = 3x - 10

New No. Of Seniors = 4x - 20

All the above points we have written based on the given information on ratios.

3x - 10/4x - 20 = 4/5

5(3x - 10) = 4(4x - 20)

15x - 50 = 16x - 80

x = 30

No. Of Seniors at the beginning = 4x = 4 * 30 = 120

Hence, the Answer is E

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 17 Dec 2025
Posts: 5,903
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,903
Kudos: 5,454
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

Tough and Tricky questions: Ratios



At the beginning of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors in high school X was 3 to 4. During the year, 10 juniors and twice as many seniors transferred to another high school, while no new students joined high school X. If, at the end of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors was 4 to 5, how many seniors were there in high school X at the beginning of the year?

A. 80
B. 90
C. 100
D. 110
E. 120

Originally -

\(\frac{Juniors}{Seniors} = \frac{3x}{4x}\)

Quote:
During the year, 10 juniors and twice as many seniors transferred to another high school, while no new students joined high school X.If, at the end of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors was 4 to 5, how many seniors were there in high school X at the beginning of the year?
\(\frac{3x - 10}{4x - 20} = \frac{4}{5}\)

\(15x - 50 = 16x - 80\)

\(x = 30\)

So, The total number of seniors in high school is \(4*30 = 120\)

Thus, the correct answer must be (E) 120
User avatar
ZahidPavel
Joined: 10 Dec 2016
Last visit: 25 Apr 2024
Posts: 48
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9
Location: Bangladesh
GPA: 3.38
Posts: 48
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
At the beginning of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors in high school X was 3 to 4. During the year, 10 juniors and twice as many seniors transferred to another high school, while no new students joined high school X. If, at the end of the year, the ratio of juniors to seniors was 4 to 5, how many seniors were there in high school X at the beginning of the year?

A. 80
B. 90
C. 100
D. 110
E. 120

Suppose, initially the ratio was: 3x/4x
Due to transfer, it stands: 3x-10/4x-20 = 4/5
upon calculation: x = 30
the seniors were: 4*30 = 120

Answer: E
avatar
anushrisarda0501
Joined: 08 Nov 2021
Last visit: 26 Sep 2022
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 17
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
There is a time-saving trick to do such questions:
look at the numbers in the ratios (here the numbers are 3,4 and 5)
now analyze the answer choices and see which number is a multiple of all 3 numbers in the ratio.
option E satisfies the condition, so it is the correct choice.

Disclaimer: I don't know if this is a legit trick but I tried this trick on a few similar questions and it worked for me.
please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thx in advance!
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,974
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,974
Kudos: 1,117
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
109818 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts