A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% : GMAT Problem Solving (PS)
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# A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X%

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A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink]

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28 Oct 2012, 20:45
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A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% and then decreases it by X%. As a result the price of the article is reduced by $180. After one more such change the price is further reduced by$153 Find the original price of the article.

A. $1200 B.$1100
C. $1400 D.$1000
E. $1500 [Reveal] Spoiler: OA Math Expert Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 36590 Followers: 7092 Kudos [?]: 93362 [4] , given: 10557 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 29 Oct 2012, 01:15 4 This post received KUDOS Expert's post 2 This post was BOOKMARKED chris93 wrote: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% and then decreases it by X%. As a result the price of the article is reduced by$180. After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153 Find the original price of the article. A.$1200
B. $1100 C.$1400
D. $1000 E.$1500

Let the net decrease in price after x% increase and x% decrease be a%. Also, let the initial price be $p. Given: After a% decrease the price of the article is reduced by$180 --> $$pa=180$$;
After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153. After the first decrease the pice became $$(p-180)$$, thus $$(p-180)a=153$$ --> $$pa-180a=153$$. Since $$pa=180$$, then $$180-180a=153$$ --> $$a=15%$$ --> $$p*0.15=180$$ --> $$p=1,200$$. Answer: A. Hope it's clear. _________________ Intern Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 15 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 1 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 16 Nov 2012, 11:48 Bunuel wrote: chris93 wrote: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% and then decreases it by X%. As a result the price of the article is reduced by$180. After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153 Find the original price of the article. A.$1200
B. $1100 C.$1400
D. $1000 E.$1500

Let the net decrease in price after x% increase and x% decrease be a%. Also, let the initial price be $p. Given: After a% decrease the price of the article is reduced by$180 --> $$pa=180$$;
After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153. After the first decrease the pice became $$(p-180)$$, thus $$(p-180)a=153$$ --> $$pa-180a=153$$. Since $$pa=180$$, then $$180-180a=153$$ --> $$a=15%$$ --> $$p*0.15=180$$ --> $$p=1,200$$. Answer: A. Hope it's clear. Could you explain how you got from 180 - 180a = 153 to 15% please, thank you Intern Joined: 01 Jun 2012 Posts: 21 Location: United States Concentration: Nonprofit GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V43 GPA: 3.83 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 15 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 16 Nov 2012, 17:23 Bunuel wrote: chris93 wrote: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% and then decreases it by X%. As a result the price of the article is reduced by$180. After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153 Find the original price of the article. A.$1200
B. $1100 C.$1400
D. $1000 E.$1500

Let the net decrease in price after x% increase and x% decrease be a%. Also, let the initial price be $p. Given: After a% decrease the price of the article is reduced by$180 --> $$pa=180$$;
After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153. After the first decrease the pice became $$(p-180)$$, thus $$(p-180)a=153$$ --> $$pa-180a=153$$. Since $$pa=180$$, then $$180-180a=153$$ --> $$a=15%$$ --> $$p*0.15=180$$ --> $$p=1,200$$. Answer: A. Hope it's clear. Hi Bunuel, If you increase an amount by x% and then decrease the amount by x%, is the net decrease always equal to a constant a%? You seem to assume that in your reasoning. Thanks! Eric Math Expert Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 36590 Followers: 7092 Kudos [?]: 93362 [0], given: 10557 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 17 Nov 2012, 05:12 egiles wrote: Bunuel wrote: chris93 wrote: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% and then decreases it by X%. As a result the price of the article is reduced by$180. After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153 Find the original price of the article. A.$1200
B. $1100 C.$1400
D. $1000 E.$1500

Let the net decrease in price after x% increase and x% decrease be a%. Also, let the initial price be $p. Given: After a% decrease the price of the article is reduced by$180 --> $$pa=180$$;
After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153. After the first decrease the pice became $$(p-180)$$, thus $$(p-180)a=153$$ --> $$pa-180a=153$$. Since $$pa=180$$, then $$180-180a=153$$ --> $$a=15%$$ --> $$p*0.15=180$$ --> $$p=1,200$$. Answer: A. Hope it's clear. Hi Bunuel, If you increase an amount by x% and then decrease the amount by x%, is the net decrease always equal to a constant a%? You seem to assume that in your reasoning. Thanks! Eric Yes, it does not depend on the amount. I mean that whether initial amount is$10 or $20, if you increase both by x% and then decrease both by x%, you'll get the net decrease of the same percentage: For example if you increase both 10 and 100 by 10% and then decrease both by 10%, you'll get the net decrease of 1% for both amounts. Hope it's clear. _________________ Manager Joined: 25 Jun 2012 Posts: 71 Location: India WE: General Management (Energy and Utilities) Followers: 4 Kudos [?]: 107 [0], given: 15 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 17 Nov 2012, 08:34 Hi, Is there any other method to solve this problem....if someone dont get the logic in the solution provided by Bunuel? Intern Joined: 17 May 2012 Posts: 5 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 2 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 19 Nov 2012, 02:35 Hi Bunuel, I have a doubt,U have equated the changed price value to 180 rather than equating the change in price. pa is the final value after reduction in price,so to represent the change it should be p-pa=180.isnt it? Please Correct me if i m wrong Math Expert Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 36590 Followers: 7092 Kudos [?]: 93362 [0], given: 10557 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 19 Nov 2012, 02:52 kona wrote: Hi Bunuel, I have a doubt,U have equated the changed price value to 180 rather than equating the change in price. pa is the final value after reduction in price,so to represent the change it should be p-pa=180.isnt it? Please Correct me if i m wrong We are told that after a% decrease the price of the article is reduced by$180, which means that a% of p is $180 --> pa=180. _________________ Intern Joined: 08 Nov 2012 Posts: 3 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 10 Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink] ### Show Tags 22 Nov 2012, 03:04 hi, i was confused by the question: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% and then decreases it by X%. As a result the price of the article is reduced by$180. After one more such change the price is further reduced by $153 Find the original price of the article. I think the question run in the following logic: 1. Price increase by x% 2. Price decrease by x % 3. After step 1 and step 2, price is reduced by$180 from the original price
4. Price increase by x%
5. Price decrease by x%
6. After step 4 and 5, price is reduced by \$153 further.

Is it incorrect??
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Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink]

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11 Oct 2014, 16:18
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Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X% [#permalink]

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13 Dec 2015, 08:15
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

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Re: A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X%   [#permalink] 13 Dec 2015, 08:15
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# A shopkeeper increases the price of an article by X%

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