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(1) The sales tax on the charge for labor was $9.60 (2) The total sales tax was$12.60

Official Guide question

### GMAT/MBA Expert

Jeff@TargetTestPrep GMAT Instructor
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Wed Aug 09, 2017 11:30 am
jjjinapinch wrote:
For a certain car repair, the total charge consisted of a charge for parts, a charge for labor, and a 6 percent sales tax on both the charge for parts and the charge for labor. If the charge for parts, excluding sales tax, was $50.00, what was the total charge for the repair? (1) The sales tax on the charge for labor was$9.60
(2) The total sales tax was $12.60 Official Guide question Answer: D We are given that for a certain car repair, the total charge consisted of a charge for parts, a charge for labor, and a 6 percent sales tax on both the charge for parts and the charge for labor. We also are given that the charge for parts, excluding tax, was$50. We can say the following:

Charge for parts = $50 Thus, the total charge for parts, including sales tax = 1.06 x 50 =$53.

Charge for labor = L

Thus, the total charge for labor, including sales tax = L + 0.06L = 1.06L

Thus, the total cost of the repair, including the 6 percent sales tax, is:

Total charges = 53 + 1.06L

As we can see, if we can determine the charge for labor, we can determine the total charges for parts and labor.

Statement One Alone:

The sales tax on the charge for labor was $9.60. Using the information in statement one, we can create the following equation for the sales tax for the labor: 0.06L = 9.60 We see that we can determine a value for L, and thus we have enough information to determine a value for 53 + 1.06L. Statement one alone is sufficient to answer the question. Statement Two Alone: The total sales tax was$12.60.

Using the information in statement two, we can create the following sales tax equation:

0.06(50) + 0.06L = 12.60

We see that we can determine a value for L, and thus we have enough information to determine a value for 53 + 1.06L. Statement two alone is sufficient to answer the question.

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Mo2men Legendary Member
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Sun Jul 30, 2017 4:38 am
Jay@ManhattanReview wrote:
jjjinapinch wrote:
For a certain car repair, the total charge consisted of a charge for parts, a charge for labor, and a 6 percent sales tax on both the charge for parts and the charge for labor. If the charge for parts, excluding sales tax, was $50.00, what was the total charge for the repair? (1) The sales tax on the charge for labor was$9.60
(2) The total sales tax was $12.60 Official Guide question Answer: D It is given that the charge for parts, excluding sales tax = 50 thus, the charge for parts, including sales tax = 50 + sales tax = 50 + 6% of 50 = 50 + 3 = 53 We have to get the total charge for the repair = the charge for parts + the charge for labor. Statement 1: The sales tax on the charge for labor was$9.60.

Sales Tax = 9.60 = 6% of Charge for labour;

9.60 = (6/100) * Charge for labour;

Charge for labor, excluding sates tax = 960/6 = 160.
Charge for labor, including sates tax = 160 + 9.60 = 169.60

The total charge for the repair = the charge for parts + the charge for labor

= 53 + 169.60 = unique value! Sufficient.

Statement 2: The total sales tax was $12.60. The total sales tax = 12.60 = Sales tax on parts + Sales tax on labour We know that Sales tax on parts = 3, thus Sales tax on labor = 12.60 - 3 = 9.60. Now the information is the same as we get in Statement 1. Sufficient. The correct answer: A Hope this helps! Download free ebook: Manhattan Review GMAT Quantitative Question Bank Guide -Jay _________________ Hi Jay, Although you reached solution, you wrote down that Answer is A, while it should be D Thanks ### GMAT/MBA Expert Jay@ManhattanReview GMAT Instructor Joined 22 Aug 2016 Posted: 976 messages Followed by: 20 members Upvotes: 470 Thu Jul 27, 2017 11:23 pm jjjinapinch wrote: For a certain car repair, the total charge consisted of a charge for parts, a charge for labor, and a 6 percent sales tax on both the charge for parts and the charge for labor. If the charge for parts, excluding sales tax, was$50.00, what was the total charge for the repair?

(1) The sales tax on the charge for labor was $9.60 (2) The total sales tax was$12.60

Official Guide question
It is given that

the charge for parts, excluding sales tax = 50
thus, the charge for parts, including sales tax = 50 + sales tax = 50 + 6% of 50 = 50 + 3 = 53

We have to get the total charge for the repair = the charge for parts + the charge for labor.

Statement 1: The sales tax on the charge for labor was $9.60. Sales Tax = 9.60 = 6% of Charge for labour; 9.60 = (6/100) * Charge for labour; Charge for labor, excluding sates tax = 960/6 = 160. Charge for labor, including sates tax = 160 + 9.60 = 169.60 The total charge for the repair = the charge for parts + the charge for labor = 53 + 169.60 = unique value! Sufficient. Statement 2: The total sales tax was$12.60.

The total sales tax = 12.60 = Sales tax on parts + Sales tax on labour

We know that Sales tax on parts = 3, thus Sales tax on labor = 12.60 - 3 = 9.60.

Now the information is the same as we get in Statement 1. Sufficient.

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member
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Sat Jul 29, 2017 10:27 am
Hi jjjinapinch,

This DS question has a built-in Algebra 'shortcut' that you can take advantage of (more than once) to avoid some of the math and get to the correct answer.

We're told that the TOTAL charge for a car repair includes 3 things: a charge for parts, a charge for labor and a 6% sales tax on both of those 2 charges. We're told that the charge for PARTS (not including the tax) was $50. We're asked for the TOTAL charge for the repair. With the given information, we can create the following calculation to solve: Total Cost = (L + 50)(1.06) Thus, if we have the value of L, then we can determine the total cost. In addition, if we have the exact value of the tax, then we can 'work backwards', figure out the value of L and THEN determine the total cost. 1) The sales tax on the charge for labor was$9.60

With this fact, we can create the following equation:

(L)(.06) = $9.60 This is one simple variable and one equation, so we CAN solve for L (and there would be just one solution). The shortcut is that we don't actually have to do that math to know that there would be just one solution. As noted, with the value of L, we CAN answer the question. Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT. 2) The total sales tax was$12.60

Just as we did in Fact 1, we can create an equation with the information in Fact 2:

(L + 50)(.06) = \$12.60

Here too, we have one simple variable and one equation. We can solve for L (even though we don't have to do that math) and answer the given question.
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT.

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

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Contact Rich at Rich.C@empowergmat.com

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