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# John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively.

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John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. [#permalink]  18 Jan 2011, 20:08
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Question Stats:

67% (02:44) correct 33% (02:09) wrong based on 264 sessions
John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. If John makes $56000 and Ingrid makes$72000, what is their combined tax rate?

A. 32%
B. 34.4%
C. 35%
D. 35.6%
E. 36.4%

It is one of my favorite problems from the Veritas Arithmetic book.. I like to use Weighted Averages here...
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  19 Jan 2011, 00:19
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(0.3*56000+0.4*72000)/(72000+56000)=0.35625
D
thank you
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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  19 Jan 2011, 02:14
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It would be good to specify whether they the salary they make is already taxed or not.

But anyway, is there any way to solve

(0.3*56000+0.4*72000)/(72000+56000)=0.35625

in hand?
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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  19 Jan 2011, 06:49
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Code:
Income            TAX
J - 56,000        16,800
I - 72,000        28,800
-----------------------
T- 128,000       45,600

Part              X
-----     =    ------
Whole           100

45,600             X
--------   =    -----
128,000          100

45,600 * 100
X =  --------------
128,000

4560
X =  ------  = 35.6
128

short cut

4560               4560        456
X =  ------  =(approx)  ------- =     ---- = 35.07
128                130         13

As denominator has been increased answer choice should be greater than 35.07

So the Ans is 35.6%

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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  19 Jan 2011, 08:44
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i go with
D
(0.3*56000+0.4*72000)/(72000+56000)=0.35625
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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  19 Jan 2011, 18:50
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John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. If John makes $56000 and Ingrid makes$72000, what is their combined tax rate?

a. 32%
b. 34.4%
c. 35%
d. 35.6%
e. 36.4%

Great solution everyone! Yes, the answer is (D) 35.6.

Now let me explain why I like this question. The big numbers - 56000 and 72000 have limited utility. I could have as well given 86380 and 111060 as their salaries; I would have still obtained the same answer!
We need to find the weighted average of their tax rate. The important thing is their individual tax rates and the ratio of their salaries 7:9 (56000:72000), not the actual salaries

Attachment:

Ques1.jpg [ 3.44 KiB | Viewed 4938 times ]

The length between 30% and 40% i.e. 10% is split in the ratio 9:7.
So the average will be at (9/16)*10 + 30 = 35.6%.

So you don't have to do any long calculations. If there is a doubt in this method, check out this link:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/tough-ds-105651.html#p828579

When we want to find the average of lets say age of 2 groups - one group has average age of 30 yrs and there are 10 people in it and the other group has average age of 40 yrs and there are 40 people in it, all we need is the relative weights (relative number of people) in the two groups i.e. 1:4. It doesn't matter whether there are 10 and 40 people or 100 and 400 people... It's exactly the same concept here.

Let me know if there is a doubt in this concept.

and when we say, "A makes $100,000," we mean gross by default. Taxes are a part of your salary just like your other expenses. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Veritas Prep GMAT course is coming to India. Enroll in our weeklong Immersion Course that starts March 29! Veritas Prep Reviews Manager Joined: 27 Jul 2010 Posts: 197 Location: Prague Schools: University of Economics Prague Followers: 1 Kudos [?]: 21 [0], given: 15 Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink] 20 Jan 2011, 01:46 Thank you Karishma, your method is very strong indeed. Little bit reoulsive on the first look, but great when mastered. VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. If John makes$56000 and Ingrid makes $72000, what is their combined tax rate? a. 32% b. 34.4% c. 35% d. 35.6% e. 36.4% Great solution everyone! Yes, the answer is (D) 35.6. Now let me explain why I like this question. The big numbers - 56000 and 72000 have limited utility. I could have as well given 86380 and 111060 as their salaries; I would have still obtained the same answer! We need to find the weighted average of their tax rate. The important thing is their individual tax rates and the ratio of their salaries 7:9 (56000:72000), not the actual salaries Attachment: Ques1.jpg The length between 30% and 40% i.e. 10% is split in the ratio 9:7. So the average will be at (9/16)*10 + 30 = 35.6%. So you don't have to do any long calculations. If there is a doubt in this method, check out this link: http://gmatclub.com/forum/tough-ds-105651.html#p828579 When we want to find the average of lets say age of 2 groups - one group has average age of 30 yrs and there are 10 people in it and the other group has average age of 40 yrs and there are 40 people in it, all we need is the relative weights (relative number of people) in the two groups i.e. 1:4. It doesn't matter whether there are 10 and 40 people or 100 and 400 people... It's exactly the same concept here. Let me know if there is a doubt in this concept. and when we say, "A makes$100,000," we mean gross by default. Taxes are a part of your salary just like your other expenses.

