gmat6087 wrote:P and Q are the only two applicants qualified for a short-term research project that pays 600 dollars in total. Candidate P has more experience and, if hired, would be paid 50 percent more per hour than candidate Q would be paid. Candidate Q, if hired, would require 10 hours more than candidate P to do the job. Candidate P's hourly wage is how many dollars greater than candidate Q's hourly wage?
A) $10
B) $15
C) $20
D) $25
E) $30
OA A
An alternate approach is to plug in the answers, which represent the difference between P's hourly wage and Q's hourly wage -- in other words, 50% of Q's hourly wage, since P earns 50% more per hour than Q.
When the correct answer choice is plugged in, P and Q will each earn $600.
Answer choice C: 20
Since $20 is 50% of Q's hourly wage, Q's hourly wage = 2*20 = 40.
Since Q earns $600, the number of hours worked by Q = 600/40 = 15.
Since Q works 10 more hours than P, the number of hours worked by P = 15-10 = 5.
Since P makes $20 more per hour than Q -- for a total of $60 per hour -- the amount earned by P in 5 hours = 60*5 = 300.
Here, Q earns $600, while P earns $300.
To decrease the difference between their earnings, the difference between their hourly wages must decrease.
Answer choice B: 15
Since $20 is 50% of Q's hourly wage, Q's hourly wage = 2*15 = 30.
Since Q earns $600, the number of hours worked by Q = 600/30 = 20.
Since Q works 10 more hours than P, the number of hours worked by P = 20-10 = 10.
Since P makes $15 more per hour than Q -- for a total of $45 per hour -- the amount earned by P in 10 hours = 45*10 = 450.
Here, Q earns $600, while P earns $450.
To decrease the difference between their earnings, the difference between their hourly wages must decrease.
The correct answer is
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