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In the Johnsons' monthly budget (OG2016)

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by boomgoesthegmat » Fri May 06, 2016 12:32 pm
In the Johnsons' monthly budget, the dollar amounts allocated to household expenses, food, and miscellaneous items are in the ratio 5:2:1, respectively. If the total amount allocated to these three categories is $1,800, what is the amount allocated to food?

A) 900
B) 720
C) 675
D) 450
E) 225

OA: D
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by OptimusPrep » Sat May 07, 2016 7:45 pm
boomgoesthegmat wrote:In the Johnsons' monthly budget, the dollar amounts allocated to household expenses, food, and miscellaneous items are in the ratio 5:2:1, respectively. If the total amount allocated to these three categories is $1,800, what is the amount allocated to food?

A) 900
B) 720
C) 675
D) 450
E) 225

OA: D
Household expenses : Food : Miscellaneous items are in the ratio 5:2:1
Amount allocated to food = (2/8)*1800 = 1800/4 = $450

Correct Option: D
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun May 08, 2016 6:02 am
boomgoesthegmat wrote:In the Johnsons' monthly budget, the dollar amounts allocated to household expenses, food, and miscellaneous items are in the ratio 5:2:1, respectively. If the total amount allocated to these three categories is $1,800, what is the amount allocated to food?

A) 900
B) 720
C) 675
D) 450
E) 225

OA: D
GIVEN: household expenses $ : food $ : miscellaneous $ = 5:2:1
5 + 2 + 1 = 8.
So, for every $8 in the budget, $5 goes to household expenses, $2 goes to food and $1 goes to miscellaneous

$1800/8 = $225

So...
- household expenses = 5($225) = $1225
- food = 2($225) = $450
- miscellaneous = 1($225) = $225

Answer: D

RELATED RESOURCE: This video explains the technique for dividing amounts into specific ratios (as we did with this question): https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat ... video/1081

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by 800_or_bust » Sun May 08, 2016 7:41 pm
boomgoesthegmat wrote:In the Johnsons' monthly budget, the dollar amounts allocated to household expenses, food, and miscellaneous items are in the ratio 5:2:1, respectively. If the total amount allocated to these three categories is $1,800, what is the amount allocated to food?

A) 900
B) 720
C) 675
D) 450
E) 225

OA: D
I would approach this by simply setting up an equation. Set x = the total spent on miscellaneous items. Given the ratios, we know they spent 5 times this amount on household expenses and 2 times this amount on food. Therefore, 5x = total spent on household items, and 2x = total spent on food. We need to solve for 2x. Finally, we are given that the total amount spent was $1800.00.

Therefore, we can set up the following equation and solve for 2x.

5x+2x+x = 1800, which simplifies to 8x = 1800.

Next, divide both sides of the equation by 4 to solve for 2x.

8x/4 = 1800/4

2x = 450.

Accordingly, the answer is D.
800 or bust!
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by Jeff@TargetTestPrep » Mon May 09, 2016 10:40 am
boomgoesthegmat wrote:In the Johnsons' monthly budget, the dollar amounts allocated to household expenses, food, and miscellaneous items are in the ratio 5:2:1, respectively. If the total amount allocated to these three categories is $1,800, what is the amount allocated to food?

A) 900
B) 720
C) 675
D) 450
E) 225

OA: D
To solve this question, it will be best to first express the given ratio using variable multipliers. Thus, we have:

Household Expenses : Food : Miscellaneous = 5x : 2x : x

Since we are told that the TOTAL amount allocated to these categories is $1,800 we can set up the equation:

5x + 2x + x = 1,800

8x = 1,800

x = 225

Thus, the total amount allocated to food is 2 x 225 = $450.

Answer D

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by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed May 11, 2016 11:57 pm
Since this is a ratio, each term has the same multiple: we'll call it x.

5x + 2x + 1x = 1800, so x = 225.

Food = 2x, so 2*225, or 450.
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by [email protected] » Tue Mar 20, 2018 2:24 pm
Hi All,

We're told that in the Johnsons' monthly budget, the dollar amounts allocated to household expenses, food, and miscellaneous items are in the ratio 5:2:1, respectively and that the total amount allocated to these three categories is $1,800. We're asked for the amount allocated to food. This is a standard ratio question and the 'math' behind it can be done in a variety of ways (depending on how you "see" the relationships involved).

To start, with a ratio of 5:2:1, it's highly likely that....
The amount spent on household expenses is a multiple of $5
The amount spent on food is a multiple of $2
The amount spent on miscellaneous items is a multiple of $1
The TOTAL spent will be a multiple of $5+$2+1 = $8

This means that for every $8 that is spent $2 will be on food. $2/$8 = 1/4, so 1/4 of the $1800 total will be spent on food.

(1/4)($1800) = $450

Final Answer: D

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by deloitte247 » Fri Mar 23, 2018 11:56 pm
Household expenses:food:miscellaneous: 5:2:1
Let the amount allocated be =$x
$1800= 5($x) : 2($x) : 1($x)
$1800= $5x + $2x + $1x
$1800= $8x
Divide both sides by coefficient of x
$1800/8 = x
x= $225

Expenses= 5* $225 =$1,125
Food= 2* $225 =$450 (This is the correct answer...option D)
Miscellaneous= 1* $225 =$225

Total= $1800
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