GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE DS

Solution:

We are given that the ratio of shirts to dresses to jackets is 9 to 4 to 5. Thus:

shirts : dresses : jackets = 9x : 4x : 5x

We also are given that there are more than 7 dresses in the closet and must determine the total number of articles of clothing in the closet, i.e., the value of 9x + 4x + 5x = 18x.

Statement One Alone:

The total number of shirts and jackets in the closet is less than 30.

Using the information in statement one, we can create the following inequality:

9x + 5x < 30 14x < 30 x < 30/14 x < 2 1/7 Thus, x could either be 1 or 2. If x = 1, then there are 4 dresses. If x = 2, then there are 8 dresses. Since the number of dresses is greater than 7, x must be 2. So there are 9(2) + 4(2) + 5(2) = 18 + 8 + 10 = 36 articles of clothing in the closet. Statement one alone is sufficient to answer the question. We can eliminate answer choices B, C, and E. Statement Two Alone:

The total number of shirts and dresses in the closet is 26.

Using the information in statement two, we can create the following equation:

9x + 4x = 26

13x = 26

x = 2

Once again, since we have determined the value of x, we have enough information to answer the question. Statement two is also sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: D

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the head GMAT instructor for Target Test Prep. Jeff has more than fourteen years of experience in the business of helping students with low GMAT scores hurdle the seemingly impossible and achieve the scores they need to get into the top 20 business school programs in the world, including HBS, Stanford, Wharton, and Columbia. Jeff has cultivated many successful business school graduates through his GMAT instruction, and will be a pivotal resource for many more to follow.