GMAT Prep Test Question

ptrehan · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject: GMAT Prep Test Question

How to get to the right answer in this question? Thanks!!

II · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject:

Ok ... this looks like a word translation problem.
So lets translate the words into algebra.

Assign variable:
p = her take-home pay each month
s = her savings each month

s/p = fraction of her take-home pay which she saved (THIS IS WHAT THE QUESTION IS ASKING US TO FIND)

12s = total amount of money saved at end of year
p - s = portion of salary which she did NOT save

"money saved at the end of year was 3 times her monthly unsaved salary":
12s = 3 (p - s)

12s = 3p - 3s
15s = 3p
Divide both sides by 3
5s = p

so s/p = 1/5. The savings were 1/5 of her monthly salary. Answer D

Hope this makes sense. Would be interested to see other approaches too.
II