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pls explain

Expert replies
by melon » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:05 pm
Sally and Ted are salespeople for Bob’s Technology Products. Ted is given a salary of $15,000 plus 25% of his sales, whereas Sally is given a salary of $22,500 plus 30% of the amount by which her sales exceed $50,000. Ted and Sally make the same amount of sales, but Sally's total compensation exceeds Ted's by $5000. What were Sally's total sales?


I know its a very simple problem.
what I want to know is the question says ted early 15% of his sales & sally 30% of(hersales - 50K), but i dont their sales amounts, can i
use this equation 15,000 + .25x + 5,000 = 22,500 + .3(x-50,000)
but X is the the total sales, how do i know Ted'd sales and sally's sales and its 15% of ted sales and so on
so will it be
15,000 + .25y + 5,000 = 22,500 + .3(x-50,000)
where Y and X are individual sales of ted and sally?
pls explain
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by PhDmessi » Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:59 am
Hi,

I also tried to solve it, but as long as I have no sales amount or in the case, two unknown variables I am not able to solve it.

@Melon, where is the source? Are you sure, that there are no typos in it?

@Expert: Could you please help here!

Thanks a lot!
Never give up!
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by spartacus1412 » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:11 am
Let the total sales amount be x.(both Ted and Sally make the same amount of sales.Given)

hence, teds income = 15000 +0.25x
Sally's income = 22500 + 0.3(x-50000)
ted's income is 5000 less than sally

therefore, Teds income + 5000 = sally income
15000 + 0.25x +5000 = 22500 + 0.3(x-50000)
x = 250000
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by melon » Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:34 am
@PhDmessi I dont think there are any typing mistakes.
@spartacus1412 i have already written ur equation but the question says
15k+25% of Ted's sales(your X is total sales)
Hence i am still not clear
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by killer1387 » Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:36 am
melon wrote:Sally and Ted are salespeople for Bob’s Technology Products. Ted is given a salary of $15,000 plus 25% of his sales, whereas Sally is given a salary of $22,500 plus 30% of the amount by which her sales exceed $50,000. Ted and Sally make the same amount of sales, but Sally's total compensation exceeds Ted's by $5000. What were Sally's total sales?
given their total sales is equal = s
case I:
when s<=50000
hence 22500-(15000+0.25s)=5000
=> s=10000

case II:
s>50000

22500+0.3(s-50000)-15000-0.25s=5000
=>s=2,50,000

P.S.: There should be something else mentioned in the question that would help eliminate one of the two values OR the option might be having either of the two values i.e. 10,000 or 2,50,000.
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by [email protected] » Tue Mar 20, 2012 6:21 am
I got this answer...

15000+ 25%x+5000 = 22500+(X-50000)30%

because both of them made the same Sales X

simplifying this, we get X=250,000

Let me know if i am right....
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by [email protected] » Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:37 pm
Yes all the above equations are correct. The sum can just be a bit lengthy... it took me around 3 mins...
IT IS TIME TO BEAT THE GMAT

LEARNING, APPLICATION AND TIMING IS THE FACT OF GMAT AND LIFE AS WELL... KEEP PLAYING!!!

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