Math vs English

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Math vs English

by jng1103 » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:56 am
While working on Math questions from OG, I've been very frustrated on several occassions that the questions were written in a very confusing way to understand, especially for those non-English students like myself.

Here is one good example. (Perhpas I am too dumb to understand)

A shipment of 1500 heads of cabbage, each of which was approximately the same size, was purchased for $600. The day the shipment arrived, 2/3 of the heads were sold, each at 25% above the cost per head. The following day, the rest were sold at a price per head equal to 10% less than the price each head sold for on the day before. What was the gross profit on this shipment?
A. $100
B. $115
C. $125
D. $130
E. $135

This question isnt tough at all. However, the statement "...10% less ... sold for on the day before" is very confusing. If you chose 10% less than 25%, the answer would be $130(D). If you chose 10% less than original price (=90%), the answer would be $125 (C).

Based on my understanding (sorry for my poor English), the statement clearly stated that "10% less than the day before" which should be 15% (25%-10%). I was wrong, not because I got stuck with the Math, but with the poorly structured on this question. :(

I'd like to avoid this kinda mistake in the near future, and what's the best solution?

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Math vs English

by redh » Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:03 am
True this is a relatively easy or more like average math exercise.

I am not a native speaker also and what I can see as your mistake is the following:

The question did not clearly state what you said!

Not "... 10% than the day before" BUT

....sold at a price per head equal to 10% less than the price each head sold for on the day before.

The emphasis of the statement is ..,10% discount on the price of $ 0.5 and NOT 10% discount on the PERCENTAGE ITSELF the 25%.

I actually disagree with you I think it is quite clear what the question asks. Try to read slowly and carefully and you will definitely see how this goes!

MY SOLUTION PATH BRIEFLY
600/1500= 0.4
125% of 0.4 = 0.5
10% discount ON 0.5 equals 0.45

1000 x 0.5 = 500
500 x 0.45 = 225

725-600= 125

Good luck to you....
Good luck to me ...my examination is 16 february!!

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by Stacey Koprince » Wed Feb 07, 2007 10:08 pm
Redh is right - you have to read every single word. The test is actually pretty precise with its language - if they had meant us to use percentage, they would have said percentage, not price.

Just remember that every single word you read is there for a reason. :)
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by BTGmoderatorRO » Sun Nov 05, 2017 11:29 am
Total cost price for 1500 heads = $1500
cost price per head = 600/1500 = $0.4

on the 1st day, two-third were sold
i.e 2/3 of 1500 heads
=1000 heads were sold
selling price per head = cost price per head + %profit
= 0.4 + 25% of $0.4
= 1.25 (0.4) = $0.5
Total selling price = 1000 * $0.5 = $500

on the 2nd day, the rest were sold.
i.e 1500-1000 = 500heads
selling price per head = 10% less than selling price on 1st day
= $0.5 - 10% of $0.5
= 0.9 (0.5) = $0.45
Total selling price on 2nd day = 500 * $0.45 =$225
Total selling price for 1500 heads = $500 + $225 = $725
therefore, Gross profit = selling price - cost price
= $725 - $600 = $125

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by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Fri Dec 13, 2019 1:11 pm
jng1103 wrote:
A shipment of 1500 heads of cabbage, each of which was approximately the same size, was purchased for $600. The day the shipment arrived, 2/3 of the heads were sold, each at 25% above the cost per head. The following day, the rest were sold at a price per head equal to 10% less than the price each head sold for on the day before. What was the gross profit on this shipment?
A. $100
B. $115
C. $125
D. $130
E. $135
We are given that a shipment of 1500 heads of cabbage costs 600 dollars, or 600/1500 = $0.40 per cabbage.

We are given that 2/3 x 1500 = 1,000 heads of cabbage sold for 1.25 x $0.40 = $0.50. So, a total of 1,000 x $0.50 = $500 was made on the sale of those heads of cabbage.

The next day, the remaining 500 heads of cabbage were sold at a price of 0.9 x $0.50 = $0.45, so a total of 500 x $0.45 = $225 dollars was made on the sale of those heads.

Thus, a total of 500 + 225 = $725 was made.

Thus, profit = 725 - 600 = $125.

Answer: C

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