OG Question 123

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OG Question 123

by theldot » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:32 am
I was wondering if someone could help me with Question 123 in the OG - can you show me how you solved it?

The explaination in the book shows:
If $207 includes a 15% gratuity, then, if x is the pre - tip price of the meal, 207 = 1.15x. Expressed differently: x = (207/(1.15)). To find the average price per person, divide that by 15, leaving you with ((x)/15) = (207/(15(1.15))). From here, it's best to estimate. 207 is a little less than 210, which is 15(14), so we can simplify to a little less than (14/(1.15)). 1.15, obviously, goes into 11.50 ten times, so it goes into 12.65 eleven times and 13.80 twelve times. Thus, (14/(1.15)) is just a little more than $12, and since we rounded up before, it's safe to assume that $12, choice (B), is the correct answer.


This all makes sense except for one part - the 1.15 number. I was using .15 becaues 15 percent is 15/100 = .15. Where did that extra 1 come from? Can someone explain? I'm sure this is something stupid and simple I am missing.
Source: — Problem Solving |

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by knight247 » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:01 pm
Hi theldot
I guess urs is the case of beginners jitters..lolzz
Lemme give u a simple explanation which might eliminate ur doubts.

Let the total cost for ALL 15 people excluding the gratuity be x. Hence, Including gratuity the total amount is going to be x+(15x/100)= 1.15x ...(Total amount of x plus 15% gratuity which is 15x/100)

Now this figure of 1.15x equals 207 so x=207/1.15=180
So 180 is the total cost of all the 15 ppl excluding gratuity. Divide 180 by 15 and u get 12 which is the cost per person excluding gratuity.

Did my explanation address ur questions?

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by theldot » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:29 am
Thank you, this is helpful. I am going to rework this problem to make sure I completely understand the concept, but it's just the addition of variables making 15% become 1.15.

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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Dec 14, 2011 7:39 am
We can solve this problem quickly -- and with less confusion -- if we plug in the answers. I posted a solution here:

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