Official question

This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2012 3:16 am

Official question

by puneet2329 » Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:12 pm
Image

Can not understand the answer, can some one please explain the answer

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 227
Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2012 4:53 am
Thanked: 12 times
Followed by:3 members

by guerrero » Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:02 pm
you can solve this question by using equation--

0.6 + 0.06(x-7) = 0.08x

X= duration in minutes.

Under plan A cost is 0.6 + 0.06(x-7)

Under plan B the cost is $0.08X

since the amount needs to be equal as stated solve for X .

X=9

OA

9

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 511
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:47 am
Location: Delhi, India
Thanked: 344 times
Followed by:86 members

by Anju@Gurome » Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:02 pm
puneet2329 wrote:A certain phone company offers two plans A and B. Under plan A, the company charges a total of $0.6 for the first 7 minute of each call and $0.06 per minute thereafter. Under plan B the company charges $0.08 per minute of each call. What is the duration of call, in minutes, for which the company charges the same amount under plan A and under plan B?

A. 2
B. 9
C. 15
D. 21
E. 30
Algebraic Approach:
Let us assume if the duration of the call was N minutes, then the charge is same under both plans.

Now, charge under plan A = (a total of $0.6 for the first 7 minutes) + ($0.06 per minutes for (N - 7) minutes) = $0.6 + $(0.06)*(N - 7)
And, charge under plan B = $0.08 per minutes for N minutes) = $(0.08)*N

So, 0.6 + (0.06)*(N - 7) = (0.08)*N
--> 0.6 + (0.06)*N - 0.42 = (0.08)*N
--> (0.02)*N = 0.6 - 0.42 = 0.18
--> N = 0.18/0.02 = 18/2 = 9
[spoiler]
The correct answer is B.[/spoiler]
Anju Agarwal
Quant Expert, Gurome

Backup Methods : General guide on plugging, estimation etc.
Wavy Curve Method : Solving complex inequalities in a matter of seconds.

§ GMAT with Gurome § Admissions with Gurome § Career Advising with Gurome §

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 511
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:47 am
Location: Delhi, India
Thanked: 344 times
Followed by:86 members

by Anju@Gurome » Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:08 pm
Plugging Options:
This problem can be easily solved by plugging the answer choices.

A. If the duration of the call is 2 minutes,
  • Charge under plan A = $0.6
    Charge under plan B = $(0.08)*2 = $0.16
    As the charges are not equal, option A is not the correct answer.
B. If the duration of the call is 9 minutes,
  • Charge under plan A = $0.6 for first 7 minutes + $0.06 per minutes for (9 - 7) minutes = $0.6 + $(0.06)*2 = $0.6 + $0.12 = $.72
    Charge under plan B = $(0.08)*9 = $0.72
    As the charges are same, option B is the correct answer.
As there will be only one correct answer, we don't need to check the rest of the options.
[spoiler]
The correct answer is B.[/spoiler]
Anju Agarwal
Quant Expert, Gurome

Backup Methods : General guide on plugging, estimation etc.
Wavy Curve Method : Solving complex inequalities in a matter of seconds.

§ GMAT with Gurome § Admissions with Gurome § Career Advising with Gurome §

User avatar
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

by GMATGuruNY » Sun Apr 21, 2013 6:13 pm
A certain telephone company offers two plans, A and B. Under plan A, the company charges a total of $0.60 for the first 7 minutes of each call and $0.06 per minute thereafter. Under plan B, the company charges $0.08 per minute of each call. What is the duration of a call, in minutes, for which the company charges the same amount under plan A and under plan B?

A. 2
B. 9
C. 15
D. 21
E. 30
Under plan A, the cost of the first 7 minutes = 60 cents.
Since plan B charges 8 cents per minute, the cost of the first 7 minutes under plan B = 7*8 = 56 cents.
Plan B needs to catch up by 4 cents.

We can plug in the answers, which represent the total time required for the two plans to charge the same amount.
After the first 7 minutes, the difference between plan B's rate and plan A's rate = 8-6 = 2 cents per minute.
Since plan B is behind plan A by only 4 cents, it will not take long for plan B to catch up to plan B.
Thus, answer choice B -- which implies that only 2 additional minutes are needed -- seems almost certain to be correct.

Answer choice B: 7 minutes + 2 additional minutes
Total cost for plan A = 60 + 2(6) = 72.
Total cost for plan B = 56 + 2(8) = 72.
Success!

The correct answer is B.
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