Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 23:27 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 23:27
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: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,802
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,868
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,802
Kudos: 810,897
 [15]
Kudos
Add Kudos
15
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
quantumliner
Joined: 24 Apr 2016
Last visit: 26 Sep 2018
Posts: 240
Own Kudos:
804
 [5]
Given Kudos: 48
Posts: 240
Kudos: 804
 [5]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
aynurn
Joined: 05 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Apr 2017
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 5
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
BillyZ
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 14 Nov 2016
Last visit: 24 Jan 2026
Posts: 1,135
Own Kudos:
22,610
 [1]
Given Kudos: 926
Location: Malaysia
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V40 (Online)
GPA: 3.53
Products:
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Warren has five vehicles: a blue convertible, a black sedan, a red coupe, a silver station wagon, and a blue SUV. If he drives a different car to work each day from Monday through Friday, in how many orders could he drive his five cars during a week if he always drives the convertible on Friday and won’t drive the same color vehicle on consecutive days?

A. 6
B. 18
C. 24
D. 120
E. 144

Official solution from Veritas Prep.

This is a perfect scenario to use the total arrangements minus bad arrangements approach. First, find the total, given that the blue convertible is on Friday: 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 * 1 = 24. This eliminates C, D, and E. Next, let’s find the number of arrangements where the blue convertible is on Friday and the blue SUV is on Thursday, violating the second restriction: 3 * 2 * 1 * 1 * 1 = 6. Good = Total - Bad = 24 - 6 = 18.

Alternatively you can look at the number of allowable options on each day, in which case it's helpful to flip the week and think Friday through Monday since your main constraints are on Friday (has to be the convertible) and on Thursday (can't be the blue SUV since he's already driving the blue convertible the next day). This means that you have:

1 option Friday, 3 options Thursday (anything but the two blue cars), 3 options Wednesday (he's already slotted in the convertible and one other car for Friday/Thursday, but now the blue SUV is back in the pool), 2 options Tuesday (anything but the three cars already slotted), and 1 option Monday (whatever's left). So that calculation is 1 * 3 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 18.
User avatar
KrishnakumarKA1
Joined: 05 Jan 2017
Last visit: 13 Oct 2020
Posts: 398
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 15
Location: India
Posts: 398
Kudos: 314
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If he drives convertible on Friday, total arrangement will be for 4 different car = 4!
Now he doesn't drive same color car on consecutive day. So we will subtract all those cases from the above.

As he drives a blue color on Friday, let him drive the another blue car on Thursday. Left cars can be arranged in 3!

Therefore total possible arrangement will be 4! - 3! = 18.

Option B

Hit kudos and visit our page for free GMAT prep articles : www.byjus.com/free-gmat-prep
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,963
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,963
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
109802 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts