BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Waxing floors and getting paid

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 394
Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:59 am
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:5 members

Waxing floors and getting paid

by AbeNeedsAnswers » Sun Jul 02, 2017 11:21 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

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
Top
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » 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

AnswerL D
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:18 pm
Hi AbeNeedsAnswers,

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 [email protected]
Image
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3008
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:19 am
Location: Grand Central / New York
Thanked: 470 times
Followed by:34 members

by Jay@ManhattanReview » Tue Jul 04, 2017 10:49 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

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.

The correct answer: D

Hope this helps!

Download free ebook: Manhattan Review GMAT Quantitative Question Bank Guide

-Jay
_________________
Manhattan Review GMAT Prep

Locations: New York | Vienna | Kuala Lumpur | Sydney | and many more...

Schedule your free consultation with an experienced GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here. GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here.
Top
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
Followed by:119 members
GMAT Score:780

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

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!
Top
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
Followed by:119 members
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » 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.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1462
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:34 am
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 39 times
Followed by:22 members

by Jeff@TargetTestPrep » 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 Makoto'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.

Answer: D

Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews
Top
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 4:27 am

answer

by estebanmorillo » Sat Dec 08, 2018 2:55 am
I followed an approach similar to Jay's in solving this question. But I did find it a little bit lengthy to calculate: "(15/65)*780 = $180" Since, after simplifying as (3/13)*780, I had to multiply 780*3=2,340 and then divide 2,340/13.

Is there any fast approach to calculate this number?

Thanks!
Jay@ManhattanReview wrote:
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
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.

The correct answer: D

Hope this helps!

Download free ebook: Manhattan Review GMAT Quantitative Question Bank Guide

-Jay
_________________
Manhattan Review GMAT Prep

Locations: New York | Vienna | Kuala Lumpur | Sydney | and many more...

Schedule your free consultation with an experienced GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here. GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here.
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:35 am

by ca7ch22 » Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:54 pm
[1] Set Up Ratio

M : N : O
15 : 20 : 30

Total = 15 + 20 + 30 = 65

[2] Determine Unknown Multiplier (x)

65x = 780
x = 12

[3] Calculate Value Using Unknown Multiplier

15 * 12 = 180
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1