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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  22 Jun 2011, 11:12
Hi Karishma,

I really love the weighted averages shortcut method you use every time,but I get confused in using it.

In the problem above,please advise,why you have used 9:7 instead of 7:9?

Thanks!

regards,
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor
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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  23 Jun 2011, 03:17
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dkj1984 wrote:
Hi Karishma,

I really love the weighted averages shortcut method you use every time,but I get confused in using it.

In the problem above,please advise,why you have used 9:7 instead of 7:9?

Thanks!

regards,

When we use the formula of weighted averages, we say that one quantity is A1 and its weight is w1. Another is A2 and its weight is w2. We have to find the average Aavg.
The formula is w1/w2 = (A2 - Aavg)/(Aavg - A1)

Notice that you have w1 in numerator on LHS and A2 in numerator on RHS.
Check out these posts on how the formula is derived and how it is used:
http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/03 ... -averages/
http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/04 ... ge-brutes/
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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  23 Jun 2011, 10:35
Nice shortcut method!!...Great!
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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  24 Jun 2011, 20:52
Hi Karishma,

Thanks a ton!

terrific explanation in the links provided.

Regards,
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Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink]  11 Dec 2012, 01:24
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. If John makes $56000 and Ingrid makes$72000, what is their combined tax rate?

a. 32%
b. 34.4%
c. 35%
d. 35.6%
e. 36.4%

Great solution everyone! Yes, the answer is (D) 35.6.

Now let me explain why I like this question. The big numbers - 56000 and 72000 have limited utility. I could have as well given 86380 and 111060 as their salaries; I would have still obtained the same answer!
We need to find the weighted average of their tax rate. The important thing is their individual tax rates and the ratio of their salaries 7:9 (56000:72000), not the actual salaries

Attachment:
Ques1.jpg

The length between 30% and 40% i.e. 10% is split in the ratio 9:7.
So the average will be at (9/16)*10 + 30 = 35.6%.

So you don't have to do any long calculations. If there is a doubt in this method, check out this link:
http://gmatclub.com/forum/tough-ds-105651.html#p828579

When we want to find the average of lets say age of 2 groups - one group has average age of 30 yrs and there are 10 people in it and the other group has average age of 40 yrs and there are 40 people in it, all we need is the relative weights (relative number of people) in the two groups i.e. 1:4. It doesn't matter whether there are 10 and 40 people or 100 and 400 people... It's exactly the same concept here.

Let me know if there is a doubt in this concept.

