x in terms of y

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:54 am
Followed by:4 members

x in terms of y

by nidhis.1408 » Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:09 pm
A publishing company produced a record high of 180 books today. In the 9 days prior to today, the same publishing company had produced an average (arithmetic mean) of x books per day. If today's record high increased average daily production to y books per day, what is x in terms of y?

a. (9y+180)/10
b. (10y+180)/9
c. (9y-180)/9
d. (10y-180)/9
e. 10y/9-180
Source: — Problem Solving |

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 » Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:17 pm
nidhis.1408 wrote:A publishing company produced a record high of 180 books today. In the 9 days prior to today, the same publishing company had produced an average (arithmetic mean) of x books per day. If today's record high increased average daily production to y books per day, what is x in terms of y?

a. (9y+180)/10
b. (10y+180)/9
c. (9y-180)/9
d. (10y-180)/9
e. 10y/9-180
Let x = 10 books per day.
Total number of books produced in the 9 days prior = 9*10 = 90.
y = average number of books produced over all 10 days = (180+90)/10 = 27.

The question asks for the value of x=10. This is our target.
Now we plug y=27 into the answers to see which yields our target of 10.

Only answer choice D works:
(10*27-180)/9 = 90/9 = 10.

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

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:02 pm
Thanked: 62 times
Followed by:6 members

by user123321 » Mon Nov 07, 2011 3:24 pm
for 9 days average is x and on 10th day it is 180
and overall average for 10 days is y.
so..
9x+180 = 10*y
=> x = (10y-180)/9

user123321
Just started my preparation :D
Want to do it right the first time.