Question: A sugar syrup (solution of sugar in water) contains 20% sugar by water. How much water must be added to 8 liters of syrup for the content of sugar in the solution to be made to 16%?

(A) 8 litres
(B) 6 litres
(C) 5 litres
(D) 4 litres
(E) 2 litres

Answer: E

Solution and Explanation:

Approach Solution 1:

Using a formula, we can determine that

sugar/total = 20%, or, put otherwise,

1.6/8 = 0.20
We now need to add water to the mixture to lower this ratio;

1.6/(8+x) = 0.16
Option E is the closest match to this solution after accounting for X; it is 1.3 something.

Additionally, if we look at the answer choices, we may find the correct response. For example, if we add 4 litres of water to 8 litres of syrup, the sugar would fall by half to 10%, but we need it to be at 16%, thus the correct response must be fewer than 4 litres.

E is the correct choice.

Approach Solution 2:

The important point to make in this situation is that just the water content varies, while the amount of sugar stays the same.

An algebraic approach might be used.
The initial sugar content is equal to (20/100)*8.
Add 'V' liters of water. —-- (1)
Sugar total equals (16/100)*(V+8) . ---------[2]

(20 / 100) * 8 = (16 / 100) * (V+8)
16 / 10 = 16 / 100 (V+ 8)
V + 8 = 10
V = 2
When we solve for V, we get V=2 liters since [1]=[2].
E is the correct answer.

Approach Solution 3:
Since the first percentage of sugar is 20% and
the 20% of 8 liters is 1.6,
the initial amount of sugar has now changed to 16% of the new total volume.
16% is 1.6,
4% is 0.4, and
100% is 25*0.4,
which is 10 liters.
Therefore, 2 liters of water would have been added.
E is the correct answer.

“A sugar syrup (solution of sugar in water) contains 20% sugar by water" - is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. This question has been borrowed from the book “GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review”.

To understand GMAT Problem Solving questions, Candidates must have basic qualitative abilities. Quant evaluates a candidate's aptitude for both mathematics and logic. The problem-solving section of the GMAT Quantitative test consists of a question and a list of potential answers. The candidate must choose the right answer by applying maths to the question. The problem-solving section of the GMAT Quant topic is made up of very complicated maths problems that must be solved by using the right maths facts.

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