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# M15-28

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Author Message
Manager
Joined: 01 May 2012
Posts: 57
GPA: 1
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 6 [0], given: 0

M15-28 [#permalink]  07 Jun 2012, 21:54
It's from the GMAT club quiz "hard" 15-28
----------------------
Jack's income in October was 25% greater than his income in September. Jack's income in November was 20% less than his income in October. If Jack earned $200 more in October than in September, what was Jack's aggregate income in autumn?$1200
$1800$2000
$2400$2600
Mark as a guess Hide Answer

Let's denote S, O, and N as Jack's income in September, October, and November, respectively. We know that O=1.25S and N=0.8O. Hence, N=0.8∗1.25∗S=S. Now, O−S=1.25S−S=0.25S=200 from where S=800. N=S=800 and O=1.25S=1.25∗800=1000. The gross income =S+O+N=800+1000+800=2600.

---------------------

I have problem with the given answer. I answered 1800 in this question and was marked wrong - because I only counted September and October, not November. The question asks for AI in "autumn". But what is "autumn"? I my head, autumn means August, September, October. November, Dec, Jan belong to Winter.

What if this happens on the actual GMAT? Who is there to clarify the ambiguity?
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Manager
Status: Rising GMAT Star
Joined: 05 Jun 2012
Posts: 133
Location: Philippines
Concentration: General Management, Finance
GMAT 1: 660 Q V
GPA: 3.22
WE: Corporate Finance (Consulting)
Followers: 6

Kudos [?]: 24 [0], given: 16

Re: M15-28 [#permalink]  07 Jun 2012, 22:31
heintzst wrote:
It's from the GMAT club quiz "hard" 15-28
----------------------
Jack's income in October was 25% greater than his income in September. Jack's income in November was 20% less than his income in October. If Jack earned $200 more in October than in September, what was Jack's aggregate income in autumn?$1200
$1800$2000
$2400$2600
Mark as a guess Hide Answer

Let's denote S, O, and N as Jack's income in September, October, and November, respectively. We know that O=1.25S and N=0.8O. Hence, N=0.8∗1.25∗S=S. Now, O−S=1.25S−S=0.25S=200 from where S=800. N=S=800 and O=1.25S=1.25∗800=1000. The gross income =S+O+N=800+1000+800=2600.

---------------------

I have problem with the given answer. I answered 1800 in this question and was marked wrong - because I only counted September and October, not November. The question asks for AI in "autumn". But what is "autumn"? I my head, autumn means August, September, October. November, Dec, Jan belong to Winter.

What if this happens on the actual GMAT? Who is there to clarify the ambiguity?

I get where you are coming from. It's a matter of assumptions. I highly doubt this will happen in the GMAT. As a matter of fact, real GMAT questions are air-tight. If I had the political power to correct this statement I will just add this to the end of the question:

Jack's income in October was 25% greater than his income in September. Jack's income in November was 20% less than his income in October. If Jack earned \$200 more in October than in September, what was Jack's aggregate income in autumn? (Autumn constitutes October, November and December)

Actually when I answered this I got (E) and I readily assumed that autumn constitutes October, November and December. You know why? Because I am in the Philippines and we only have two seasons here: rainy and sunny. LOL

So don't worry about it too much. If for any consolation, congratulate yourself that you're reading the question carefully and very, very wary of the ways the GMAT could catch you off guard.

Just my 0.02
_________________

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
- T. Roosevelt

Re: M15-28   [#permalink] 07 Jun 2012, 22:31
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# M15-28

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