Question: Mayank buys some candies for $15 a dozen and an equal number of different candies for $12 a dozen. He sells all for $16.50 a dozen and makes a profit of $150. How many dozens of candies did he buy altogether?

1. 50
2. 45
3. 40
4. 30
5. 25

“Mayank buys some candies for $15 a dozen and an equal number of different candies for $12 a dozen. He sells all for $16.50 a dozen and makes a profit of $150. How many dozens of candies did he buy altogether?”- is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. This question has been taken from the book “GMAT Official Guide Quantitative Review”. To solve GMAT Problem Solving questions a student must have knowledge about a good amount of qualitative skills. The GMAT Quant topic in the problem-solving part requires calculative mathematical problems that should be solved with proper mathematical knowledge.

Solution and Explanation

Approach Solution 1:

Let the number of candies he bought of type 1 = n dozen

Number of candies he bought of type 2 = n dozen

Total candies = 2n

SP = 16.5 * 2n = 33n

CP = 12n + 15n = 27n

Profit = SP – CP = 6N = 150

N = 25

Total candies = 2n = 20

Correct Answer: A

Approach Solution 2:

Given: 15x + 12y

16.5x + 16.5y – 15x – 12y = 150

1.5x + 4.5y = 150

15x + 45y = 1500

X + 3y = 100

Since x = y

4y = 100

y = 25 = x

Correct Answer: A

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