and when we say, "A makes $100,000," we mean gross by default. Taxes are a part of your salary just like your other expenses. I am lost at (9/16)*10 + 30 = 35.6%. where YOU add 30. I want to learn how to use this method completely so I can have it in my back pocket ready to use. I feel that we already found the ratio and then flipped it so it would be the distance and could put it in the chart. We divided 9/16 to find the middle number that was missing and multiplied by 10 because that was the weight? Is the only reason because 10+30 = the original 40? Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 5433 Location: Pune, India Followers: 1325 Kudos [?]: 6721 [0], given: 176 Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink] 11 Dec 2012, 23:31 Expert's post dcastan2 wrote: I am lost at (9/16)*10 + 30 = 35.6%. where YOU add 30. I want to learn how to use this method completely so I can have it in my back pocket ready to use. I feel that we already found the ratio and then flipped it so it would be the distance and could put it in the chart. We divided 9/16 to find the middle number that was missing and multiplied by 10 because that was the weight? Is the only reason because 10+30 = the original 40? The distance between 30 and 40 i.e. 10 has to be split in the ratio 9:7. The average is 9 (of these 16 units) to the right of 30. So you find 9/16th of 10 which is 90/16 and add it to 30. Before you work on this question, check out the links mentioned in the post above. I have discussed simpler numbers in them. They will give you a feel for the method. Thereafter, you can solve any question using this method. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Veritas Prep GMAT course is coming to India. Enroll in our weeklong Immersion Course that starts March 29! Veritas Prep Reviews Senior Manager Joined: 13 Aug 2012 Posts: 464 Concentration: Marketing, Finance GMAT 1: Q V0 GPA: 3.23 Followers: 17 Kudos [?]: 256 [0], given: 11 Re: A Problem from Veritas Arithmetic Book [#permalink] 18 Dec 2012, 22:21 Using weighted averages... (1) When 30 and 40 has equal weight or weight = 1/2, the answer would be 35. (2) When 40 has larger weight than 30, the answer would be in between 35 and 40. Unfortunately, we have 2 answer choices D and E that fit that condition so we need to narrow down our range. (3) Get 72000/128000 = 72/128 = 9/16. 9/16 is a little above 8/16 = 1/2. Thus, our answer is just a little above 35. Answer: D For details on Weighted Averages: Weighted Averages _________________ Impossible is nothing to God. Moderator Affiliations: GMAT Club Joined: 21 Feb 2012 Posts: 1467 Location: India City: Pune GPA: 3.4 WE: Business Development (Manufacturing) Followers: 202 Kudos [?]: 1352 [3] , given: 1145 Re: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. [#permalink] 18 Aug 2013, 10:04 3 This post received KUDOS Expert's post 1 This post was BOOKMARKED Senior Manager Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 343 Followers: 3 Kudos [?]: 166 [0], given: 102 Re: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. [#permalink] 18 Aug 2013, 12:15 VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. If John makes$56000 and Ingrid makes $72000, what is their combined tax rate? A. 32% B. 34.4% C. 35% D. 35.6% E. 36.4% It is one of my favorite problems from the Veritas Arithmetic book.. I like to use Weighted Averages here... (0.3 * 56000 + 0.4 * 72000) / (72000 + 56000) = 0.356 = 35.6% = D (Answer) _________________ Asif vai..... SVP Joined: 06 Sep 2013 Posts: 2029 Concentration: Finance GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V39 Followers: 24 Kudos [?]: 292 [0], given: 354 Re: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. [#permalink] 29 Dec 2013, 06:53 VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. If John makes$56000 and Ingrid makes $72000, what is their combined tax rate? A. 32% B. 34.4% C. 35% D. 35.6% E. 36.4% It is one of my favorite problems from the Veritas Arithmetic book.. I like to use Weighted Averages here... Ratio is 56/72 = 8/9 Weighted average is therefore ((30)(8) + (40)(9))/17 = 600/17=35.6% Hence answer is D Hope it helps Cheers! J Manager Joined: 11 Sep 2013 Posts: 143 Concentration: Finance, Finance Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 21 [0], given: 122 Re: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. [#permalink] 08 May 2014, 01:21 ratio of their salaries 7:9 (56000:72000) 30 40 X 40-x x-30 (40-x):(x-30) = 7: 9 X= 35.6% Re: John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively. [#permalink] 08 May 2014, 01:21 Similar topics Replies Last post Similar Topics: Mary's annual income is$15000 and John's annual income is $18000. 0 26 Mar 2015, 03:49 1 John spent 40% of his earning last month on rent and 30% 3 14 Mar 2013, 03:04 5 Mary’s annual income is$15,000 and John’s annual income is 9 04 Mar 2013, 06:50
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# John and Ingrid pay 30% and 40% tax annually, respectively.

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