Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 23:44 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 23:44
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: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,819
Own Kudos:
811,100
 [7]
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,819
Kudos: 811,100
 [7]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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
jfranciscocuencag
Joined: 12 Sep 2017
Last visit: 17 Aug 2024
Posts: 227
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 132
Posts: 227
Kudos: 144
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Gagoosh
Joined: 23 Nov 2017
Last visit: 02 Oct 2019
Posts: 102
Own Kudos:
178
 [4]
Given Kudos: 132
Location: Singapore
Concentration: Strategy, Other
Posts: 102
Kudos: 178
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jfranciscocuencag
Can someone please give another approach?

If Basses are 9 means that:

3x = 9

x = 3

And then 15x will be 45, which is more than the singers required.

Please help.


Equate 15x with 40;

15x=40
X=8/3

Since x cannot be a decimal and must be a whole number and a multiple of 3, the least possible number is 9.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Gg153
Joined: 25 Oct 2024
Last visit: 02 Feb 2026
Posts: 99
Own Kudos:
52
 [1]
Given Kudos: 102
Location: India
Products:
Posts: 99
Kudos: 52
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel Bunuel
Wouldn't the group need 3k=(40*3)/15 = 8 basses? if there are 9 basses than the total number of singers will shift to 45?
Bunuel
To fill a larger concert hall, a madrigal singing group consisting of sopranos, altos, and basses, in a 5:7:3 ratio, needs 40 singers. What is the least number of basses the group will need?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 9
D. 12
E. 15
User avatar
Krunaal
User avatar
Tuck School Moderator
Joined: 15 Feb 2021
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 853
Own Kudos:
912
 [2]
Given Kudos: 251
Status:Under the Square and Compass
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82
GPA: 5.78
WE:Marketing (Consulting)
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82
Posts: 853
Kudos: 912
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sanya511
Bunuel Bunuel
Wouldn't the group need 3k=(40*3)/15 = 8 basses? if there are 9 basses than the total number of singers will shift to 45?
Bunuel
To fill a larger concert hall, a madrigal singing group consisting of sopranos, altos, and basses, in a 5:7:3 ratio, needs 40 singers. What is the least number of basses the group will need?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 9
D. 12
E. 15
The basses have to be a multiple of 3, because sopranos and altos need to be integers, if you consider basses to be 8 then sopranos and altos will become decimals - which is not possible. Therefore, we need at least 9 basses. There's no constraint if singers are more than 40, but we need at least 40. Hope it helps.
User avatar
Ilanchezhiyan
Joined: 09 Feb 2024
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 88
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 161
Posts: 88
Kudos: 21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If basses have to be multiple of 3, why does the question suggest that Bass =3/15(40) = 8; Does that not make Bass= 8? I am confused. Could you please explain?
Krunaal
sanya511
Bunuel Bunuel
Wouldn't the group need 3k=(40*3)/15 = 8 basses? if there are 9 basses than the total number of singers will shift to 45?
Bunuel
To fill a larger concert hall, a madrigal singing group consisting of sopranos, altos, and basses, in a 5:7:3 ratio, needs 40 singers. What is the least number of basses the group will need?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 9
D. 12
E. 15
The basses have to be a multiple of 3, because sopranos and altos need to be integers, if you consider basses to be 8 then sopranos and altos will become decimals - which is not possible. Therefore, we need at least 9 basses. There's no constraint if singers are more than 40, but we need at least 40. Hope it helps.
User avatar
Krunaal
User avatar
Tuck School Moderator
Joined: 15 Feb 2021
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 853
Own Kudos:
912
 [1]
Given Kudos: 251
Status:Under the Square and Compass
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82
GPA: 5.78
WE:Marketing (Consulting)
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 755 Q90 V90 DI82
Posts: 853
Kudos: 912
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Ilanchezhiyan
If basses have to be multiple of 3, why does the question suggest that Bass =3/15(40) = 8; Does that not make Bass= 8? I am confused. Could you please explain?
Krunaal
The basses have to be a multiple of 3, because sopranos and altos need to be integers, if you consider basses to be 8 then sopranos and altos will become decimals - which is not possible. Therefore, we need at least 9 basses. There's no constraint if singers are more than 40, but we need at least 40. Hope it helps.
We are told that concert needs 40 singers, i.e. we need at least 40 singers; and these singers should be in the ratio 5:7:3 => Total singers = \(5x + 7x + 3x = 15x\)

Now, if you take 15x = 40, x = 40/15 => you will get bases = 8, but what about sopranos and altos? 7*(40/15), and 5*(40/15) => these are decimals, and singers can't be counted as decimals. So, while it is told that the hall needs 40 singers, you cannot have exactly 40 singers, it will be more than 40.

Therefore, when you take total no. of singers as 45, i.e. 15x =45, x = 3 => you get all proper values of all singers i.e. 15, 21, and 9. Thus, you'll have minimum a total of 45 singers, which includes 9 bases. Hope it helps.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109818 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts