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Salary

by okigbo » Wed Oct 28, 2009 6:15 pm
The difference between Mary and Jim's salary was twice the difference between Mary and Kate's. If Mary had the highest salary, what was the average of the three?
a. Jim's salary was $30,000
b. Kate's was $40,000
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Source: — Data Sufficiency |
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by grockit_jake » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:49 am
Difference just means subtraction. So if Mary is the highest, then

M - J = 2(M - K)
M - J = 2M - 2K OR
2K = M + J

(1) J = 30,000

This tells us that 2K - 30000 = M. To find the average we need to know M + J + K, and this doesn't help us find M + K.

(2) K = 40,000

This tells us that M + J = 80,000 from the given equation in the stimulus. Together, we can find K (from 2) + M + J.

When you know all three, you can add and divide by 3, and that's your average. Choice B.
Jake Becker
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