Ratios

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Ratios

by varun0629142 » Wed Aug 07, 2013 7:16 am
In 1994, Company X recorded profits that were 10% greater than in 1993, and in 1993 the company's profits were 20% greater than they were in 1992. What were the company's profits in 1992?

(1) In 1994, the company's profits were $100,000 greater than in 1993.

(2) For every $3.00 in profits earned in 1992, Company X earned $3.96 in 1994.

Any easier way to solve this please.

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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:53 am
In 1994, Company X recorded profits that were 10% greater than in 1993, and in 1993 the company's profits were 20% greater than they were in 1992. What were the company's profits in 1992?

(1) In 1994, the company's profits were $100,000 greater than in 1993.

(2) For every $3.00 in profits earned in 1992, Company X earned $3.96 in 1994.
Let 1992 = 100.
Since 1993 is 20% greater than 1992, 1993 = 100 + .2(100) = 120.
Since 1994 is 10% greater than 1993, 1994 = 120 + .1(120) = 132.
Thus:
1994 : 1993 : 1992 = 132 : 120 : 100.
Given this ratio, if we know the profit in any of the 3 years -- or the DIFFERENCE between any two years -- we can determine the profit in EACH of the 3 years (and thus the profit in 1992).

Statement 1: In 1994, the company's profits were $100,000 greater than in 1993.
SUFFICIENT.

Statement 2: For every $3.00 in profits earned in 1992, Company X earned $3.96 in 1994.
In other words:
1994 : 1992 = 396 : 300 = 132 : 100.
This statement only confirms the ratio given in the question stem.
INSUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is A.
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by [email protected] » Wed Aug 07, 2013 12:18 pm
Hi varun0629142,

Mitch's explanation is spot on, so I won't rehash it.

I can provide some additional info though. Certain DS questions will offer you redundant information in one of the two Facts.

IF the info is redundant to something that you already knew in the prompt, then that info is INSUFFICIENT.
IF the info is redundant to the info in the other Fact, then the final answer will either be D or E (either they're both SUFFICIENT for the same reason or they're both INSUFFICIENT for the same reason, and when combined, they're still INSUFFICIENT).

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