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Register now and save up to $200 Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • Free Practice Test & Review How would you score if you took the GMAT Available with Beat the GMAT members only code ## Waxing floors and getting paid This topic has 6 expert replies and 0 member replies AbeNeedsAnswers Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts Joined 02 Jul 2017 Posted: 191 messages Followed by: 2 members Upvotes: 1 #### Waxing floors and getting paid Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:21 am What's the fastest way to answer this question? Makoto, Nishi, and Ozuro were paid a total of$780 for waxing the floors at their school. Each was paid in proportion to the number of hours he or she worked. If Makoto worked 15 hours, Nishi worked 20 hours, and Ozuro worked 30 hours, how much was Makoto paid?

A) $52 B)$117
C) $130 D)$180
E) $234 D Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums! ### GMAT/MBA Expert Matt@VeritasPrep GMAT Instructor Joined 12 Sep 2012 Posted: 2640 messages Followed by: 113 members Upvotes: 625 Target GMAT Score: V51 GMAT Score: 780 Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:26 am Another idea: by the Lazy Testwriter Principle, which I invoke endlessly on this forum (guess who's been a testwriter!), the amount that Makoto was paid should be divisible by 15, since a Lazy Testwriter would make her hourly wage an integer. Only D is so divisible, making it very likely the answer. 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! ### GMAT/MBA Expert Jeff@TargetTestPrep GMAT Instructor Joined 09 Apr 2015 Posted: 647 messages Followed by: 9 members Upvotes: 39 Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:08 pm AbeNeedsAnswers wrote: What's the fastest way to answer this question? Makoto, Nishi, and Ozuro were paid a total of$780 for waxing the floors at their school. Each was paid in proportion to the number of hours he or she worked. If Makoto worked 15 hours, Nishi worked 20 hours, and Ozuro worked 30 hours, how much was Makoto paid?

A) $52 B)$117
C) $130 D)$180
E) $234 We are given that Makoto, Nishi, and Ozuro were paid a total of$780 for waxing the floors at their school. Each was paid in proportion to the number of hours he or she worked. Since Makoto worked 15 hours, Nishi worked 20 hours, and Ozuro worked 30 hours, we can create the following proportion:

Makoto payment : Nishi payment : Ozuro payment = 15x : 20x : 30x

We can create the following equation to determine x:

15x + 20x + 30x = 780

65x = 780

x = 12

Since x = 12, Makoto was paid 15 x 12 = 180 dollars.

Alternate Solution:

Since we know that Makotoâ€™s payment was equivalent to 15x, we know that his payment must be a multiple of 15. Since 180 is the only multiple of 15, the correct answer must be 180.

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Matt@VeritasPrep GMAT Instructor
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Wed Jul 05, 2017 12:24 am
Have to remark how surprised I was that this (splendidly) titled thread actually contained GMAT content.

Anyway, my approach: Makoto worked 15 of the 65 hours worked in all, so she'd be paid 15/65, or 3/13, of the total. 3/13 * $780 is$180, and we're done!

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Jay@ManhattanReview GMAT Instructor
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Tue Jul 04, 2017 10:49 pm
What's the fastest way to answer this question?

Makoto, Nishi, and Ozuro were paid a total of $780 for waxing the floors at their school. Each was paid in proportion to the number of hours he or she worked. If Makoto worked 15 hours, Nishi worked 20 hours, and Ozuro worked 30 hours, how much was Makoto paid? A)$52
B) $117 C)$130
D) $180 E)$234

D
This is a typical question on Ratio and Proportion.

Since each was paid in proportion to the number of hours he or she worked, $780 should be distributed in the ratio of 15 : 20 : 30, where 15 represents the share of Makoto. On a ratio scale the total payment = 15 + 20 + 30 = 65 Thus, the share of Makoto = (15/65)*780 =$180.

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member
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Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:18 pm

There are a variety of different ways to go about solving this problem. The question specifically uses the word "proportionally", so you could take advantage of the built-in ratios and solve it that way. In addition, the answer choices are 'spaced out' enough that we can use some estimation and avoid some of the specific calculations that you might use in other approaches.

The three people worked a total of 15+20+30 = 65 hours and Makoto worked 15 of those hours. Thus, he/she worked....

15/65 = 3/13 of the total hours

We're told that the workers are paid proportionally based on the number of hours worked. 3/12 = 1/4, so 3/13 is a little less than 1/4.

1/4 of $780 =$195

So we're looking for an answer that's a little less than $195. There's only one answer that fits.... Final Answer: D GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com ### GMAT/MBA Expert Brent@GMATPrepNow GMAT Instructor Joined 08 Dec 2008 Posted: 11187 messages Followed by: 1221 members Upvotes: 5254 GMAT Score: 770 Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:57 am AbeNeedsAnswers wrote: What's the fastest way to answer this question? Makoto, Nishi, and Ozuro were paid a total of$780 for waxing the floors at their school. Each was paid in proportion to the number of hours he or she worked. If Makoto worked 15 hours, Nishi worked 20 hours, and Ozuro worked 30 hours, how much was Makoto paid?

A) $52 B)$117
C) $130 D)$180
E) $234 D TOTAL HOURS worked = 15 + 20 + 30 = 65 HOURS TOTAL PAID =$780

RATE of pay = $780/65 hours =$12/hour

Makoto worked for 15 hours.
So, Makoto's payment = (15 hours)($12/hour) =$180

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