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

:roll:

IMO, C is the correct answer

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

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)

method please

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

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 ?

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.

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.

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