GMAT Prep Test 2 - Data Sufficiency

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GMAT Prep Test 2 - Data Sufficiency

by v_schame » Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:54 pm
Hi,

I'm having a hard time with this question. I'm not sure if my approach was correct.

Question
For each month of next year, Company R's monthly revenue target is x dollars greater than its monthly revenue target for the preceding month. What is Company R's revenue target for March of next year?
1) Company R's revenue target for December of next year is $310,000.
2) Comapny R's revenue for September of next year is $30,000 greater than its revenue target for June of next year.

My Approach

Let a = the revenue target for January
x = the amount that the revenue target is greater than the month before (as stated in question)
Revenue targets per month
J: a
F: a+x
M: a+2x
A: a+3x
M: a+4x
J: a+5x
J: a+6x
A: a+7x
S: a+8x
O: a+9x
N: a+10x
D: a+11x

S1) December: a+11x = 310,000 -> 2 variables and 1 equations, cannot solve, S1 is insufficient

S2) September = 30,000 + June -> a+8x = 30,000+a+5x -> x=10,000
Replace x value in March -> Revenue target=a+4(10,000) -> 2 variables and 1 equations, cannot solve, S2 is insufficient

S1+S2) Replace the value of X in S1 December equation to find value of a. With values of a and x known, they can be replace in the March equation to find its revenue target.

Answer: C

Thanks!

Vanessa
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Jan 29, 2013 3:34 pm
Looks like a great solution to me, Vanessa!

Cheers,
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by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:11 pm
I think your logical worked perfectly well here!

For a slightly quicker solution, consider this: we don't care about January or February. The question is just asking about March. So set March as "a," not "a + 2x."

Instead of counting out each month individually, just say - December is 9 months after March, and September is 6 months after March. So,
D = a + 9x
S = a + 6x

It's the same logic as before - we need 2 equations to solve for 2 variables - but it's slightly less that you have to write down.

In fact, you don't really need to write anything down here. You could say to yourself - to get a value for March, I'd need a value for another month, plus my constant of increase, x. So in effect, I'd need values for 2 months to figure that out. It must be C. It's always helpful if you can avoid doing algebra!
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by varun289 » Fri Feb 01, 2013 9:59 am
dear all

no doubt good solution but my approch little short cut -

simply visualise two rows

in AP

Fact one - said value=((A+ (somthing.X)) that is totally not alone sufficient , SO BCE left with us

now by fact two u get X as diffrence now C E left

come to JOINING - u get X and here u can visulise A+bla bla bla X = SO C

u dont need to actually calculate VALUE

so enjoy //cooolllllllllll