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­I think A,
Given - Brandon's compensation is structured so that each month he earns a $5000 base salary plus 10% of his total sales above $10000 for the month.
If we assume brandons sales figure as x for any month the equation we will able to form for total compensation is like below.
Total compensation = $5000 + 0.1 (x-$10000) -- (eq1)
lets find Brandon's total sales for the month of August using given conditions.

1st -  Had Brandon sold $10000 more than he did in August, his total compensation for the month would have been equal to 15% of his sales.
Therefore equation will be form like, 
brandon new sales figure will be = x + $10000
$5000 + 0.1 (x + $10000 - $10000) = 0.15 ( x + $10000) 
5000 + 0.1x = 0.15x + 1500
3500 = 0.05x
x = 350000/5 = $70000.. Hence Sufficient.

2nd - Had Brandon sold $40000 less than he did in August, his total compensation for the month would have been equal to 10% of his sales.
Therefore equation will be form like, 
brandon new sales figure will be = x - $40000
$5000 + 0.1 (x - $40000 - $10000) = 0.1 (x - $40000)
if you see 0.1x will get cancelled on each side so there will be no solution.. Hence Not sufficient.
Answer A.
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­The compensation is 5000+0.1(S-10000) --> 4000+0.1S

Statement 1:

4000+0.1(A+10000)=0.15(A+10000) --> Sufficient

Statement 2:

4000+0.1(A-40000)=0.1(A-40000). Here both sides have 0.1A and will gets cancelled. No solution is possible --> Not Sufficient

Answer is A – (1) ALONE is sufficient, but (2) alone is not sufficient
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­Let's assume, Brandon's sells for the month of August is x.
According to the statement 1, it is clear that x is the amount which is addition to 10000. So, the equation would be, 
5000+.10x = .15(x+10000)

From the equation, we find out the value of x. So, A is sufficient. At the same time, options, BCE are out. Now, we just need to deal with option D.

Let's assume, Once more, Brandon's sells for the month of August is x.
Now, according to the statement 2, it remains unclear whether x-40000 is less than 10000, more than 10000 or equal to 10000. Since, based on these informations, our equation will be different. So, statement 2 is not sufficient alone and D is out. 

Answer for the question would be A.
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I think this is a good question. Hence, the difficulty level must be increased as it clearly has a very very good trap that many might fall for.
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kop18
I think this is a good question. Hence, the difficulty level must be increased as it clearly has a very very good trap that many might fall for.
­The difficulty level of a question on the site, after sufficient attempts, is determined automatically based on various parameters collected from users' attempts via timer, such as the percentage of correct answers and the time taken to answer the question. So, this is a 555-605 level question based on our statistics.
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As a salesperson, Brandon's compensation is structured so that each month he earns a $5000 base salary plus 10% of his total sales above $10000 for the month. What were Brandon's total sales for the month of August?

(1) Had Brandon sold $10000 more than he did in August, his total compensation for the month would have been equal to 15% of his sales.

(2) Had Brandon sold $40000 less than he did in August, his total compensation for the month would have been equal to 10% of his sales.

Little brainstorming on this question.

Since we know that we would be getting an equation with one degree(one variable), we can be sure that a solution is possible. The two statements looks similar logically wherein in one there is an addition in the sales and in the other there's subtraction. But there is another parameter to look at.

In statement 1 we have Sales as variable with compensation being a part of it. So, if sales is determined compensation is know. Here the part of sales is 10% as given in the question stem and in the choice it is 15%. Hence the compensation with 5% * C is solvable. 

SUFFICIENT.

In Statement 2 we have part of sales being 10% as given in the question stem and in the choice it is 10%. Hence the compensation with 0%(10-10=0) * C, an equaiton which is not solvable.

INSUFFICIENT.

Answer A.
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­Total sales made by Brandon = x
Salary for Brandon in August = 5000+0.1(x-10000) [10% of Anything above 10000]

Statement 1
-> If sales increased by 10000 -
Total Sales = x+10000

5000+0.1(x+10000-10000)=0.15(x+10000) -> Equation 1;

Sufficient to find out x.

Statement 2

-> If sales decreased by 40000 -
Total Sales = x-40000

5000+0.1(x-40000-10000)=0.1(x-40000) -> Equation 2;

0.1x gets cancelled on both sides.

Not Sufficient to find out x.

So only Statement 1 is sufficient.
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