Last visit was: 27 Mar 2025, 22:31 It is currently 27 Mar 2025, 22:31
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Reviews
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
655-705 Level|   Word Problems|                        
User avatar
AbdurRakib
User avatar
Joined: 11 May 2014
Last visit: 14 May 2024
Posts: 470
Own Kudos:
41,117
 [170]
Given Kudos: 220
Status:I don't stop when I'm Tired,I stop when I'm done
Location: Bangladesh
Concentration: Finance, Leadership
Schools: Wharton '20 Yale '20 Tepper '20
GPA: 2.81
WE:Business Development (Real Estate)
Schools: Wharton '20 Yale '20 Tepper '20
Posts: 470
Kudos: 41,117
 [170]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 22 Jun 2017, 15:43
15
Kudos
Add Kudos
155
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

67% (02:14) correct 33% (02:16) wrong based on 4575 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new book is $28. The library receives $15,000 from the city each year,the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.Did the library receive the bonus last year ?

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

(2) The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459 .
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 20,415
Own Kudos:
25,457
 [37]
Given Kudos: 292
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 20,415
Kudos: 25,457
 [37]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 17 Nov 2017, 12:41
23
Kudos
Add Kudos
14
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AbdurRakib
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new book is $28. The library receives $15,000 from the city each year,the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.Did the library receive the bonus last year ?

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

(2) The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459 .

We need to determine whether the library received a bonus of $2,000 last year. Keep in mind that the library will only receive the bonus if the total number of items checked out out last year exceeded 5,000.

Statement One Alone:

The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

Since the library purchased 50 new books each month, it purchased 50 x 12 = 600 books last year. Since each new book cost $28, the total cost of the 600 books last year was 28 x 600 = $16,800. Since we are given that the library received enough money from the city to cover this cost, it must have received the $2,000 bonus in addition to the $15,000 from the city. Statement one alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459.

Since the lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459, the minimum number of items checked out last year was 459 x 12 = 5,508. Since 5,508 is more than 5,000, the library did receive the $2,000 bonus from the city. Statement two alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: D
avatar
Valhalla
avatar
Joined: 26 Apr 2017
Last visit: 29 Nov 2022
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
144
 [10]
Given Kudos: 71
Posts: 39
Kudos: 144
 [10]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new Updated on: 23 Jun 2017, 19:34
Originally posted by Valhalla on 22 Jun 2017, 19:13.
Last edited by Valhalla on 23 Jun 2017, 19:34, edited 1 time in total.
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Statement 1
Total cost of books purchased = 50 × 28 =16800
Total received = 15000
Because 15000 - 16800 = -1800
Statement state that library received enough $ to cover
Therefore, it must have received $2000. = Sufficient
Eliminate: B,C,E

Statement 2:
459 × 12 = 5508 > 5000 = Sufficient

Answer: D
General Discussion
avatar
shoumkrish
avatar
Joined: 20 Aug 2015
Last visit: 18 Aug 2023
Posts: 68
Own Kudos:
54
 [2]
Given Kudos: 158
Location: India
Schools: ISB '21 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
GPA: 3
Schools: ISB '21 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
Posts: 68
Kudos: 54
 [2]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 22 Jun 2017, 20:55
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Stmt 1.
Number of books purchased = 50*12 = 600
Total cost = 600*28 = 16800
Money received from the city = $15000
Since the library received enough money from the city to cover this cost, they must have received the bonus to cover the extra cost (16800 - 15000 = 1800)
Stmt 2.
The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459. Considering this is the number of items checked out every month, number of items = 459 * 12 = 5508 which is more than the target 5000. So receives bonus.

Either of them is sufficient.
Ans D.
User avatar
broall
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Oct 2016
Last visit: 07 Apr 2021
Posts: 1,138
Own Kudos:
6,781
 [2]
Given Kudos: 65
Status:Long way to go!
Location: Viet Nam
Posts: 1,138
Kudos: 6,781
 [2]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 26 Jun 2017, 03:53
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new book is $28. The library receives $15,000 from the city each year; the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000. Did the library receive the bonus last year?

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.
(2) The lowest number of items checked out in one moth was 459.

