Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 22:22 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 22:22
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
811,091
 [2]
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,091
 [2]
Liquids A and B are in the ratio 2:1 in the first container and 1:2 in 26 Oct 2020, 09:17
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

84% (00:55) correct 16% (01:49) wrong based on 57 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Liquids A and B are in the ratio 2:1 in the first container and 1:2 in the second container. In what ratio should the contents of the two containers be mixed to obtain a mixture of A and B in the ratio 1:1?

A. 4:1
B. 3:1
C. 2:1
D. 1:1
E. 1:2
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
User avatar
Hoozan
User avatar
Joined: 28 Sep 2018
Last visit: 30 Dec 2025
Posts: 645
Own Kudos:
737
Given Kudos: 248
GMAT 1: 660 Q48 V33 (Online)
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V37
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V37
Posts: 645
Kudos: 737
Liquids A and B are in the ratio 2:1 in the first container and 1:2 in 26 Oct 2020, 09:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Not sure if my thought process is correct. But here is what I believe

In the first container we have 2a unita of liquid A and b units of liquid B.

In the second container we have a units of liquid A and 2b units of liquid b.

Now we need to mix the two to get A:B = 1:1.

Total A = 2a (#1 container) + a (#2 container) --> 3a

Total B = b (#1 container) + 3b (#2 container) --> 3b

A:B = 1:1

3a = 3b
a = b

(D)

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Hoozan
User avatar
Joined: 28 Sep 2018
Last visit: 30 Dec 2025
Posts: 645
Own Kudos:
737
Given Kudos: 248
GMAT 1: 660 Q48 V33 (Online)
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V37
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V37
Posts: 645
Kudos: 737
Liquids A and B are in the ratio 2:1 in the first container and 1:2 in 28 Oct 2020, 01:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hoozan
Not sure if my thought process is correct. But here is what I believe

In the first container we have 2a unita of liquid A and b units of liquid B.

In the second container we have a units of liquid A and 2b units of liquid b.

Now we need to mix the two to get A:B = 1:1.

Total A = 2a (#1 container) + a (#2 container) --> 3a

Total B = b (#1 container) + 3b (#2 container) --> 3b

A:B = 1:1

3a = 3b
a = b

(D)

Posted from my mobile device
Show more


Bunuel could you throw some light on the solution? I am don't feel 100% confident with my thought process
User avatar
rohanbnj
User avatar
Joined: 16 Sep 2020
Last visit: 14 May 2025
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
2
Given Kudos: 5
Posts: 8
Kudos: 2
Liquids A and B are in the ratio 2:1 in the first container and 1:2 in 28 Oct 2020, 05:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Same here, could you elaborate a bit more on the thought process and the why? I lucked out on this question, but not sure why
avatar
Tonkotsu
avatar
Joined: 10 Oct 2020
Last visit: 31 Mar 2023
Posts: 43
Own Kudos:
25
Given Kudos: 204
Location: United States (TN)
Concentration: Strategy, Finance
Schools: Fuqua '23 Johnson'23 Yale '23
GPA: 3.74
WE:Analyst (Consumer Packaged Goods)
Schools: Fuqua '23 Johnson'23 Yale '23
Posts: 43
Kudos: 25
Liquids A and B are in the ratio 2:1 in the first container and 1:2 in 07 Nov 2020, 10:16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rohanbnj
Same here, could you elaborate a bit more on the thought process and the why? I lucked out on this question, but not sure why
Show more

I think Hoozan did a great job getting to why the total quantity of the containers are equal and of opposing parts, but I think that intuition can to be expounded upon.

Let me try to explain the best I can.

Taking a look at the following containers:

1) Liquid \(A_{1}:B_{1}\) ==> 1:2. This means the total volume of the can is \(3x = 1x + 2x\)
2) Liquid \(A_{2}:B_{2}\) ==> 2:1. This means the total volume of the can is \(3y = 2y + 1y\)

The goal of this problem is to see what portion of each can needs to be mixed for A to Equal B.

i.e. Figure out \(3x:3y\)

We can set this equation up this way because we do not know the exact quantities of liquid respective to each container (e.g. x vs y), but we know that it is dispersed in parts within each container in a formulaic way (e.g. 1:2).

Now we are trying to combine the mixtures to have equal parts of A to B.
This means we can set up a system of equations where \(A_{1} + A_{2} = B_{1} + B_{2} \) (same as saying 1:1).

\(x + 2y = 2x + y\) which just gives us \(y = x\).

This means that the total volume of each can (\(3x\) and \(3y\)) must be equal to each other IF we set the total parts of A equal to the total parts of B.

\(3x:3y\) is \(1:1\).
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109818 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts