achloes wrote:
avigutman EMPOWERgmatRichCI found this bit quite vague: "...by adding a 4 percent sales tax to the dealer's price per gallon "d".. "
How does one deduce that the 4 percent sales tax is 4 percent of the dealer's price per gallon?
From my understanding, sales tax is applied on the final price of the item, so I set the equation up as such:
p = 0.04(p) + d + $0.18
Is there a rule regarding sales tax that I'm unaware of?
Thanks in advance!
Hi achloes,
When a GMAT question asks us to 'translate' an equation from written words, the given words are often really specific (to avoid any confusion or ambiguity), so you should work through your translation in small steps. For example, in this prompt, we're told:
"In a certain state, gasoline stations compute the price per gallon "p", in dollars, charged at the pump...."
P = Gas Price per gallon charged at the pump
"... by adding a 4 percent sales tax to the DEALER'S PRICE per gallon "d", in dollars,...."
Here, we're given a 2nd variable ("D"), and this next calculation refers specifically to the Dealer's Price:
P = D + (.04)(D)
"...and then adding a gasoline tax of $0.18 per gallon."
Now we add an additional $0.18 to the total:
P = D + (.04)D + .18
IF you want to continue working through all of this Algebraically, then you're just a few steps away from solving for D.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com