A company sells only pens and pencils. The revenue from pen sales in 2007 was up 5% from 2006, but the revenue from pencil sales declined 13% over that same period. If overall revenue was down 1% from 2006 to 2007, what was the ratio of pencil revenue to pen revenue in 2007?
This is a MIXTURE problem.
Percent change for pen revenue = +5%.
Percent change for pencil revenue = -13%.
Percent change for the MIXTURE of pen revenue and pencil revenue = -1%.
To calculate the ratio of pen revenue to pencil revenue in the mixture, use ALLIGATION.
Step 1: Plot the 3 percentages on a number line, with the percentages for pens and pencils (+5% and -13%) on the ends and the percentage for the mixture (-1%) in the middle.
Pens (+5%)-----------(-1%)------------(-13%) Pencils
Step 2: Calculate the distances between the percentages.
Pens (+5%)-----
6-----(-1%)-----
12-----(-13%) Pencils
Step 3: Determine the ratio in the mixture.
The ratio of pen revenue to pencil revenue is the RECIPROCAL of the distances in red.
Pen revenue : pencil revenue = 12:6 = 2:1.
Since the question stem asks for the ratio of pencil revenue to pen revenue, the correct answer is [spoiler]1:2[/spoiler].
More alligation problems:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mixture-prob ... 90121.html
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