GMAT Practice Question: There are between 20 and 30 marbles in a jar. If they are counted out 4...
Question
There are between 20 and 30 marbles in a jar. If they are counted out 4 at a time, there are 3 left over, but if they are counted out 5 at a time, there are 2 left over. How many marbles are in the jar?
- 22
- 23
- 25
- 26
- 27
Topics: remainders, word problems, divisibility
Solution
Step 1
We define the variables and translate the first remainder condition "If they are counted out 4 at a time, there are 3 left over".
n = number of marbles n = 4k + 3
Step 2
We translate the second remainder condition "if they are counted out 5 at a time, there are 2 left over".
m = number of full groups of 5 n = 5m + 2
Step 3
We list all values between 20 and 30 that satisfy the first condition n = 4k + 3.
n = 4k + 3 n 23, 27
Step 4
We test n = 23 in the second condition and rule it out because it leaves the wrong remainder.
23 = 5 4 + 3 23
Step 5
We test n = 27 in the second condition and confirm it leaves the correct remainder of 2.
27 = 5 5 + 2
Answer
27 marbles
