Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 04:11 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 04:11
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
mikemcgarry
User avatar
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Last visit: 06 Aug 2018
Posts: 4,474
Own Kudos:
30,884
 [16]
Given Kudos: 130
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,474
Kudos: 30,884
 [16]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
13
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,461
 [5]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,461
 [5]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
aviram
Joined: 27 Jun 2014
Last visit: 09 Feb 2016
Posts: 59
Own Kudos:
120
 [5]
Given Kudos: 125
Location: New Zealand
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
GMAT 1: 710 Q43 V45
GRE 1: Q161 V163
GRE 2: Q159 V166
GPA: 3.6
WE:Editorial and Writing (Computer Software)
GMAT 1: 710 Q43 V45
GRE 1: Q161 V163
GRE 2: Q159 V166
Posts: 59
Kudos: 120
 [5]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Gmatprep550
Joined: 21 Jul 2018
Last visit: 08 Nov 2019
Posts: 137
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 186
Products:
Posts: 137
Kudos: 73
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi,

I am not getting one thing in both the answer, question states they have 4 different book of AB Li then how you can count them as one?

GMATPrepNow aviram mikemcgarry
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,461
 [2]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,461
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Gmatprep550
Hi,

I am not getting one thing in both the answer, question states they have 4 different book of AB Li then how you can count them as one?

GMATPrepNow aviram mikemcgarry

We are treating the 4 Abraham Lincoln as different.
There are 4! ways (24 ways) to arrange these 4 books in a row.
Once we arrange these 4 different books in a row, we "glue" them together so that we can ensure that they stay together. Those 4 books are still different books, they are just glued together.
Does that help?

Cheers,
Brent
User avatar
gmexamtaker1
Joined: 16 Jul 2018
Last visit: 13 Feb 2023
Posts: 208
Own Kudos:
80
 [1]
Given Kudos: 261
Products:
Posts: 208
Kudos: 80
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Gmatprep550
Hi,

I am not getting one thing in both the answer, question states they have 4 different book of AB Li then how you can count them as one?

GMATPrepNow aviram mikemcgarry

Hey Gmatprep550 ,

Well it is a way to make your life easier , you consider those 4 books as an single entity so that you can address the problem in an easier way ,remember that they have to be next to each other.
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,286
Own Kudos:
26,535
 [1]
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,286
Kudos: 26,535
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mikemcgarry
A librarian has a set of ten books, including four different books about Abraham Lincoln. The librarian wants to put the ten books on a shelf with the four Lincoln books next to each other, somewhere on the shelf among the other six books. How many different arrangements of the ten books are possible?
(A) (10!)/(4!)
(B) (4!)(6!)
(C) (4!)(7!)
(D) (4!)(10!)
(E) (4!)(6!)(10!)

Since the 4 Lincoln books must be together, we can, for now, treat them as just 1 book. Since there are 6 other books, there are a total of 1 + 6 = 7 books, and hence there are 7! arrangements. However, within these 4 Lincoln books, there are 4! ways to arrange them. Therefore, the total number of arrangements of all 10 books, with the 4 Lincoln books together, is:

4! * 7!

Answer: C
User avatar
gmatpro15
Joined: 09 Aug 2022
Last visit: 12 Aug 2024
Posts: 80
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 48
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Leadership
GPA: 4
WE:Design (Real Estate)
Posts: 80
Kudos: 25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Since the 4 Lincoln books must be together, we can, for now, treat them as just 1 book. Since there are 6 other books, there are a total of 1 + 6 = 7 books, and hence there are 7! arrangements. However, within these 4 Lincoln books, there are 4! ways to arrange them. Therefore, the total number of arrangements of all 10 books, with the 4 Lincoln books together, is:

4! * 7!
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,976
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,976
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
109822 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts