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(B) $18,000 (C)$15,000
(D) $4,500 (E)$ 4,000

Quote:
How is the option C the answer to this question?
Can any experts explain the fastest way to answer this question?

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### Top Member

lheiannie07 Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
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Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:37 pm
Matt@VeritasPrep wrote:
Put the equation in words, then translate those words to math:

A makes $360 + 6% of (Total -$1000)

B makes 8% of Total

We want these to be equal, so:

$360 + 6% of (Total -$1000) = 8% of Total

Now let's assign a variable to the total (how about t?) and write the percentages as decimals:

360 + .06*(t - 1000) = .08t

... and from there it's just boring arithmetic!
Thanks a lot!

### Top Member

lheiannie07 Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
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Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:41 pm
Matt@VeritasPrep wrote:
We could also try to speed up the problem by thinking of the differences in the incomes.

A has a $360 head start. After each salesperson sells$1000 of product, B has $80 and A has the same as (s)he started with,$360, since A gets no commission on the first $1000. From here, B needs to make up$360 - $80, or$280, to be even with A.

B gets 2% more commission, so if each salesperson sells $x worth of product, 2% of$x must = $280, the difference to be made up. .02x = 280 gives us x =$14,000, so after *another* $14,000 in sales the reps will be even. We started with$1000, of course, leaving us a sales total of $1000 +$14,000, or $15,000. Thanks for helping! ### Top Member lheiannie07 Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts Joined 07 Sep 2017 Posted: 303 messages Followed by: 1 members Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:37 pm Matt@VeritasPrep wrote: Put the equation in words, then translate those words to math: A makes$360 + 6% of (Total - $1000) B makes 8% of Total We want these to be equal, so:$360 + 6% of (Total - $1000) = 8% of Total Now let's assign a variable to the total (how about t?) and write the percentages as decimals: 360 + .06*(t - 1000) = .08t ... and from there it's just boring arithmetic! Thanks a lot! ### Top Member lheiannie07 Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts Joined 07 Sep 2017 Posted: 303 messages Followed by: 1 members Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:41 pm Matt@VeritasPrep wrote: We could also try to speed up the problem by thinking of the differences in the incomes. A has a$360 head start. After each salesperson sells $1000 of product, B has$80 and A has the same as (s)he started with, $360, since A gets no commission on the first$1000.

From here, B needs to make up $360 -$80, or $280, to be even with A. B gets 2% more commission, so if each salesperson sells$x worth of product, 2% of $x must =$280, the difference to be made up.

.02x = 280 gives us x = $14,000, so after *another*$14,000 in sales the reps will be even.

We started with $1000, of course, leaving us a sales total of$1000 + $14,000, or$15,000.
Thanks for helping!

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Matt@VeritasPrep GMAT Instructor
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Fri Oct 13, 2017 11:16 am
lheiannie07 wrote:
Matt@VeritasPrep wrote:
We could also try to speed up the problem by thinking of the differences in the incomes.

A has a $360 head start. After each salesperson sells$1000 of product, B has $80 and A has the same as (s)he started with,$360, since A gets no commission on the first $1000. From here, B needs to make up$360 - $80, or$280, to be even with A.

B gets 2% more commission, so if each salesperson sells $x worth of product, 2% of$x must = $280, the difference to be made up. .02x = 280 gives us x =$14,000, so after *another* $14,000 in sales the reps will be even. We started with$1000, of course, leaving us a sales total of $1000 +$14,000, or $15,000. Thanks for helping! My pleasure! Thanks for thanking! Thanked by: lheiannie07 Enroll in a Veritas Prep GMAT class completely for FREE. Wondering if a GMAT course is right for you? Attend the first class session of an actual GMAT course, either in-person or live online, and see for yourself why so many students choose to work with Veritas Prep. Find a class now! ### Top Member lheiannie07 Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts Joined 07 Sep 2017 Posted: 303 messages Followed by: 1 members Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:36 pm Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com wrote: Hi Iheiannie07, We're told the pay rates for two salespeople: 1) Salesperson A =$360 + 6% of sales above $1,000 2) Salesperson B = 8% of sales We're asked for the total sales that would lead to the SAME pay for each salesperson. This question can be solved algebraically or by TESTing THE ANSWERS. Here's how you can answer the question with the second method: Let's TEST Answer B:$18,000
Person A = $360 + 6% of$17,000 = $360 +$1020 = $1380 Person B = 8% of$18,000 = $1440 These two values are close but not the same. Since Person B receives a higher percentage of every dollar in sales, a larger sales total would create a larger difference between what the two salespeople are paid. Thus, we need an answer that is SMALLER that$18,000 (but not that much smaller, relatively speaking).

Let's TEST Answer C: $15,000 Person A =$360 + 6% of $14,000 =$360 + $840 =$1200
Person B = 8% of $15,000 =$1200
These two values are EQUAL, so this MUST be the answer.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Thank you, this is a great help

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Matt@VeritasPrep GMAT Instructor
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Target GMAT Score:
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Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:16 pm
We could also try to speed up the problem by thinking of the differences in the incomes.

A has a $360 head start. After each salesperson sells$1000 of product, B has $80 and A has the same as (s)he started with,$360, since A gets no commission on the first $1000. From here, B needs to make up$360 - $80, or$280, to be even with A.

B gets 2% more commission, so if each salesperson sells $x worth of product, 2% of$x must = $280, the difference to be made up. .02x = 280 gives us x =$14,000, so after *another* $14,000 in sales the reps will be even. We started with$1000, of course, leaving us a sales total of $1000 +$14,000, or \$15,000.

Thanked by: lheiannie07
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