Hi All,

We're told that a between the first day of May and last day in June, the price per kilogram of Melange, a seasoning mix, first DECLINED by 20 percent and then INCREASED by 50 percent and during this same period, the price per liter of Blue, a spring water, first INCREASED by 20 percent and then DECLINED by 50 percent. We're also told that at the end of June, the prices were the SAME. We're asked, at the beginning of May, the price per kilogram for Blue was what percent of the price per liter of Melange. This question can be solved in a couple of different ways, including by TESTing VALUES and a bit of Arithmetic.

IF... in May...
1 kg of Melange = $100
the 20% decline in price --> $100 - (.2)($100) = 100 - 20 = $80
the 50% increase in price --> $80 + (.5)($80) = 80 + 40 = $120

Using this final price of $120, we can 'work backwards' to figure out the price of Blue in May
Final price of Blue = $120
the 50% decline in price to END at $120 --> (.5)(X) = $120 --> X = $240
the 20% increase to get to $240 --> (1.2Y) = $240 --> Y = $200

In May, the price of 1 kg of Melange = $100 and the price of 1 liter of Blue = $200
200/100 = 2 = 200% the price

Final Answer: E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

AAPL wrote:Princeton Review

Between the first day of May and last day in June, the price per kilogram of Melange, a seasoning mix, first declined by 20 percent and then increased by 50 percent. During this same period, the price per liter of Blue, a spring water, first increased by 20 percent and then declined by 50 percent. If at the end of June, the prices were the same, then, at the beginning of May, the price per kilogram for Blue was what percent of the price per liter of Melange?

A. 2
B. 30
C. 50
D. 100
E. 200

OA E.

Say,

At the begging of the first day of May, the prices of Melange and Blue were $x and $y, respectively.

Price of Melange at the end of June:

1. When the price decreased: new price = x - 20% of x = 0.8x;
2. When the price increased: new price = 0.8x + 50% of 0.8x = 1.2x

Price of Blue at the end of June:

1. When the price increased: new price = y + 20% of y = 1.2y;
2. When the price decreased: new price = 1.2y - 50% of 1.2y = 0.6y

Since the price at the end of June are same, we have,

1.2x = 0.6 y

2x = y => 200% of x = y.

The price per kilogram for Blue was 200% of the price per liter of Melange.

The correct answer: E

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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AAPL wrote:Princeton Review

Between the first day of May and last day in June, the price per kilogram of Melange, a seasoning mix, first declined by 20 percent and then increased by 50 percent. During this same period, the price per liter of Blue, a spring water, first increased by 20 percent and then declined by 50 percent. If at the end of June, the prices were the same, then, at the beginning of May, the price per kilogram for Blue was what percent of the price per liter of Melange?

A. 2
B. 30
C. 50
D. 100
E. 200

OA E.

We can create the equation in which x = the price for Melange on May 1 and y = the price for Blue on May 1:

x(0.8)(1.5) = y(1.2)(0.5)

1.2x = 0.6y

2x = y

We see that y is twice of x, or 200% of x.

Answer: E