Last visit was: 23 Apr 2024, 14:08 It is currently 23 Apr 2024, 14:08

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
SORT BY:
Date
Tags:
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Status:Verbal Forum Moderator
Posts: 361
Own Kudos [?]: 2197 [30]
Given Kudos: 298
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
GMAT 2: 750 Q51 V41
GMAT 3: 790 Q51 V49
GPA: 3.3
Send PM
Most Helpful Reply
Intern
Intern
Joined: 17 Jan 2018
Posts: 35
Own Kudos [?]: 22 [5]
Given Kudos: 11
Schools: ISB '20 (A)
Send PM
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92883
Own Kudos [?]: 618584 [5]
Given Kudos: 81563
Send PM
General Discussion
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92883
Own Kudos [?]: 618584 [1]
Given Kudos: 81563
Send PM
Re: A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
1
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.11$ per piece. How many eraser and pencils did Jessica buy?

(1) She bough 5 erasers. Clearly insufficient.

(2) She spent total of 1.70$ --> \(0.23e+0.11p=1.70\) --> \(23e+11p=170\) --> by trial and error we can find that the only non-negative integer solution for this equation is e=5 and p=5. Sufficient.

Answer: B.
Intern
Intern
Joined: 21 Jan 2018
Posts: 42
Own Kudos [?]: 22 [1]
Given Kudos: 42
Location: India
GPA: 2.85
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Send PM
A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
1
Kudos
honchos wrote:
A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.11$ per piece. How many eraser and pencils did Jessica buy?

(1) She bough 5 erasers
(2) She spent total of 1.70$


Given : P(Eraser) = 0.23 , P(Pencil) = 0,11
To find No. of Erasers and No. of Pencils

Statement 1 :
No of erasers = 5 , nut we cannot get the No of pencils --> Insufficient

Statement 2 :
1.70 = 0.23*E + 0.11*P , we don't know values of E and P --> Sufficient
Plus , E and P > 0
E = 5 P = 5

Option B
Manager
Manager
Joined: 26 Jan 2016
Posts: 101
Own Kudos [?]: 151 [0]
Given Kudos: 61
Send PM
Re: A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
Quote:
A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.11$ per piece. How many eraser and pencils did Jessica buy?

(1) She bough 5 erasers
(2) She spent total of 1.70$



A. NO info about pencils. Insufficient
B. only 5 erasers and 5 pencil satisfy the equation : 0.23e+0.11p=1.70

Hence B
VP
VP
Joined: 18 Dec 2017
Posts: 1170
Own Kudos [?]: 991 [0]
Given Kudos: 421
Location: United States (KS)
GMAT 1: 600 Q46 V27
Send PM
Re: A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
Bunuel wrote:
A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.11$ per piece. How many eraser and pencils did Jessica buy?

(1) She bough 5 erasers. Clearly insufficient.

(2) She spent total of 1.70$ --> \(0.23e+0.11p=1.70\) --> \(23e+11p=170\) --> by trial and error we can find that the only non-negative integer solution for this equation is e=5 and p=5. Sufficient.

Answer: B.


Hello Bunuel Sir,
Will it be right to say that since 23 and 11 are co-prime hence there will be only one unique solution and hence sufficient?
Current Student
Joined: 07 Sep 2019
Posts: 4
Own Kudos [?]: 7 [0]
Given Kudos: 41
Location: Nepal
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
Send PM
Re: A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
Hi,

I see that in questions of similar types, all the explanations involve a trial and error method. I was wondering if there is a way to be sure that the result we stumble upon is actually the only possible combination. Even if I arrive at integer values that fit the equation, I still need to check that other numbers don't. And this process always takes more than the allotted time for a question(2 mins). I would be glad if anyone can help me with a way to ensure that no other solution exist once I arrive at a solution, that would save some precious seconds.

Thank you!
Intern
Intern
Joined: 02 Dec 2019
Posts: 10
Own Kudos [?]: 1 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
TheNightKing wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.11$ per piece. How many eraser and pencils did Jessica buy?

(1) She bough 5 erasers. Clearly insufficient.

(2) She spent total of 1.70$ --> \(0.23e+0.11p=1.70\) --> \(23e+11p=170\) --> by trial and error we can find that the only non-negative integer solution for this equation is e=5 and p=5. Sufficient.

Answer: B.


Hello Bunuel Sir,
Will it be right to say that since 23 and 11 are co-prime hence there will be only one unique solution and hence sufficient?


I was really excited to see this comment! I thought it'd be a nice trick, but after testing it out I'm not sure it works, even in best-case scenario. I'm curious to hear other thoughts, because I may be mis-understanding.

let's say erasers are 0.03, and pencils are 0.05, and the total bill was 1.50
e.g.
rearrange to get 3E + 5P = 150
3 and 5 are co-prime, as in the OP question
several solutions exist (E=5 & P=27, or E=10 & P=24, etc.)

When if 3*5 is NOT a multiple of the total price, then is still doesn't work
e.g.
3E + 5P = 160
multiple solutions still exist (E=5 & P=29, or E=10 and P=26)

Even if the individual prices are not factors in the total bill, then I think the trick about them being "co-prime is sufficient" still does not work
e.g.
3E + 5P = 112 (which = 2^4*7)
multiple solutions still exist (E=34 & P=2, or E=9 and P=17)
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 32627
Own Kudos [?]: 821 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
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.
GMAT Club Bot
Re: A store sells erasers for 0.23$ per piece and pencil for 0.1 [#permalink]
Moderator:
Math Expert
92883 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne