Official Guide Explanation:
Problem Solving #187

 

 

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: 187
Page: 179
Difficulty: 6 (Moderately Difficult)
Category 1: Arithmetic > Percents > other
Category 2: Arithmetic > Fractions >
Category 3: Algebra > Linear Equations-One Unk >

Explanation: It's easiest to convert each fraction to a percent without adding them. (1/50) of something is 2% of it. If that isn't intuitive, remember that a percent is, by definition, (1/100), so since (1/50) is twice (1/100), it must be 2%. (1/25) is double (1/50), so (1/25) of something is 4% of it. Thus, the answer is 2% + 4% = 6%, choice (A).

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