Linda and Angela contract to paint a neighbor's house...

This topic has expert replies
Moderator
Posts: 2599
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:08 pm
Followed by:2 members
Linda and Angela contract to paint a neighbor's house. Even though Linda spends 50% more time painting the house than Angela, each receives a payment of m dollars when the work is completed. If Angela decides to pay Linda n dollars so that they would have received the same compensation per hour worked, what is n in terms of m?

A. 1/2 m
B. 1/3 m
C. 1/4 m
D. 1/5 m
E. 1/6 m

The OA is D.

Can I say, Angela's time = t and Linda's time = 1.5t

Angela receives = m - n.

Linda receives = m + n.

Then,
$$\frac{(m+n)}{1.5t}=\frac{(m-n)}{t}\ \Rightarrow n=\frac{1}{5}m$$
Is there a strategic approach to this PS question? Can any experts help, please?
Source: — Problem Solving |

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 94
Joined: Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:50 am
Location: London, UK
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:770

by mbawisdom » Mon Mar 05, 2018 6:17 am
AAPL wrote:Linda and Angela contract to paint a neighbor's house. Even though Linda spends 50% more time painting the house than Angela, each receives a payment of m dollars when the work is completed. If Angela decides to pay Linda n dollars so that they would have received the same compensation per hour worked, what is n in terms of m?

A. 1/2 m
B. 1/3 m
C. 1/4 m
D. 1/5 m
E. 1/6 m

The OA is D.

Can I say, Angela's time = t and Linda's time = 1.5t

Angela receives = m - n.

Linda receives = m + n.

Then,
$$\frac{(m+n)}{1.5t}=\frac{(m-n)}{t}\ \Rightarrow n=\frac{1}{5}m$$
Is there a strategic approach to this PS question? Can any experts help, please?
I would have set up the answer in the same was as you did it.

Time:
Linda = 1.5T
Angela = T

Pay:
Linda = M+N
Angela = M-N

Rate per hour:
Linda: (M+N)/(1.5T)
Angela: (M-N)/(T)

We know that the rates per hour are the same so: (M+N)/(1.5T) = (M-N)/(T) --> cancel out the T's then solve
M + N = 1.5M - 1.5N
2.5N = 0.5M
N = M/5

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1462
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:34 am
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 39 times
Followed by:22 members

by Jeff@TargetTestPrep » Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:44 am
AAPL wrote:Linda and Angela contract to paint a neighbor's house. Even though Linda spends 50% more time painting the house than Angela, each receives a payment of m dollars when the work is completed. If Angela decides to pay Linda n dollars so that they would have received the same compensation per hour worked, what is n in terms of m?

A. 1/2 m
B. 1/3 m
C. 1/4 m
D. 1/5 m
E. 1/6 m
We can let t = the amount of time Angela worked and create the equation:

(m - n)/t = (m + n)/1.5t

1.5t(m - n) = t(m + n)

1.5(m - n) = (m + n)

1.5m - 1.5n = m + n

0.5m = 2.5n

5m = 25n

5m/25 = n

m/5 = n

(1/5)m = n

Answer: D

Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews