Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 22:50 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 22:50
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
avatar
sahilkak
Joined: 27 Feb 2018
Last visit: 14 Nov 2018
Posts: 32
Own Kudos:
119
 [18]
Given Kudos: 4
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 650 Q48 V32
GPA: 3.86
GMAT 1: 650 Q48 V32
Posts: 32
Kudos: 119
 [18]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
14
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 11,229
Own Kudos:
45,009
 [6]
Given Kudos: 335
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,229
Kudos: 45,009
 [6]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 8,629
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
Products:
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,629
Kudos: 5,190
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,459
 [4]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,459
 [4]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sahilkak
In how many different ways can 3 fiction books and 3 non-fiction books be arranged in a row of 6 books on a shelf such that the fiction books are not separated, and the non-fiction books are not separated?

a)24
b)36
c)72
d)144
e)288

Take the task of arranging the 6 books and break it into stages.

Stage 1: Arrange the 3 fiction books in a row
We can arrange n unique objects in n! ways
So, we can arrange the 3 books in 3! ways (= 6 ways)
So, we can complete stage 1 in 6 ways

Stage 2: Arrange the 3 non-fiction books in a row
We can complete stage 2 in 6 ways

Now that we've arranged the two types of books, we need to determine the order they appear on the shelf (i.e.. fiction-nonfiction or nonfiction-fiction)

Stage 3: Select the order in which the 2 book types appear on the shelf
There are 2 options: fiction-nonfiction or nonfiction-fiction
So, we can complete stage 3 in 2 ways

By the Fundamental Counting Principle (FCP), we can complete all 3 stages (and thus arrange all 6 books) in (6)(6)(2) ways (= 72 ways)

Answer: C

Note: the FCP can be used to solve the MAJORITY of counting questions on the GMAT. So, be sure to learn it.

RELATED VIDEOS


User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,286
Own Kudos:
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: 26,534
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sahilkak
In how many different ways can 3 fiction books and 3 non-fiction books be arranged in a row of 6 books on a shelf such that the fiction books are not separated, and the non-fiction books are not separated?


a)24
b)36
c)72
d)144
e)288


The 3 fiction books can be arranged in 3! = 6 ways. Similarly, the 3 nonfiction books can be arranged in 3! = 6 ways also. Since we can arrange the fiction books before the nonfiction books, or the nonfiction before the fiction books, the number of ways to arrange the 6 books is:

6 x 6 x 2 = 72

Answer: C
User avatar
luisdicampo
Joined: 10 Feb 2025
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 480
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 328
Products:
Posts: 480
Kudos: 74
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Deconstructing the Question

There are 3 distinct fiction books and 3 distinct non-fiction books. The fiction books must stay together, and the non-fiction books must also stay together.

So treat each category as one block.

Step-by-step

We have 2 blocks:

\(F\) block and \(N\) block

These 2 blocks can be arranged in

\(2!\)

ways.

Within the fiction block, the 3 fiction books can be arranged in

\(3!\)

ways.

Within the non-fiction block, the 3 non-fiction books can be arranged in

\(3!\)

ways.

Total arrangements:

\(2! \times 3! \times 3!\)

\(= 2 \times 6 \times 6\)

\(= 72\)

Answer C
Moderators:
Math Expert
109818 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts