Tough Problem Solving Question 700+ lvl

[BrijNath]

A man whose bowling average is 12.4, takes 5 wickets for 26 runs and thereby decreasing his average by 0.4. The number of wickets taken by him before the previous match is?

A.85
B.78
C.72
D.64
E.92

[Jay@ManhattanReview]

A man whose bowling average is 12.4, takes 5 wickets for 26 runs and thereby decreasing his average by 0.4. The number of wickets taken by him before the previous match is?

A.85
B.78
C.72
D.64
E.92

Hey BrijNath,

What's the source of the question? This is a question based on the knowledge of Cricket (Sport), not popular in many countries. The GMAT will never ask a question that needs specialized knowledge. Also, pl. post the correct answer and mask it.

By the way, I know Cricket, so here's the solution...

Say before the previous match, he played x took wickets.

Thus, the total runs conceded by him in taking x wickets = 12.4x
Thus, the total runs conceded by him in taking (x + 1) wickets, incl., 5 wickets for 26 runs = 12.4x + 26

Thus, bowling average = Runs conceded / Total wickets = (12.4x + 26)/(x + 1) = 12.4 - 0.4

(12.4x + 26)/(x + 1) = 12

=> x = 85 wickets

The correct answer: A

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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[deloitte247]

$$Let\ the\ wickets\ claimed\ by\ him\ before\ the\ last\ match=x$$
$$Total\ runs=12.4\cdot x=12.4x$$
$$Number\ of\ wickets\ now\ taken\ by\ him=\left(x+5\right)$$
$$hence,\ 12\left(x+5\right)=12.4x+26$$
$$12x+60=12.4x+26$$
$$12x+12.4x=\ 26-60$$
$$-\frac{0.4}{-0.4}=-\frac{34}{-0.4}$$
$$x=\frac{\left(340\cdot10\right)}{0.4\cdot10}$$
$$x=\frac{\left(340\right)}{4}$$
$$x=85$$
$$Wickets\ taken\ by\ him\ before\ the\ previous\ match=85$$
$$answer\ is\ Option\ A$$

[harsh8686]

Okay. So this question I think will be understood by only cricket lovers

So the question state that bowler average of taking a wicket is 12.4. That means on every 12.4 runs, the bowler is taking 1 wicket. Assuming total wicket that bowler had taken earlier was x , the total number of runs given = 12.4x

total number of runs given before taking 5 wicket hall = 12.4x

total number of run given after taking 5 more wicket = 12.4x + 26
total number of wickets taken will be = x + 5

new average will be = (12.4x +26)/(x+5)
=> it is already given that new average is 0.4 lesser than the previous one.
so new average: (12.4x +26)/(x+5) = (12.4 - 0.4)
solving this equation the answer comes to
x = 340/4

x (total number of wickets taken) = 85

Hence the answer is A