(1) The total number of new books that the library purchased last year: 50 * 12 = 600 items < 5,000
=> The library didn't receive the bonus. Sufficient

(2) The total number of items checked out last year is equal to or greater than: 459 * 12 = 5,508 > 5,000
=> The library did receive the bonus. Sufficient.

The answer is D.
avatar
sterlingarcher123
avatar
Joined: 29 Jan 2019
Last visit: 28 Jul 2019
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 22 May 2019, 06:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ScottTargetTestPrep
AbdurRakib
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new book is $28. The library receives $15,000 from the city each year,the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.Did the library receive the bonus last year ?

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

(2) The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459 .

We need to determine whether the library received a bonus of $2,000 last year. Keep in mind that the library will only receive the bonus if the total number of items checked out out last year exceeded 5,000.

Statement One Alone:

The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

Since the library purchased 50 new books each month, it purchased 50 x 12 = 600 books last year. Since each new book cost $28, the total cost of the 600 books last year was 28 x 600 = $16,800. Since we are given that the library received enough money from the city to cover this cost, it must have received the $2,000 bonus in addition to the $15,000 from the city. Statement one alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459.

Since the lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459, the minimum number of items checked out last year was 459 x 12 = 5,508. Since 5,508 is more than 5,000, the library did receive the $2,000 bonus from the city. Statement two alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: D

The question stem says the "average price" of a book purchased is $28. So for Statement 1, how can we assume that the price of the books purchases was $28? What if the library purchased just 15 books at $1,000 each? Surely then the library wouldn't have been able to meet the target for the bonus. Even if it did purchase more than 50 books, how do we know that the library was able to meet its target of checking out 50 books?
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 20,415
Own Kudos:
25,457
 [1]
Given Kudos: 292
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 20,415
Kudos: 25,457
 [1]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 27 May 2019, 05:19
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sterlingarcher123
ScottTargetTestPrep
AbdurRakib
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new book is $28. The library receives $15,000 from the city each year,the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.Did the library receive the bonus last year ?

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

(2) The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459 .

We need to determine whether the library received a bonus of $2,000 last year. Keep in mind that the library will only receive the bonus if the total number of items checked out out last year exceeded 5,000.

Statement One Alone:

The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

Since the library purchased 50 new books each month, it purchased 50 x 12 = 600 books last year. Since each new book cost $28, the total cost of the 600 books last year was 28 x 600 = $16,800. Since we are given that the library received enough money from the city to cover this cost, it must have received the $2,000 bonus in addition to the $15,000 from the city. Statement one alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459.

Since the lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459, the minimum number of items checked out last year was 459 x 12 = 5,508. Since 5,508 is more than 5,000, the library did receive the $2,000 bonus from the city. Statement two alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: D

The question stem says the "average price" of a book purchased is $28. So for Statement 1, how can we assume that the price of the books purchases was $28? What if the library purchased just 15 books at $1,000 each? Surely then the library wouldn't have been able to meet the target for the bonus. Even if it did purchase more than 50 books, how do we know that the library was able to meet its target of checking out 50 books?

On the first question: We can assume each book is the average price since the total cost of the books purchased (regardless of the actual price of each book) is always equal to the average price times the number of books purchased. For example, statement 1 just said an average of 50 books were purchased each month, but the total number of books purchased for the year must be 50 x 12 = 600 even though we don’t know the actual number of books purchased in any particular month. Therefore, even though we don’t know the actual price of each book, we make the same argument: that the library must have spent a total of 600 x 28 = $16,800 on the books.

On the second question: We don’t know how many books are actually checked out. But the number of books (5000) required to be checked out to receive the bonus is like a red herring in the problem. Because in statement 1, it says “[the library] received enough money from the city to cover this cost.” Well, the total cost of the books is $16,800, and the routine receipt of $15,000 from the city would not be able to cover the total $16,800 spent unless the library also receive the $2000 bonus.
avatar
Hanzel101
avatar
Joined: 15 Jul 2016
Last visit: 23 Feb 2020
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
88
Given Kudos: 191
Location: India
Schools: Oxford "21 (A) Cambridge "21 (A$)
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V36
Schools: Oxford "21 (A) Cambridge "21 (A$)
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V36
Posts: 72
Kudos: 88
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 29 Jul 2019, 04:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What put me off in this question was St 1. St 2 can be solved using worst case scenario method.

The question explicitly says that the bonus is given if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.

