sgnikc45 wrote:I have a doubt regarding the following question. My dollar sign on my phone is not working so bare with me.
Each week a certain salesman is paid a fixed amount equal to dollar 300, plus a commission equal to 5 percent of the amount of his sales that week over dollar 1000. What was the total amount the salesman was paid last week?
1. The total amount the salesman was paid last week is equal to 10 percent of the amount of his sales last week.
2. The salesman's sales last week totaled dollar 5,000.
Let's take statement 1.
We don't know whether the salesman made a sale above 1000 in the last week. That means the salesman was either paid dollar 300 or dollar 300 + commission. Since we have two possibilities here, statement 1 is insufficient.
But the right answer is D. Can someone help me in understanding why my logic for eliminating statement 1 incorrect? I don't see any part of the question mentioning that the salesman made a sale above 1000.
The salesman makes a base salary of $300.
Statement 1 indicates that his total earnings -- including his base salary -- are equal to 10% of his total sales.
Since 300 is 10% of 3000, his total sales cannot be less than $3000.
One way to evaluate Statement 1 is to test whether the value given in Statement 2 -- $5000 in sales -- is the ONLY value that will also satisfy Statement 1.
Statement 1: The total amount the salesman was paid last week is equal to 10 percent of the amount of his sales last week.
Case 1: Let his total sales = 5000, as indicated in statement 2.
Since he earns a 5% commission on all but the first $1000, his commission = 5% of $4000 = $200.
Total earnings = base salary + commission = 300+200 = 500.
Here, his total earnings (500) are equal to 10% of his total sales (5000).
Case 2: Let his total sales = 4000.
Since he earns a 5% commission on all but the first $1000, his commission = 5% of $3000 = $150.
Total earnings = base salary + commission = 300+150 = 450.
Here, his total earnings (450) are NOT equal to 10% of his total sales (4000).
Implication:
For his total earnings to be 10% of his total sales, his total sales must be 5000, as indicated in statement 2.
Thus, his total earnings = 500.
SUFFICIENT.
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