Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While both

Question

Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While both packed, Pam packed 60% of the boxes. After Pam stopped, Stanley packed the same number of boxes that he had packed while working with Pam. What is the ratio of the number of boxes Pam packed to the number of boxes Stanley packed?

A. 1 to 4
B. 1 to 3
C. 3 to 5
D. 3 to 4
E. 3 to 2

Kudos for a correct solution.

A. 1 to 4
B. 1 to 3
C. 3 to 5
D. 3 to 4
E. 3 to 2

BrentGMATPrepNow · Accepted Answer

We can solve this question by finding values that satisfy the given conditions.

Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While both packed, Pam packed 60% of the boxes.  
Let's say that, during this time, Pam and Stanley packed a TOTAL of 10 boxes.
Since Pam packed 60% of the boxes, we can conclude that Pam packed   6   boxes and Stanley packed the remaining  4  boxes

After Pam stopped, Stanley packed the same number of boxes that he had packed while working with Pam.  
This means that Stanley packed another  4  boxes after Pam stopped. 
So the total number of boxes that Stanley packed =  4  +  4  =   8

What is the ratio of the number of boxes Pam packed to the number of boxes Stanley packed?  
Pam packed   6   boxes
Stanley packed   8   boxes

The ratio is   6   to   8  
Simplify to get:   3   to   4

Answer: D

Cheers, 
Brent

Bunuel · Answer

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION

Correct Answer: D

Solution: D. We know that when Pam and Stanley were both working, the ratio was 3 boxes by Pam to 2 boxes by Stanley. We also know that Stanley continued working after Pam stopped. He packed as many boxes alone as he had packed whlie working with Pam, effectively doubling his number of boxes. Thus, the ratio of Pam's boxes to Stanley's boxes is 3 to 4. Answer D is correct.

vedavyas9 · Answer

Bunuel  - here is my understanding

Assuming total number of boxes is X
given that pam packed 0.6X boxes and stopped. Also given that Stanley packed as many number of boxes alone as he has packed with pam.

Therefore -> 0.6X + s+s = X
 2s = 0.4X
 s = 0.2X

boxes packed by pam/ boxes packed by stanley = 0.6x/0.4x = 3:2

Bunuel · Answer

Pam packed 60 boxes, while Stanley initially packed 40. Subsequently, Stanley packed an additional 40 boxes, bringing his total to 80 boxes. Therefore, the ratio of boxes packed by Pam to Stanley is 60:80, which simplifies to 3:4.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

We're told that Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While BOTH packed, Pam packed 60% of the boxes. After Pam STOPPED, Stanley packed the SAME number of boxes that he had packed while working with Pam. We're asked for the ratio of the number of boxes Pam packed to the number of boxes Stanley packed. Since this is a ratio question, it can be solved in a number of different ways, including by TESTing VALUES.

Since we're dealing with percents, it's often easy to use the number 100...

IF.... when working together, there were 100 boxes packed... 
Pam packed 60% of 100 = 60 boxes 
Stanley packed 100 - 60 = 40 boxes

Then Pam stopped and Stanley packed another 40 boxes, so his total becomes 40 + 40 = 80 boxes.

The final ratio of Pam's boxes to Stanley's boxes is 60:80 = 3:4

Final Answer:  D

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

We can assume that when they worked together, they packed a total of 100 boxes. Therefore, Pam packed 60 boxes, and Stanley packed 40 boxes when they worked together. After that, Stanley worked alone, and he packed another 40 boxes. Therefore, Stanley packed a total of 80 boxes, so the ratio of boxes packed by Pam to those packed by Stanley is 60 to 80, or 3 to 4.

Answer: D

Malar95 · Answer

My brain just went 6(P) - 4 (S) - 4 (S)
So its 6:8 = 3:4
Not to sound rude with my answer but rather recognising the pattern

Freddie92 · Answer

This is one of those questions that drives me nuts.

It is not legit, by expressing this in terms of percent, to assume that PAM + Stanley exceed 100%. 
It's a perfectly legit assumption that

60% (PAM) + 2*x % (Stanley, both with Pam and alone) = 100%

This would mean that Stanley packed 40 % of the boxes, hence PAM / Stanley = 3:2.

To get the other answer, you assume that after they reach 100% together Stanley goes for an extra 40%. That's unreasonable. I really don't get some of these questions.

Umber · Answer

The sense of the question asked here is not clear. Better question would have been:

Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While both packed, Pam packed 60% of the boxes. After Pam stopped, Stanley packed the same number of boxes that he had packed while working with Pam. What is the ratio of the number of boxes Pam packed to the number of boxes Stanley packed?

A. 1 to 4
B. 1 to 3
C. 3 to 5
D. 3 to 4
E. 3 to 2

Kudos for a correct solution.

Pam and Stanley packed several boxes with reams of paper. While both

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