What is the ratio of the number of cups of flour to the number of cups

The question is asking -- what is f/s ?

(1) f = 250%(s) = (250*s)/100 ------ f/s = 5/2 ---- sufficient
(2) f = s + s(1 1/2) = s + (3*s)/2 = (5*s)/2 ------ f/s = 5/2 ---- sufficient

answer is D ?

Guys why is this wrong?whats the silly mistake here I am unable to understand..

Let the number of cups of flour = F
Let the number of cups of sugar = S

Q: What is F/S=?

1.
F=2.5S
F/S=2.5
Sufficient.

2. F=1.5+S

Say; S=10; F=11.5
F/S = 11.5/10=1.15

S=100;F=101.5
F/S=101.5/100=1.015

Not Sufficient.

Ans: "A"

From (1)

F/C = 250 % = 250/100, so enough (the ratio can be found = 2.5)

Sufficient

From (2)

F = C + 1.5

Ratio can't be found

So not sufficient

Answer - A

following a 'don't solve' approach, we can see that the question is focused on ratios (i.e proportions of a mixture) and needs the relationship between flour and sugar to be expressed in terms of a multiplier, fraction, percentage or two fixed values for the quantities involved.

1) sets out a relationship between the only two ingredients of the mixture, based on percentages *sufficient*.

2) sets out a relationship on a numerical value. For a proportion this won't work, as 1.5 cups to 3 cups is a very different proportion to a possible 100 cups to 101.5 *insufficient*

A is your answer and hopefully without pausing to work out all the numbers you have banked yourself a minute or so extra for later in the quant section (though with your having a Q50, I'll be the one asking your advice!!)

Statement 2 is

F = s + 1.5?

Is this correct

Yes, (2) translates: F = S + 3/2.

Yes. I also chose D at first but in retrospect the question is easy if you read the word problem correctly.

Statement 1 says F = S multiplied by something, because it states '250% of y' of = times = *
Statement 2 says F = S + 1.5 indeed, as the wording 'x more ... than y' = y + x

The first statement thus gives you a ratio (sufficient), the second does not as F could equal 5.5 and S 4 cups. Or F could equal 7 and S 5.5 cups which give different ratios.

thus the answer is A.

Let's say
1)
x = sugar
5/2x = flour
5/2:1 establishes the ratio. This is sufficient.

2) x=sugar
x + 3/2 = flour
x=1 and then flour could be 5/2 or
x=2 and then flour could be 7/2..Since this variable, this is not sufficient.

Hence the answer A.

Should 250% more not be 3.5?

Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.