Solution
Given:• The marks obtained by B is 33.33% less than A
• The marks obtained by B 50% less than C
• The marks obtained by D is at least 2.5 times of the marks of B
To find:• The maximum percentage by which the combined score of A and C is more than the score of D
Approach and Working:Let us assume the marks obtained by A, B, C, and D are a, b, c, and d respectively
• As B got 33.3% less than A, we can write \(b = a – 33.3% of a = a – \frac{a}{3} = \frac{2a}{3}\)
• As B got 50% less than C, we can write \(b = c – 50% of c = c – \frac{c}{2} = \frac{c}{2}\)
• Hence, \(b = \frac{2a}{3} = \frac{c}{2}\)
o Or, \(a = \frac{3b}{2}\) and \(c = 2b\)
• Also, D got at least 2.5 times of B, therefore, we can write \(d = 2.5b = \frac{5b}{2}\)
Now, to maximise the percentage score of A and C over D, we need to minimise the score of D
The minimum score of D = 2.5b = \(\frac{5b}{2}\)
• Therefore, the maximum percentage by which the combined score of A and C is more than the score of D = \(\frac{a + c – d}{d} * 100\) = \((\frac{3b}{2} + 2b – \frac{5b}{2})/ \frac{5b}{2} * 100\) = 40%
Hence, the correct answer is option C.
Answer: C