Appletons population is 400 greater than Berryvilles population. If

I would recommend you to start studying for the Verbal part as well.

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MAGOOSH OFFICIAL SOLUTION

Hi All,

This question can certainly be solved using a 2-variable "system" of equations. Since the prompt asks for B's CURRENT population, and the answers are numbers, we can TEST THE ANSWERS.

We're told that:
1) A's population is 400 greater than B's population.
2) If B's population were reduced by 900, then A's population would be 3(B's population).

We're asked for B's CURRENT population.

Let's TEST Answer B....
IF....
B's current population is 1650
A's current population is 2050

B - 900 = 1650 - 900 = 750
3(750) = 2250.....which is TOO BIG (in this scenario, it's supposed to be 2050).
This means that there should be FEWER people in both locations....

Knowing this, you can now pick the correct answer. Here's the proof though:

IF...
B's current population is 1550
A's current population is 1950

B - 900 = 1550 - 900 = 650
3(650) = 1950...which is a MATCH for what we were told.

Final Answer:

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Answer = A = 1550

...................... Appleton .............................. Berry

Current population (x+400) .............................. x

Reduction by 900 ............................................... (x-900)

Given that 3(x-900) = x+400

x = 1550

Given that A = 400 + B
Also, A = 3(B - 900)
Equating both the equations,
400 + B = 3(B - 900)
So, 400 + B = 3B - 2700
So, 3100 = 2B
So, B = 1550
Hence option A.

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Shouldn't "Berryville’s current population" be (B-900) as in the previous sentence it' said that the population was reduced by 900 people?
In this case the answer would be 650

MAGOOSH OFFICIAL SOLUTION
[/quote]

Shouldn't "Berryville’s current population" be (B-900) as in the previous sentence it' said that the population was reduced by 900 people?
In this case the answer would be 650[/quote]


The sentence reads "were reduced by 900". Hence this is a hypothetical situation.
Therefore the current population would be B and after the situation takes place, it would be B-900

Does this help?[/quote]

Thanks Janielle,
but is it "If were" put together that makes it hypothetical, or just "were"? If the sentence reads "If Berryville’s population was reduced" would it still be hypothetical?

Shouldn't "Berryville’s current population" be (B-900) as in the previous sentence it' said that the population was reduced by 900 people?
In this case the answer would be 650[/quote]


The sentence reads "were reduced by 900". Hence this is a hypothetical situation.
Therefore the current population would be B and after the situation takes place, it would be B-900

Does this help?[/quote]

Thanks Janielle,
but is it "If were" put together that makes it hypothetical, or just "were"? If the sentence reads "If Berryville’s population was reduced" would it still be hypothetical?[/quote]
Hi Mohafez,

Yes both "If" and "were" contribute towards the hypothetical situation.
Have you started preparing for SC questions?

[/quote]
Hi Mohafez,

Yes both "If" and "were" contribute towards the hypothetical situation.
Have you started preparing for SC questions?[/quote]

No, not yet

[/quote]
I think you should start preparing for the Verbal section too. You should try to keep you Verbal and Quants sections balanced else you face the risk of lagging behind in one.
How long have you been studying?

I think you should start preparing for the Verbal section too. You should try to keep you Verbal and Quants sections balanced else you face the risk of lagging behind in one.
How long have you been studying?[/quote]

Been studying for 3 weeks now but only for the quantitative section.

I solved it like this ,
A=400+B -> (i)
3(B-900) = A
Or 3B - 2700 = A --> (ii)
Now plug in the values of A in equation (ii) ,
Or 3B - B = 2700 + 400
Or 2B = 3100
Or B =1550
I took 120 seconds , I'm sure there would be better ways than this .

Bunuel , do these questions come in the category of Word Problems ? I'm sorry if it sounds stupid , I've started participating in your maths forum. Started with Quantitative at first.

Solution:

We can let A = Appleton's population and B = Berryville's population and create the equations:

A = B + 400

and

A = 3(B - 900)

Substituting B + 400 for A in the second equation, we have:

B + 400 = 3(B - 900)

B + 400 = 3B - 2700

3100 = 2B

1550 = B

Answer: A

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