The GMAT would use friendlier numbers:
A store purchases paperback copies and hardback copies for $8 and $9.50, respectively. Each paperback copy and hardback copy is then sold for $10 and $13, respectively. If a total of 840 books were sold, was the total profit greater than $2,100?
(1) More paperback copies than hardback copies were sold.
(2) At least 100 hardback copies were sold.
This is a MIXTURE problem.
Average profit per paperback = selling price - cost = 10 - 8 = 2.
Average profit per hardback = selling price - cost = 13 - 9.5 = 3.5.
To yield a profit of $2100, average profit required for the MIXTURE of paperbacks and hardbacks = revenues/books = 2100/840 = 2.5.
To determine the required ratio of paperbacks to hardbacks, use ALLIGATION -- a great way to handle mixture problems.
Step 1: Plot the 3 averages on a number line, with the averages for the paperbacks and hardbacks on the ends and the average for the mixture in the middle.
P 2------------------2.5---------------3.5 H
Step 2: Calculate the distances between the averages.
P 2--------
0.5-------2.5--------
1------3.5 H
Step 3: Determine the ratio in the mixture.
The required ratio of paperbacks to hardbacks is equal to the RECIPROCAL of the distances in red.
P/H = 1/0.5 = 2/1.
Implication:
To yield a profit of $2100, for every 2 paperbacks that are sold, 1 hardback must be sold.
Since 1 of every 3 books must be a hardback, the required number of hardbacks is equal to 1/3 of the 840 books sold:
(1/3)(840) = 280.
If MORE than 280 hardbacks are sold, then the total profit will be even GREATER THAN $2100, since hardbacks yield more profit than paperbacks.
Question stem, rephrased:
Were at least 280 hardbacks sold?
Even when the statements are combined, the following cases are possible:
Case 1: hardbacks = 300, paperbacks = 540.
Case 2: hardbacks = 200, paperbacks = 640.
Since more than 280 hardbacks are sold in Case 1, but fewer than 280 hardbacks are sold in Case 2, the two statements combined are NSUFFICIENT.
The correct answer is
E.
For more practice with alligation, check here:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/ratios-fract ... 15365.html
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