Official Guide
If 60 percent of a rectangular floor is covered by a rectangular rug that is 9 feet by 12 feet, what is the area, in square feet, of the floor?
A. 65
B. 108
C. 180
D. 270
E. 300
OA C
If 60 percent of a rectangular floor is covered by a rectangular rug that is 9 feet by 12 feet, what is the area...
This topic has expert replies
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Scott@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 7244
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Thanked: 43 times
- Followed by:29 members
Solution:
Letting n = the area of the floor, we can create the following equation:
(9 x 12) = 0.6n
108 = 0.6n
180 = n
Answer: C
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]
See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
- Followed by:1268 members
- GMAT Score:770
Area of rectangular RUG = (base)(height) = (9)(12) =108
This RUG covers 60% of the FLOOR
In other words, 108 = 60% of the area of the FLOOR
Or we can write: 108 = 0.6(area of FLOOR)
So, 108 /0.6 = area of FLOOR
Evaluate to get: 180 = area of FLOOR
Answer: C
Cheers,
Brent
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
- Followed by:1268 members
- GMAT Score:770
PRO TIP
Once we know that So, 108 /0.6 = area of FLOOR, we can apply some number sense to avoid dividing 0.6 into 108
Notice that 108 /0.5 = 216
Since 0.6 is a bit bigger than 0.5, we know that 108 /0.6 will be a little bit less than 216
Check the answer choices...only answer choice C is a bit less than 216
ASIDE: This shortcut works, because the answer choices are nicely spread apart.
Cheers,
Brent