Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 16:32 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 16:32
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
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,063
Own Kudos:
20,004
 [34]
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,063
Kudos: 20,004
 [34]
Kudos
Add Kudos
33
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,063
Own Kudos:
20,004
 [6]
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,063
Kudos: 20,004
 [6]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,063
Own Kudos:
20,004
 [4]
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,063
Kudos: 20,004
 [4]
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
nsdl1985
Joined: 11 Jan 2016
Last visit: 25 Apr 2022
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
21
 [2]
Given Kudos: 71
Posts: 29
Kudos: 21
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I did the other way round!
1) Calculated the sum of set A= 15.
2) tried dividing answers by 15.
3) integer answer was answer D

Posted from my mobile device
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
this question is terribly worded, didn't understand it at all. Can you explain why there are 2 elements in your subset?
avatar
syedazeem3
Joined: 15 Jan 2016
Last visit: 17 Dec 2022
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 487
Posts: 28
Kudos: 21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MathRevolution
=>

\(A\) has \(2^5 = 32\) subsets, so \(n = 32\). Each element of \(A\) is contained in \(2^{5-1} = 2^4 = 16\) subsets of \(A\) (We fix one element and find the number of subsets of the remaining elements). So, A1 + A2 + A3 + … + A32 = \(16*(1+2+3+4+5) = 240.\)
Therefore, the answer is D.
Answer: D

Can you please explain how and why we need to get subsets? Is there a particular formula for solving this type of question?
User avatar
warrior1991
Joined: 03 Mar 2017
Last visit: 03 Feb 2022
Posts: 540
Own Kudos:
438
 [1]
Given Kudos: 596
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Technology
Products:
Posts: 540
Kudos: 438
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nsdl1985
I did the other way round!
1) Calculated the sum of set A= 15.
2) tried dividing answers by 15.
3) integer answer was answer D

Posted from my mobile device

210 also gets divided by 15. Hence B can also an answer in this case.
User avatar
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,063
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,063
Kudos: 20,004
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
syedazeem3
MathRevolution
=>

\(A\) has \(2^5 = 32\) subsets, so \(n = 32\). Each element of \(A\) is contained in \(2^{5-1} = 2^4 = 16\) subsets of \(A\) (We fix one element and find the number of subsets of the remaining elements). So, A1 + A2 + A3 + … + A32 = \(16*(1+2+3+4+5) = 240.\)
Therefore, the answer is D.
Answer: D

Can you please explain how and why we need to get subsets? Is there a particular formula for solving this type of question?

\(A_i\)'s are the sums of elements of subsets. That's why we should consider subsets.
Please review the previous solution.
User avatar
rishab0507
Joined: 12 Mar 2019
Last visit: 25 Feb 2021
Posts: 175
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105
Posts: 175
Kudos: 109
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MathRevolution
syedazeem3
MathRevolution
=>

\(A\) has \(2^5 = 32\) subsets, so \(n = 32\). Each element of \(A\) is contained in \(2^{5-1} = 2^4 = 16\) subsets of \(A\) (We fix one element and find the number of subsets of the remaining elements). So, A1 + A2 + A3 + … + A32 = \(16*(1+2+3+4+5) = 240.\)
Therefore, the answer is D.
Answer: D

Can you please explain how and why we need to get subsets? Is there a particular formula for solving this type of question?

\(A_i\)'s are the sums of elements of subsets. That's why we should consider subsets.
Please review the previous solution.


Is this really a GMAT type ques ? Seems to be really tough and have not seen this concept covered in OG
User avatar
rishab0507
Joined: 12 Mar 2019
Last visit: 25 Feb 2021
Posts: 175
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105
Posts: 175
Kudos: 109
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nsdl1985
I did the other way round!
1) Calculated the sum of set A= 15.
2) tried dividing answers by 15.
3) integer answer was answer D

Posted from my mobile device


then by this standard, even B can be answer . Any reason to eliminate B ?
User avatar
MathRevolution
User avatar
Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Last visit: 27 Sep 2022
Posts: 10,063
Own Kudos:
20,004
 [1]
Given Kudos: 4
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
GPA: 3.82
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
Posts: 10,063
Kudos: 20,004
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MathRevolution
syedazeem3
MathRevolution
=>

\(A\) has \(2^5 = 32\) subsets, so \(n = 32\). Each element of \(A\) is contained in \(2^{5-1} = 2^4 = 16\) subsets of \(A\) (We fix one element and find the number of subsets of the remaining elements). So, A1 + A2 + A3 + … + A32 = \(16*(1+2+3+4+5) = 240.\)
Therefore, the answer is D.
Answer: D

Can you please explain how and why we need to get subsets? Is there a particular formula for solving this type of question?

