kadamhari825
Hello experts
Bunuel,
chetan2u,
jeffrey Miller
I have a query.
Normally we add the value when we are said " increased by something" so in this example why we did not increase the fine as 0.1+0.30=0.4 for successive days.
thanks in adavnce.
Hi kadamhari825,
The prompt tells us that one of two possible actions occurs each day:
"for each additional day....., the total fine is EITHER increased by 30 cents OR doubled, whichever results in the LESSER AMOUNT." This means that on certain days, we will ADD to the total and on other days, we will MULTIPLY the total by 2.... whichever results in the smaller total.
Since we're asked to calculate a book that is 4 days overdue, we just have to consider each possible outcome on each day, then choose the one that leads to the "lesser amount"
Day 1: 10 cents
Day 2: 10 + 30 = 40 cents; 10(2) = 20 cents
20 cents is LOWER, so the fine is NOW 20 cents
Day 3: 20 + 30 = 50 cents; 20(2) = 40 cents
40 cents is LOWER, so the fine is NOW 40 cents
Day 4: 40 + 30 = 70 cents; 40(2) = 80 cents
70 cents is LOWER, so the final fine is 70 cents.
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich