GMAT QUESTION: INEQUALITIES

This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:46 am

GMAT QUESTION: INEQUALITIES

by candela.tartiere » Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:32 am
A certain economics report defines a middle-income family as a family whose income is at least half, but no more than twice, the median family income. According to this report, is a family whose income is $73,000 considered a middle-income family?

(1) The median family income is $37,152
(2) The mimimum income of a middle-class family is $18,576

User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 2279
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:51 am
Location: New York
Thanked: 660 times
Followed by:266 members
GMAT Score:770

by Jim@StratusPrep » Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:42 am
The answer is D.

1) Give you are range of 18,576 to 74,304 by taking half of the median income and doubling the median income.
2) You can double this figure twice to find the high end of the range: 74,304
GMAT Answers provides a world class adaptive learning platform.
-- Push button course navigation to simplify planning
-- Daily assignments to fit your exam timeline
-- Organized review that is tailored based on your abiility
-- 1,000s of unique GMAT questions
-- 100s of handwritten 'digital flip books' for OG questions
-- 100% Free Trial and less than $20 per month after.
-- Free GMAT Quantitative Review

Image

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 » Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:15 am
candela.tartiere wrote:A certain economics report defines a middle-income family as a family whose income is at least half, but no more than twice, the median family income. According to this report, is a family whose income is $73,000 considered a middle-income family?

(1) The median family income is $37,152
(2) The mimimum income of a middle-class family is $18,576
It's important to point out that statements 1 and 2 are essentially telling us the same thing.
If the median income is $37,152, then the minimum income of a middle-class family must be $18,576. Conversely, if the minimum income of a middle-class family is $18,576, then the median income must be $37,152

Whenever the two statements provide what amounts to be the same information, then the correct answer must be either D or E.

So, once you recognize that one of the statements is sufficient, you can automatically conclude that the correct answer is D.

This concept (along with other DS strategies) is covered in this free video: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... cy?id=1109

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image