What is the ratio in which a dealer mixes two varieties of coffee?

Question

(1) The dealer mixes coffee priced at 180/kg with the coffee priced at 210/kg

(2) The mixture is sold at 198/kg

AR15J · Accepted Answer

Hi Prashant, The Second statement says that The mixture is sold at 198/kg It does not tell how much it costs after mixing two varieties of coffee. The dealer might be earning some profit that's why cost price might differ from selling price . So, we can't form this equation 180x+210y=198z by combining both statements. Detailed Solution Let's say the ratio of two varieties is x:y Statement 1: 180x+210y-- it does not tell anything further. So, this statement is not sufficient Statement: It does not talk about the cost price. Just by knowing the selling price, we can't determine the ratio of two varieties of coffee. Combining both statements: Since the second statement does not tell any information relevant to first statement i.e. by knowing the cost price of two different varieties which dealer mixes and by knowing the selling price of the mixture , the ratio of two varieties can not be determined. The correct answer is E. Hope it helps. +1 Kudos if you like the post

prashantrchawla · Answer

This is how I went with this question,
180x+210y=198z. x+y=z
By putting this value in the first equation. 
x/y = 2/3. Answer is C. This is what the question has asked to calculate.

Pochimon · Answer

Good one !! I think you got most people over there with the nuance in statement - 2. Only wondering if the GMAT will also tease us in the same way :wink:

RMD007 · Answer

E:
Statement II only gives the the selling price and not profit or Loss%.

Atish chakma ovi · Answer

Let say ,the dealer mixes 'x' kg coffee of price 180 per kg with 'y' kg coffee of price 210 per kg and makes total 'z' kg coffee of selling price 198 per kg.It means x+y=z (weight) .............According the question,180x+210y=198z (price). I need not consider profit or loss or how much coffee did the dealer sell because the question does not tell or ask anything about these. From weight equation and price equation,i get x=2 kg,y=3 kg and z=5 kg.So we can say,1. The dealer mixes 2kg coffee priced at 180 per kg with the 3kg coffee priced at 210 per kg

2. The mixture of coffee is 5kg and sold at 198 per kg.
That means ,the ratio in which a dealer mixes two varieties of coffee is 2/3.

2. The mixture of coffee is 5kg and sold at 198 per kg.
That means ,the ratio in which a dealer mixes two varieties of coffee is 2/3.

TheMechanic · Answer

There is a ridiculous twist in the question from which official questions will always refrain. It seems like the 2nd statement is actually made to trick people into thinking that the price is the final price. Not a cool question!!

anmolgmat14 · Answer

If the Second statement was stated as 'The cost of mixture is 198/kg' then could we determine ratios ?

What is the ratio in which a dealer mixes two varieties of coffee?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS) Questions

What is the ratio in which a dealer mixes two varieties of coffee?

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards