Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 03:30 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 03:30
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
kkalyan
Joined: 23 Aug 2011
Last visit: 13 Feb 2012
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
224
 [20]
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 17
Kudos: 224
 [20]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
14
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,408
Own Kudos:
778,460
 [6]
Given Kudos: 99,987
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,408
Kudos: 778,460
 [6]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
fluke
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 20 Dec 2010
Last visit: 24 Oct 2013
Posts: 1,099
Own Kudos:
5,095
 [2]
Given Kudos: 376
Posts: 1,099
Kudos: 5,095
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
anushapolavarapu
Joined: 14 Oct 2011
Last visit: 23 May 2012
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 19
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi fluke,

what about the combination {1,4,7}. even this satisfies the 2 conditions right.
1+4+7=12(x<y<z) and
1*4*7=28 which is < 36


So, I think answer should be E. Can you please help.
User avatar
aalba005
Joined: 01 Apr 2010
Last visit: 25 Nov 2016
Posts: 264
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 11
Location: Kuwait
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
GPA: 3.2
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Products:
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37
Posts: 264
Kudos: 77
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anushapolavarapu
Hi fluke,

what about the combination {1,4,7}. even this satisfies the 2 conditions right.
1+4+7=12(x<y<z) and
1*4*7=28 which is < 36


So, I think answer should be E. Can you please help.

{1,4,7}. Z has more than 5 hats than X does. Again great explanation above.

Do you suggest during these type of questions to spend time writing out all combination possibilities at the start?
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,408
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,987
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,408
Kudos: 778,460
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aalba005
anushapolavarapu
Hi fluke,

what about the combination {1,4,7}. even this satisfies the 2 conditions right.
1+4+7=12(x<y<z) and
1*4*7=28 which is < 36


So, I think answer should be E. Can you please help.

{1,4,7}. Z has more than 5 hats than X does. Again great explanation above.

Do you suggest during these type of questions to spend time writing out all combination possibilities at the start?

It depends how many possible combinations are there. Luckily there are only 7 for this question, so it's not hard to write them all down. In this case everything will be in front of you so you won't miss any case while solving.
User avatar
honchos
Joined: 17 Apr 2013
Last visit: 30 Aug 2021
Posts: 360
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 298
Status:Verbal Forum Moderator
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
GMAT 2: 750 Q51 V41
GMAT 3: 790 Q51 V49
GPA: 3.3
GMAT 3: 790 Q51 V49
Posts: 360
Kudos: 2,455
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
anushapolavarapu
Hi fluke,

what about the combination {1,4,7}. even this satisfies the 2 conditions right.
1+4+7=12(x<y<z) and
1*4*7=28 which is < 36


So, I think answer should be E. Can you please help.

Welcome to GMAT Club. Below is an answer to your doubt.

The case when x=1, y=4, and z=7 does not satisfy the first statement, which says that \(z-x\leq{5}\) (Zelda has no more than 5 hats more than Xander). Also notice that there are some cases missing for (1) and (2) in fluke's solution.

Complete solution:

Xander, Yolanda, and Zelda each have at least one hat. Zelda has more hats than Yolanda, who has more than Xander. Together, the total number of hats the three people have is 12. How many hats does Yolanda have?

Given: x<y<z and x+y+z=12. Question: y=?

Now, only following 7 cases are possible;

X-Y-Z
1-2-9
1-3-8
1-4-7
1-5-6
2-3-7
2-4-6
3-4-5

(1) Zelda has no more than 5 hats more than Xander --> \(z-x\leq{5}\) --> first 3 cases are out and only following cases are left: {1, 5, 6}, {2, 3, 7}, {2, 4, 6}, and {3, 4, 5}. Not sufficient.

(2) The product of the numbers of hats that Xander, Yolanda, and Zelda have is less than 36 --> last 3 cases are out and only following cases are left: {1, 2, 9}, {1, 3, 8}, {1, 4, 7}, and {1, 5, 6}. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) There is only one case common for (1) and (2): {1, 5, 6}, so z=6. Sufficient.

Answer: C.

Hope it's clear.

Yes, It was slightly time consuming question.
User avatar
shankar245
Joined: 13 Jun 2011
Last visit: 19 Jun 2015
Posts: 60
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 19
Status:Do till 740 :)
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
GMAT 1: 460 Q35 V20
GPA: 3.6
WE:Consulting (Computer Software)
GMAT 1: 460 Q35 V20
Posts: 60
Kudos: 31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Bunuel,
I took 3 minutes to solve this problem.I took time to list down all the values XYZ with both constraints ie , XYZ <36 and X+Y+Z=12. how can i speed up in solving such problems? Is there a better way and while listing I get tensed too as i might miss some cases.

Kindly advise
avatar
Farid
Joined: 07 Mar 2014
Last visit: 17 Sep 2016
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
aalba005
anushapolavarapu
Hi fluke,

what about the combination {1,4,7}. even this satisfies the 2 conditions right.
1+4+7=12(x<y<z) and
1*4*7=28 which is < 36


So, I think answer should be E. Can you please help.

{1,4,7}. Z has more than 5 hats than X does. Again great explanation above.

Do you suggest during these type of questions to spend time writing out all combination possibilities at the start?

It depends how many possible combinations are there. Luckily there are only 7 for this question, so it's not hard to write them all down. In this case everything will be in front of you so you won't miss any case while solving.
What do you suggest if we weren't able to write down all possible answers ?!
For this particular question...
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,597
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,597
Kudos: 1,079
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
Moderators:
Math Expert
105408 posts
496 posts