Each employee on a certain task force is either a manager or a director. What percent of employees on the task force are directors?
a] The average salary of managers on the task force is $5000 less than the avg salary of all the employees
b] The average salary of directors on the task force is $15000 more than the avg salary of all the employees
Managers and Directors
This topic has expert replies
- dumb.doofus
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:02 pm
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Thanked: 43 times
- Followed by:1 members
- GMAT Score:720
One love, one blood, one life. You got to do what you should.
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 418
- Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:29 am
- Thanked: 65 times
No. of directors = x
No. of managers = y
x/(x+y) ?
Statements 1 and 2 are clearly insufficient on their own. There is no link between the average salaries and the number of managers or directors.
Both statements together:
Let's say the average salary of ALL employees = z.
Using the concept of weighted average, we can setup the following:
(z + 15000)x + (z - 5000) y = z(x + y)
zx + 15000x + zy - 5000y = zx + zy
15000x = 5000y
3x = y
we can now use this equation to solve for x/(x+y). sufficient.
Choose C.
-BM-
No. of managers = y
x/(x+y) ?
Statements 1 and 2 are clearly insufficient on their own. There is no link between the average salaries and the number of managers or directors.
Both statements together:
Let's say the average salary of ALL employees = z.
Using the concept of weighted average, we can setup the following:
(z + 15000)x + (z - 5000) y = z(x + y)
zx + 15000x + zy - 5000y = zx + zy
15000x = 5000y
3x = y
we can now use this equation to solve for x/(x+y). sufficient.
Choose C.
-BM-
-
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:33 pm
- Location: Mumbai, India
Answer - C (Both are required)
I feel my solution wasnt the optimal one as it took about 5 mins to solve the question, if someone has a better method please let me know.
Soln:
Total no. of managers = M
Total no. of directors = D
Total no. of employees = E = M+D
Average salary of managers = x
Average salary of directors = y
Avg. salary of all employees = {Dy +(E-D)x}/E}
Therefore, answer = D/E
=> x = {Dy +(E-D)x}/E} - 5000 ---- 1
=> y = {Dy +(E-D)x}/E}+15000 ---- 2
From the two equations we can get the value of D/E as there are two unknowns (x and y)..since we are looking for D/E we do not count D and E as unknowns.
But, if you want to be sure, you can solve it:
solving 1 gives, y-x = (5000/D)*E
solving 2 gives, E(y-x-15000) = D(y-x)
Substitute y-x from 1,
which will give you D/E = 1/4 or 25%
Again, this approach looks a little too long for a GMAT question and if someone has a better solution please post it up.
-PG
I feel my solution wasnt the optimal one as it took about 5 mins to solve the question, if someone has a better method please let me know.
Soln:
Total no. of managers = M
Total no. of directors = D
Total no. of employees = E = M+D
Average salary of managers = x
Average salary of directors = y
Avg. salary of all employees = {Dy +(E-D)x}/E}
Therefore, answer = D/E
=> x = {Dy +(E-D)x}/E} - 5000 ---- 1
=> y = {Dy +(E-D)x}/E}+15000 ---- 2
From the two equations we can get the value of D/E as there are two unknowns (x and y)..since we are looking for D/E we do not count D and E as unknowns.
But, if you want to be sure, you can solve it:
solving 1 gives, y-x = (5000/D)*E
solving 2 gives, E(y-x-15000) = D(y-x)
Substitute y-x from 1,
which will give you D/E = 1/4 or 25%
Again, this approach looks a little too long for a GMAT question and if someone has a better solution please post it up.
-PG
- dumb.doofus
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:02 pm
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Thanked: 43 times
- Followed by:1 members
- GMAT Score:720
C is right. I was stuck in a similar approach as pg850. Thanks BM.
One love, one blood, one life. You got to do what you should.
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
https://dreambigdreamhigh.blocked/
https://gmattoughies.blocked/
-
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:25 pm
can someone please explain this rite down to the basics.. just not getting this question..
thanks.
thanks.
- ajith
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1275
- Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:13 pm
- Location: Arabian Sea
- Thanked: 125 times
- Followed by:2 members
https://www.beatthegmat.com/avg-salary-a ... 23038.htmlrdchandvadkar wrote:can someone please explain this rite down to the basics.. just not getting this question..
thanks.
https://www.beatthegmat.com/need-help-on ... t1225.html
Try these links and if your doubt persists, please post the specific doubt and I am sure people will be ready to help you
Always borrow money from a pessimist, he doesn't expect to be paid back.
-
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:25 pm
got it myself...
but let me know if this approach is correct
no. of directors= x
no. of managers=y
total no of employees =x+y
average salary of all employees = z
total salary to all employees= z(x+y)
average of salary paid to directors =a
average of salary paid to managers =b
using weighted average formula;
z= (xa+yb)/x+y
z(x+y)= xa+xb............................eq1
from st(1)
z-b=5000; b=z-5000 not suff
from st2
a-z=15000; a=15000+z not suff
st(1) and (2) together
replacing in equation 1 values of b and a
z(x+y)= x(15000+z)+y(z-5000)
solving this we get; x/y=1/3
therefore using dividendo we get x/x+y=1/(3+1)=1/4=25%
is this ok??
but let me know if this approach is correct
no. of directors= x
no. of managers=y
total no of employees =x+y
average salary of all employees = z
total salary to all employees= z(x+y)
average of salary paid to directors =a
average of salary paid to managers =b
using weighted average formula;
z= (xa+yb)/x+y
z(x+y)= xa+xb............................eq1
from st(1)
z-b=5000; b=z-5000 not suff
from st2
a-z=15000; a=15000+z not suff
st(1) and (2) together
replacing in equation 1 values of b and a
z(x+y)= x(15000+z)+y(z-5000)
solving this we get; x/y=1/3
therefore using dividendo we get x/x+y=1/(3+1)=1/4=25%
is this ok??
- ajith
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1275
- Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:13 pm
- Location: Arabian Sea
- Thanked: 125 times
- Followed by:2 members
The solution is perfect. I would say it is a brilliant answer if it were a maths exam. If you are comfortable with the lengthy steps and time taken for the solution, I would say it is good in GMAT also.rdchandvadkar wrote: therefore using dividendo we get x/x+y=1/(3+1)=1/4=25%
is this ok??
Always borrow money from a pessimist, he doesn't expect to be paid back.