\(A_i\)'s are the sums of elements of subsets. That's why we should consider subsets.
Please review the previous solution.

It is a question related to counting.
It is a scope of GMAT exam.
User avatar
Lord_Biplab
Joined: 27 May 2024
Last visit: 03 Mar 2026
Posts: 30
Own Kudos:
23
 [1]
Given Kudos: 27
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Operations
GRE 1: Q166 V159
GPA: 3
WE:Operations (Energy)
GRE 1: Q166 V159
Posts: 30
Kudos: 23
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
­Total number of subsets possible for a set containing 5 elements = \(2^5\) = \(32\).
Probable sum of the elements = \(\frac{(1+2+3+4+5)}{2}\) = \(\frac{15}{2}\)

Probable sum has denominator 2 instead of 5 because the sum of number of subsets is a distribution that is symmetrical about the middle.

e.g.: sum of subsets {0} and {1,2,3,4,5} = 15.
sum of subsets {1} and {2,3,4,5} = 15.
sum of subsets {1,2,3} and {4,5} =15, and so on.

Thus, sum of the elements of subsets = 32 \(*\) 7.5 = 240.­
User avatar
jack5397
Joined: 13 Sep 2020
Last visit: 15 May 2025
Posts: 139
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 278
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GMAT Focus 1: 575 Q79 V79 DI77
GMAT Focus 2: 575 Q80 V81 DI75
GMAT Focus 3: 635 Q82 V83 DI79
GMAT 1: 460 Q36 V18 (Online)
GPA: 3.8
Products:
GMAT Focus 3: 635 Q82 V83 DI79
GMAT 1: 460 Q36 V18 (Online)
Posts: 139
Kudos: 829
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MathRevolution

tgubbay1
this question is terribly worded, didn't understand it at all. Can you explain why there are 2 elements in your subset?
The subsets of \(A = \{1,2,3,4,5\}\) are as follows.

\(S_1 = \{\}\),
\(S_2 = \{1\}\),
\(S_3 = \{2\}\),
\(S_4 = \{3\}\),
\(S_5 = \{4\}\),
\(S_6 = \{5\}\),
\(S_7 = \{1,2\}\),
\(S_8 = \{1,3\}\),
\(S_9 = \{1,4\}\),
\(S_{10} = \{1,5\}\),
\(S_{11} = \{2,3\}\),
\(S_{12} = \{2,4\}\),
\(S_{13} = \{2,5\}\),
\(S_{14} = \{3,4\}\),
\(S_{15} = \{3,5\}\),
\(S_{16} = \{4,5\}\),
\(S_{17} = \{1,2,3\}\),
\(S_{18} = \{1,2,4\}\),
\(S_{19} = \{1,2,5\}\),
\(S_{20} = \{1,3,4\}\),
\(S_{21} = \{1,3,5\}\),
\(S_{22} = \{1,4,5\}\),
\(S_{23} = \{2,3,4\}\),
\(S_{24} = \{2,3,5\}\),
\(S_{25} = \{2,4,5\}\),
\(S_{26} = \{3,4,5\}\),
\(S_{27} = \{1,2,3,4\}\),
\(S_{28} = \{1,2,3,5\}\),
\(S_{29} = \{1,2,4,5\}\),
\(S_{30} = \{1,3,4,5\}\),
\(S_{31} = \{2,3,4,5\}\),
\(S_{32} = \{1,2,3,4,5\}\).

The half of 32 sets, 16 sets have an element 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.

When we calculate \(A_1 + A_2 + \cdots + A_{32}\), 1 happens 16 times, 2 happens 16 times, ... and 5 happens 16 times.
Thay's why we have \(A_1 + A_2 + \cdots + A_{32} = 16*1 + 16*2 + ... + 16*5 = 16(1+2+3+4+5) = 16*15 = 240\).

Answer: D
­Bunuel can you pls help on this question. I understand why he got 32 subsets but unable to understand why he divided by 2 to get 16 subsets. Also if you have any alternate method it would be really helpful.

Thank you
­
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,986
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,986
Kudos: 1,118
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
109830 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts