A bookstore that sells used books sells each of its paperback books for a certain price and each of its hardcover books

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Gmat_mission: Legendary Member; Posts: 1622; Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:22 am; Followed by:2 members

A bookstore that sells used books sells each of its paperback books for a certain price and each of its hardcover books

by Gmat_mission » Thu Sep 10, 2020 12:35 am

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A bookstore that sells used books sells each of its paperback books for a certain price and each of its hardcover books for a certain price. If Joe, Maria, and Paul bought books in this store, how much did Maria pay for 1 paperback book and 1 hardcover book?

(1) Joe bought 2 paperback books and 3 hardcover books for $12.50.
(2) Paul bought 4 paperback books and 6 hardcover books for $25.00.

Answer: E

Source: GMAT Prep

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency | Thu Sep 10, 2020 12:35 am

deloitte247: Legendary Member; Posts: 2214; Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2018 2:22 pm; Followed by:5 members

Re: A bookstore that sells used books sells each of its paperback books for a certain price and each of its hardcover bo

by deloitte247 » Fri Sep 11, 2020 10:54 am

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Target question => if Joe, Maria and Paul bought books in this store, how much did Maria pay for 1 paperback book and 1 hardcover book
Let the price of 1 paperback = p
Let the price of 1 hardcover = h
Find p+h

Statement 1 => Joe bought 2 paperback books and 3 hardcover books for $12.50
2p + 3h = 12.50
The exact value of p+h is unknown so the target question cannot be evaluated. Statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2 => Paul bought 4 paperback books and 6 hardcover books for $25.00
i.e 4p + 6h = 100
The exact value of p and h is unknown so the target question cannot be evaluated. Statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Combining both statements together =>
From statement 1 => 2p + 3h = 12.50
From statement 2 => 4p + 6h = 25.00
Divide statement 2 by 2
4p/2 + 6h/2 = 25.00/2
=> 2p + 3h = 12.50
This is the same as that of statement 1, no new expression was formed, hence, the value of p+h cannot be evaluated.

Both statements combined together are NOT SUFFICIENT
Answer = E