Problem Solving -Recruits Ratios

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:50 am

Problem Solving -Recruits Ratios

by wingsoffire » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:41 am
There are initially n members working in a certain company. Next year the company recruits another 4n members. After one year, the ratio of the number of employees who are earning Rs. 10,000 or more to that of the employees who are not, can possibly be

a 121/123

b 137/132

c 174/121

d 151/123

e None of these

:shock: :roll:
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 99
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 2:09 pm
Thanked: 11 times

by kanwar86 » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:51 am
wingsoffire wrote:There are initially n members working in a certain company. Next year the company recruits another 4n members. After one year, the ratio of the number of employees who are earning Rs. 10,000 or more to that of the employees who are not, can possibly be

a 121/123

b 137/132

c 174/121

d 151/123

e None of these

:shock: :roll:
IMO, C is the correct answer
Regards

Kanwar

"In case my post helped, do care to thank. Happy learning :)"

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 1060
Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 6:46 am
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Thanked: 318 times
Followed by:52 members

by neelgandham » Fri Dec 02, 2011 10:01 am
kanwar86 wrote: IMO, C is the correct answer
Why not A
a 121/123 - If the number of employees who earn Rs. 10,000 or more = 605 and the number of employees who earn less than Rs. 10,000 = 615
Anil Gandham
Welcome to BEATtheGMAT | Photography | Getting Started | BTG Community rules | MBA Watch
Check out GMAT Prep Now's online course at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/

Legendary Member
Posts: 966
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:06 am
Thanked: 230 times
Followed by:21 members

by shankar.ashwin » Fri Dec 02, 2011 10:01 am
Next year total employees will be n+4n = 5n

Now C is the only option which is divisible by 5, total would be (174+121 = 295)

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 2:50 am

by wingsoffire » Fri Dec 02, 2011 10:01 am
method please

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 99
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 2:09 pm
Thanked: 11 times

by kanwar86 » Fri Dec 02, 2011 10:24 am
neelgandham wrote:
kanwar86 wrote: IMO, C is the correct answer
Why not A
a 121/123 - If the number of employees who earn Rs. 10,000 or more = 605 and the number of employees who earn less than Rs. 10,000 = 615
As you correctly pointed out A, you can multiply and divide 5 in all of the remaining options and make all of them correct, but here we are trying to find the most probable answer, which is being reflected in C as on adding its numerator and denominator, we are getting a multiple of 5 (5n).
That's why, IMO the correct answer is C
Regards

Kanwar

"In case my post helped, do care to thank. Happy learning :)"

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 1060
Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 6:46 am
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Thanked: 318 times
Followed by:52 members

by neelgandham » Fri Dec 02, 2011 10:50 am
kanwar86 wrote:
neelgandham wrote:
kanwar86 wrote: IMO, C is the correct answer
Why not A
a 121/123 - If the number of employees who earn Rs. 10,000 or more = 605 and the number of employees who earn less than Rs. 10,000 = 615
As you correctly pointed out A, you can multiply and divide 5 in all of the remaining options and make all of them correct, but here we are trying to find the most probable answer, which is being reflected in C as on adding its numerator and denominator, we are getting a multiple of 5 (5n).
That's why, IMO the correct answer is C
I agree to what you have said, but the question doesn't ask the 'most probable answer' but asks the a 'possible answer'.

wingsoffire - Can you post the source of the question please ?
Anil Gandham
Welcome to BEATtheGMAT | Photography | Getting Started | BTG Community rules | MBA Watch
Check out GMAT Prep Now's online course at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 99
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 2:09 pm
Thanked: 11 times

by kanwar86 » Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:05 am
neelgandham wrote:
kanwar86 wrote:
neelgandham wrote:
kanwar86 wrote: IMO, C is the correct answer
Why not A
a 121/123 - If the number of employees who earn Rs. 10,000 or more = 605 and the number of employees who earn less than Rs. 10,000 = 615
As you correctly pointed out A, you can multiply and divide 5 in all of the remaining options and make all of them correct, but here we are trying to find the most probable answer, which is being reflected in C as on adding its numerator and denominator, we are getting a multiple of 5 (5n).
That's why, IMO the correct answer is C
I agree to what you have said, but the question doesn't ask the 'most probable answer' but asks the a 'possible answer'.

wingsoffire - Can you post the source of the question please ?
Yes indeed, it asked for the possible answer. Here, we are the ones who have to choose the most probable option as we can justify every option as an answer (multiplying and dividing it by 5). But, there is only one option (C) for which we don't have to actually do this operation (multiplying and dividing it by 5) to justify it as an answer.
Though i won't call it a very good question but in case such a question pops up in the exam, i will recommend this approach (unless someone comes with a better approach).

Hope you got my point.
Regards

Kanwar

"In case my post helped, do care to thank. Happy learning :)"

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 1060
Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 6:46 am
Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands
Thanked: 318 times
Followed by:52 members

by neelgandham » Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:16 am
kanwar86 wrote: Though i won't call it a very good question but in case such a question pops up in the exam, i will recommend this approach (unless someone comes with a better approach).
Hope you got my point.
Yes, I did and in GMAT exam, I would have chosen option C.
Anil Gandham
Welcome to BEATtheGMAT | Photography | Getting Started | BTG Community rules | MBA Watch
Check out GMAT Prep Now's online course at https://www.gmatprepnow.com/

Legendary Member
Posts: 966
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:06 am
Thanked: 230 times
Followed by:21 members

by shankar.ashwin » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:21 pm
I posted a problem a while earlier which tested the same concept, you might want to have a look.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/ratios-t91056.html#406292