On a wildlife preserve, the ratio of giraffes to zebras is 37 : 43. If

Question

On a wildlife preserve, the ratio of giraffes to zebras is 37 : 43. If there are 300 more zebras than giraffes, how many giraffes are on the wildlife preserve?

(A) 1,550
(B) 1,850
(C) 2,150
(D) 2,450
(E) 2,750

u1983 · Answer

Lets assume , #giraffes= 37x  and #zebras= 43x . Hence the Q-stem says  (43-37)x  i.e.  6x =300 
Hence #giraffes= 37x =  \frac{300}{6}*37  = 1850  Hence  Ans B

souvonik2k · Answer

This question can be solved by backsolving i.e. using the answer choices.
Start with C, 2150:2150+300 = 2150:2450 = 43:49
Check B, 1850:1850+300=1850:2150=37:43
Answer B.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

This is an easy question on ratios.  Questions on ratios always test your knowledge of multiples , more so on the GMAT. This is because,  ratios are always expressed in the simplest form  and hence,  the common factors would have been removed in simplifying them . So, we tackle this situation by taking multiples of the numbers that form the ratio, which is like the reverse of simplifying ratios.

Therefore, in this question, we can say that the actual number of giraffes is a multiple of 37 and the actual number of zebras is a multiple of 43. Clearly, the zebras are higher in number.

The conventional approach in such questions is to assume the actual number of giraffes and zebras to be 37x and 43x, find out x and then calculate the actual values of giraffes and zebras. Although there’s nothing wrong with this method, it just takes a wee bit more time.

Instead, we can do it this way. The difference between 43 and 37 is 6. The 6 represents 300 (since the question says there are 300 more zebras than giraffes).  6 can represent 300 only when it is multiplied by 50 . This means that both 43 and 37 need to be multiplied with the same number 50 since  the multiplier for a ratio remains constant. 
 
If 37 is multiplied by 50, we get 1850. This is the number of giraffes in the zoo.  The correct answer option is B.

Whenever a ratio question asks you to find the difference of the actual values, instead of calculating the actual values and then subtracting, follow the approach that we took in this question. It’ll make problem solving a lot simpler and faster.

Hope that helps!

Suhas1101 · Answer

Giraffes/Zebras = 37/43 = 37x/43x

Zebras = Giraffes + 300
43x = 37x + 300
x = 50

No of Giraffes = 37x = 37(50) = 1850

Ans: B

On a wildlife preserve, the ratio of giraffes to zebras is 37 : 43. If

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On a wildlife preserve, the ratio of giraffes to zebras is 37 : 43. If

Prep Toolkit

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