Veritas Prep
Last year, the price of a jar of peanut butter at a certain store was \(P\) dollars and the price of a jar of jelly at the same store was \(J\) dollars, where \(J=2P\). This year, the price of peanut butter increased by 20% and the price of jelly decreased by 20%. If a customer purchases one jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly this year and receives a 25% discount, which of the following represents the amount that he paid, in terms of \(P\)?
A. \(3\frac{P}{2}\)
B. \(17\frac{P}{10}\)
C. \(19\frac{P}{10}\)
D. \(21\frac{P}{10}\)
E. \(11\frac{P}{5}\)
OA D
Last year, the price of a jar of peanut butter at a certain
This topic has expert replies
- GMATGuruNY
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 15539
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 13060 times
- Followed by:1906 members
- GMAT Score:790
The price of a jar of peanut butter at a certain store was P dollars and the price of a jar of jelly at the same store was J dollars, where J=2P.AAPL wrote:Veritas Prep
Last year, the price of a jar of peanut butter at a certain store was \(P\) dollars and the price of a jar of jelly at the same store was \(J\) dollars, where \(J=2P\). This year, the price of peanut butter increased by 20% and the price of jelly decreased by 20%. If a customer purchases one jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly this year and receives a 25% discount, which of the following represents the amount that he paid, in terms of \(P\)?
A. \(3\frac{P}{2}\)
B. \(17\frac{P}{10}\)
C. \(19\frac{P}{10}\)
D. \(21\frac{P}{10}\)
E. \(11\frac{P}{5}\)
Let P = 10 and J = 20
This year, the price of peanut butter increased by 20% and the price of jelly decreased by 20%
New P = 10 + (20% of 10) = 10 + 2 = 12
New J = 20 - (20% of 20) = 20 - 4 = 16
A customer purchases one jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly this year and receives a 25% discount.
Before the discount:
New P + New J = 12 + 16 = 28
After the discount:
28 - (25% of 28) = 28 - 7 = 21
Which of the following represents the amount that he paid, in terms of P?
The correct answer must yield $21 when P=10.
Only D works:
21P/10 = (21*10)/10 = 21.
The correct answer is D.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Let \(P=100\), thus \(J=200\), last year.
So this year \(P = 120\) (20% increase), and \(J = 160\) (20% decrease). Price paid this year by customer \(= 120+160 = 280\).
But after 25% discount, price \(=\) 75% of 280 \(= \frac{3}{4} \cdot 280 = 210\).
So we have to look for an option where if we put \(P=100\), we should get an answer as '210'.
Hence, __D__ is the correct answer.
So this year \(P = 120\) (20% increase), and \(J = 160\) (20% decrease). Price paid this year by customer \(= 120+160 = 280\).
But after 25% discount, price \(=\) 75% of 280 \(= \frac{3}{4} \cdot 280 = 210\).
So we have to look for an option where if we put \(P=100\), we should get an answer as '210'.
Hence, __D__ is the correct answer.
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Jeff@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 1462
- Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:34 am
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 39 times
- Followed by:22 members
We are given that last year, the price of a jar of peanut butter at a certain store was P dollars, and the price of a jar of jelly at the same store was J dollars, where J = 2P.AAPL wrote:Veritas Prep
Last year, the price of a jar of peanut butter at a certain store was \(P\) dollars and the price of a jar of jelly at the same store was \(J\) dollars, where \(J=2P\). This year, the price of peanut butter increased by 20% and the price of jelly decreased by 20%. If a customer purchases one jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly this year and receives a 25% discount, which of the following represents the amount that he paid, in terms of \(P\)?
A. \(3\frac{P}{2}\)
B. \(17\frac{P}{10}\)
C. \(19\frac{P}{10}\)
D. \(21\frac{P}{10}\)
E. \(11\frac{P}{5}\)
OA D
This year the peanut butter price increased by 20%, so the new price is 1.2P.
Since the price of jelly decreased by 20%, the new price is 0.8J = 0.8(2P) = 1.6P.
Thus, the regular price of one jar of peanut butter and one jar of jelly is 1.2P + 1.6P = 2.8P.
Thus, at a 25% discount, the price is 0.75(2.8P) = 2.1P = 21P/10
Answer: D
Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]
See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews