Last visit was: 24 Nov 2024, 10:47 It is currently 24 Nov 2024, 10:47

Close

GRE Prep 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 GRE 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
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30017
Own Kudos [?]: 36376 [11]
Given Kudos: 25928
Send PM
Most Helpful Community Reply
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12197 [6]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
General Discussion
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30017
Own Kudos [?]: 36376 [0]
Given Kudos: 25928
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 17 Aug 2020
Posts: 40
Own Kudos [?]: 31 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe [#permalink]
1
Thanks Brent, although I have a question. What if x=29 (indeed >2) and 3n-1=2*7=14? This is feasible (because 14 is 1 less than some multiple of 3) and yields n=5.
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12197 [2]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe [#permalink]
2
fraise wrote:
Thanks Brent, although I have a question. What if x=29 (indeed >2) and 3n-1=2*7=14? This is feasible (because 14 is 1 less than some multiple of 3) and yields n=5.


Great question!!

If x = 29, then each painted stripe has length 29.
This also means the length of each unpainted section (between the stripes) must have length 14.5 (since we're told that each unpainted section is 1/2 as long as each stripe).
This creates a problem since we're told that each unpainted section is an integer greater than 2. So, the length of an unpainted section cannot be 14.5
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 17 Aug 2019
Posts: 381
Own Kudos [?]: 200 [0]
Given Kudos: 96
Send PM
Re: One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe [#permalink]
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
Carcass wrote:
One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe that consists of n painted sections of equal length with an unpainted section 1/2 as long between each pair of consecutive painted sections. The total length of the stripe from the beginning of the first painted section to the end of the last painted section is 203 inches. If n is an integer and the length, in inches, of each unpainted section is an integer greater than 2, what is the value of n ?

A.  5
B.  9
C. 10
D. 14
E. 29


One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe that consists of n painted sections of equal length with an unpainted section 1/2 as long between each pair of consecutive painted sections.
Here's an idea of what all of this looks like.
Image
If we let x = the length of 1 painted section, then 0.5x = the distance between painted sections.

The total length of the stripe from the beginning of the first painted section to the end of the last painted section is 203 inches.
Important: If we examine the above diagram, we can see that, IF the entire stripe consisted of 3 painted sections, then there would be 2 spaces
In general: (the number of spaces) = (the number of painted sections) - 1
So, if there are n painted sections, then there must be (n-1) spaces

We're now ready to write an equation!
If there are n painted sections, and each painted section has a length of x, then the total length of the painted sections = nx
Likewise, if there are n - 1 spaces, and each space has a length of 0.5x, then the total length of the spaces = 0.5x(n - 1)

Since the total length is 203 inches, we can write: nx + 0.5x(n - 1) = 203
Simplify to get: nx + 0.5nx - 0.5x = 203
Simplify: 1.5nx - 0.5x = 203
To get integer coefficients, we'll multiply both sides of the equation by 2 to get: 3nx - x = 406
Factor both sides to get: x(3n - 1) = (2)(7)(29)

Since we're told that n and x are both positive integers, we know that 3n is a multiple of 3, which means 3n - 1 is 1 less than some of multiple of 3
When we examine the three prime factors of 406 (2, 7, and 29), we see that 2 and 29 are both 1 less than some of multiple of 3
If 3n - 1 = 2, then n = 1, and 1 is not among the answer choices (Also, if we have just 1 painted section, then we have 0 spaces, which breaks the condition that each unpainted section is an integer greater than 2)
If 3n - 1 = 29, then n = 10. This works perfectly

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent



I tried backsolving and tried A and it works.
if n= 5
x(3n-1)
x(3x5-1)=406
x= 29
since x is an integer .. it works

and also 10 works. I think there is an error in the problem
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 17 Aug 2019
Posts: 381
Own Kudos [?]: 200 [0]
Given Kudos: 96
Send PM
Re: One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe [#permalink]
Asmakan wrote:
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
Carcass wrote:
One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe that consists of n painted sections of equal length with an unpainted section 1/2 as long between each pair of consecutive painted sections. The total length of the stripe from the beginning of the first painted section to the end of the last painted section is 203 inches. If n is an integer and the length, in inches, of each unpainted section is an integer greater than 2, what is the value of n ?

A.  5
B.  9
C. 10
D. 14
E. 29


One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe that consists of n painted sections of equal length with an unpainted section 1/2 as long between each pair of consecutive painted sections.
Here's an idea of what all of this looks like.
Image
If we let x = the length of 1 painted section, then 0.5x = the distance between painted sections.

The total length of the stripe from the beginning of the first painted section to the end of the last painted section is 203 inches.
Important: If we examine the above diagram, we can see that, IF the entire stripe consisted of 3 painted sections, then there would be 2 spaces
In general: (the number of spaces) = (the number of painted sections) - 1
So, if there are n painted sections, then there must be (n-1) spaces

We're now ready to write an equation!
If there are n painted sections, and each painted section has a length of x, then the total length of the painted sections = nx
Likewise, if there are n - 1 spaces, and each space has a length of 0.5x, then the total length of the spaces = 0.5x(n - 1)

Since the total length is 203 inches, we can write: nx + 0.5x(n - 1) = 203
Simplify to get: nx + 0.5nx - 0.5x = 203
Simplify: 1.5nx - 0.5x = 203
To get integer coefficients, we'll multiply both sides of the equation by 2 to get: 3nx - x = 406
Factor both sides to get: x(3n - 1) = (2)(7)(29)

Since we're told that n and x are both positive integers, we know that 3n is a multiple of 3, which means 3n - 1 is 1 less than some of multiple of 3
When we examine the three prime factors of 406 (2, 7, and 29), we see that 2 and 29 are both 1 less than some of multiple of 3
If 3n - 1 = 2, then n = 1, and 1 is not among the answer choices (Also, if we have just 1 painted section, then we have 0 spaces, which breaks the condition that each unpainted section is an integer greater than 2)
If 3n - 1 = 29, then n = 10. This works perfectly

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent



I tried backsolving and tried A and it works.
if n= 5
x(3n-1)
x(3x5-1)=406
x= 29
since x is an integer .. it works

and also 10 works. I think there is an error in the problem


I need an answer
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30017
Own Kudos [?]: 36376 [0]
Given Kudos: 25928
Send PM
Re: One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Length of Painted section = x
Length of unpainted section = x/2

Number of Painted section = n
Number of unpainted section = n-1

\(n*x + (n-1)*\frac{x}{2} = 203 \)

\(\frac{x}{2}(3n-1) = 203\)

\(\frac{x}{2}(3n-1) = 1*203 = 7*29\)

Since x is an integer and greater than 2, reject 1*203

3n-1 = 7 or 29

If 3n-1 = 7
n= 8/3 (rejected)

If 3n-1 = 29

n= 10
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12197 [1]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe [#permalink]
1
Asmakan wrote:

I tried backsolving and tried A and it works.
if n= 5
x(3n-1)
x(3x5-1)=406
x= 29
since x is an integer .. it works

and also 10 works. I think there is an error in the problem


The problem here is that x = 29 breaks one of the conditions outlined in the question.

We're told that "...the length, in inches, of each unpainted section is an INTEGER greater than 2"
0.5x = the length of each unpainted section
So, if x = 29, then the length of each unpainted section = 14.5, which is not an integer.
Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: One side of a parking stall is defined by a straight stripe [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
84 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1111 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts

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