Official Guide Explanation:
Problem Solving #131

 

 

Background

This is just one of hundreds of free explanations I've created to the quantitative questions in The Official Guide for GMAT Review (12th ed.). Click the links on the question number, difficulty level, and categories to find explanations for other problems.

These are the same explanations that are featured in my "Guides to the Official Guide" PDF booklets. However, because of the limitations of HTML and cross-browser compatibility, some mathematical concepts, such as fractions and roots, do not display as clearly online.

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Solution and Metadata

Question: 131
Page: 170
Difficulty: 5 (Moderate)
Category 1: Arithmetic > Ratio and Proportion >
Category 2: Arithmetic > Percents > other
Category 3: Word Problems > Rate Problems > other

Explanation: 15% of the 500 workers is equivalent to 75 workers, so there are 75 women among the current staff. If 50 more workers are hired, the total number of workers will be 550. If the number of women is raised to 20%, that would be equivalent to 20%(550) = 110. The difference between the target number of women (110) and the current number (75) is 110 - 75 = 35, choice (E).

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