Veritas Prep
Portia purchased a laptop for $480, but after checking the merchant's website realized that she had been overcharged by 20%. By how much, in dollars, was she overcharged?
A. $24
B. $48
C. $80
D. $96
E. $100
OA C.
Portia purchased a laptop for $480, but after checking the
This topic has expert replies
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
Let x = the INTENDED price of the laptopAAPL wrote:Veritas Prep
Portia purchased a laptop for $480, but after checking the merchant's website realized that she had been overcharged by 20%. By how much, in dollars, was she overcharged?
A. $24
B. $48
C. $80
D. $96
E. $100
OA C.
Portia was overcharged by 20%
So, x + (20% of x) = the amount Portia paid
In other words: x + 0.2x = $480
Simplify: 1.2x = 480
Solve: x = 480/1.2 = 400
So, Portia was SUPPOSED to pay $400, but she actually paid $480
So, Portia was overcharged $80
Answer: C
Cheers,
Brent
GMAT/MBA Expert
- [email protected]
- Elite Legendary Member
- Posts: 10392
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Thanked: 2867 times
- Followed by:511 members
- GMAT Score:800
Hi All,
We're told that Portia purchased a laptop for $480, but after checking the merchant's website realized that she had been overcharged by 20%. We're asked how many dollars she was overcharged. This question can be solved in a couple of different ways, including by TESTing THE ANSWERS.
To start, since $480 is a 'round number', it's likely that the lower number is ALSO a round number (since if we started with a number that was NOT a round number, then increasing that number by 20% would likely lead to an even more-complex number - likely one with cents involved). Working from least to greatest, the first number that would give us another round number would be Answer C - so let's TEST that one first...
Answer C: $80
IF... the overcharge was $80, then....
The lower price is $480 - $80 = $400
20% of $400 = (.2)($400) = $80
This is an exact match for what we were told, so this must be the answer.
Final Answer: C
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
We're told that Portia purchased a laptop for $480, but after checking the merchant's website realized that she had been overcharged by 20%. We're asked how many dollars she was overcharged. This question can be solved in a couple of different ways, including by TESTing THE ANSWERS.
To start, since $480 is a 'round number', it's likely that the lower number is ALSO a round number (since if we started with a number that was NOT a round number, then increasing that number by 20% would likely lead to an even more-complex number - likely one with cents involved). Working from least to greatest, the first number that would give us another round number would be Answer C - so let's TEST that one first...
Answer C: $80
IF... the overcharge was $80, then....
The lower price is $480 - $80 = $400
20% of $400 = (.2)($400) = $80
This is an exact match for what we were told, so this must be the answer.
Final Answer: C
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Scott@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 7247
- Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Thanked: 43 times
- Followed by:29 members
We can let the actual price = n and create the equation:AAPL wrote:Veritas Prep
Portia purchased a laptop for $480, but after checking the merchant's website realized that she had been overcharged by 20%. By how much, in dollars, was she overcharged?
A. $24
B. $48
C. $80
D. $96
E. $100
OA C.
1.2n = 480
n = 400
So she was overcharged by 80 dollars.
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