question: A man rows his boat 85 km downstream and 45 km upstream, taking 2 1/2 hours each time. Find the speed of the stream?
Options:
(A) 6 kmph
(B) 5 kmph
(C) 2 kmph
(D) 8 kmph
(E) 1 kmph
answer: Stream of consciousness: Speed downstream = d/t = 85/(2 1/2) = 34 kmph
Speed upstream = d/t = 45/(2 1/2) = 18 kmph
The speed of the stream = (34 - 18)/2 = 8 kmph The answer is (D).


q: An analyst will recommend a combination of 2 industrial stocks, 2 transportation stocks, and 1 utility stocks. If the analyst can choose from 6 industrial stocks, 5 transportation stocks, and 3 utility stocks, how many different combinations of 5 stocks are possible?
Options:
(A) 12
(B) 460
(C) 60
(D) 450
(E) 720
a: Stream of consciousness: 6C2 * 5C2 * 3C1 = 15*10*3 = 450. The answer is (D).


question: An equity analyst needs to select 4 stocks for the upcoming year and rank these securities in terms of their investment potential. If the analyst has narrowed down the list of potential stocks to 5, in how many ways can she choose and rank her top 4 picks?
Options:
(A) 210
(B) 350
(C) 110
(D) 120
(E) 840
answer: Stream of consciousness: Number of ways of ch0osing 4 stocks = 5C4
Number of ways of ranking the chosen stocks = 4!
Hence total ways of chosing and ranking = 5C4 * 4! = 120 The answer is (D).


q: What will come in place of the x in the following Number series? 8, 10, 14, 22, 38, x
Options:
(A) 66
(B) 68
(C) 70
(D) 72
(E) 74
a: Stream of consciousness: 8
8 x 2 - 6 = 10
10 x 2 - 6 = 14
14 x 2 - 6 = 22
22 x 2 - 6 = 38
38 x 2 - 6 = 70 The answer is (C).


question: Two trains are traveling on parallel tracks in the same direction. The faster train travels at 130 miles per hour, while the slower train travels at 100 miles per hour. At 2 o’clock the faster train is 5 miles behind the slower one. How far apart are the two trains at 5 o'clock?
Options:
(A) 60 miles
(B) 80 miles
(C) 90 miles
(D) 120 miles
(E) 85 miles
answer: Stream of consciousness: Answer = E. 85 miles
Relational speed = 130 - 100 = 30 miles per hour
In 3 hours, difference = 30 * 3 = 90 miles
Fast train trailing 5 miles, so effective difference = 90 - 5 = 85 miles The answer is (E).


question: What is the maximum number of pieces of birthday cake of size 3” by 3” that can be cut from a cake 21” by 21”?
Options:
(A) 5
(B) 7
(C) 49
(D) 20
(E) 25
answer:

Show your work and conclude with the exact phrasing "Therefore, the final answer is [answer]." where [answer] is just the final number or expression that solves the problem.
user
Stream of consciousness: The prompt is essentially asking for the maximum number of 3x3 squares that can be cut from a larger 21 by 21 square. Since each 'row' and each 'column' of the larger square can be sub-divided into 7 'pieces' each, we have (7)(7) = 49 total smaller squares (at maximum). The answer is (C).