1) In St1, we do not know whether the library received the bonus. What if the fund of 15,000 dollars was increased this year to cover the cost?

2) Also, since in question statement, the condition of providing bonus is explicitly mentioned, how can we just assume that the bonus was provided in St 1 without even knowing the number of items checked out?

chetan2u VeritasKarishma Bunuel ScottTargetTestPrep egmat

Please help!
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 15,835
Own Kudos:
72,328
 [1]
Given Kudos: 461
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,835
Kudos: 72,328
 [1]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 30 Jul 2019, 02:34
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
578vishnu
What put me off in this question was St 1. St 2 can be solved using worst case scenario method.

The question explicitly says that the bonus is given if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.

1) In St1, we do not know whether the library received the bonus. What if the fund of 15,000 dollars was increased this year to cover the cost?

2) Also, since in question statement, the condition of providing bonus is explicitly mentioned, how can we just assume that the bonus was provided in St 1 without even knowing the number of items checked out?

chetan2u VeritasKarishma Bunuel ScottTargetTestPrep egmat

Please help!

As per stmnt 1, the total money spent on buying the books during the year = 50*12 *28 = 16,800
We are given that the library received enough money from the city to cover this cost. So it received at least $16,800 from the city. But the city gives only $15,000 per year (given in the question). A bonus is given only if more than 5000 books are checked out. Since the city gave $16,800, the city must have given the bonus 2000. So more than 5000 books must have been checked out.
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 20,415
Own Kudos:
25,457
Given Kudos: 292
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 20,415
Kudos: 25,457
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 05 Aug 2019, 19:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
578vishnu
What put me off in this question was St 1. St 2 can be solved using worst case scenario method.

The question explicitly says that the bonus is given if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.

1) In St1, we do not know whether the library received the bonus. What if the fund of 15,000 dollars was increased this year to cover the cost?

2) Also, since in question statement, the condition of providing bonus is explicitly mentioned, how can we just assume that the bonus was provided in St 1 without even knowing the number of items checked out?

chetan2u VeritasKarishma Bunuel ScottTargetTestPrep egmat

Please help!

1) For statement 1, we need to figure out how many books were purchased and how much they cost. Since 50 x 12 = 600 books were purchased and each book cost $28, the total cost was $16,800. There is no way the library can spend this much money unless they received the bonus. The fund of 15,000 is the same each year. It won’t increase; any extra money is from the bonus.

2) Because statement 1 states that “[the library] received enough money from the city to cover this cost,” which implies they did receive the bonus. Again, they spent $16,800 on books, but the regular amount they received is $15,000. So they must also received $2000 bonus in order to have $17,000 and spend $16,800 on books.
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 15,835
Own Kudos:
72,328
 [3]
Given Kudos: 461
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,835
Kudos: 72,328
 [3]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 23 Aug 2019, 03:44
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AbdurRakib
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new book is $28. The library receives $15,000 from the city each year,the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.Did the library receive the bonus last year ?

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

(2) The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459 .

Responding to a pm:

Quote:
i am not able to understand this question, it is mentioned in the question stem that the library receives bonus only if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.
From statement 1 we know that the number of new books purchased were 600, which is less than 5000, i stopped solving further after i knew that number of new books purchased was 600.
is the number of new books purchased different from the total number of items purchases, should i not consider items equivalent to books.
Please help me understand this.

We are talking about a library. People check out books from it and then return them after a few days. The library's stock doesn't dwindle. Then the library may buy some new books which increases its stock. But it only rents out books.
The library gets a bonus if the total number of items checked out (and eventually returned) over the course of the year exceeds 5,000. The purchase of new books has nothing to do with this number. It just tells us the money the library spent in increasing its stock.
User avatar
Emma2511
User avatar
Joined: 17 Jul 2018
Last visit: 13 Nov 2024
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
4
 [1]
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 6
Kudos: 4
 [1]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 31 Jan 2020, 00:57
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What confuses me in this question is that statement 2 says - lowest no of items checked out in one month was 459

The statement does not mention that the lowest no of items necked out each month is 459 , so why are we multiplying it with 12 ?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 15,835
Own Kudos:
72,328
 [4]
Given Kudos: 461
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,835
Kudos: 72,328
 [4]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 31 Jan 2020, 20:48
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Emma2511
What confuses me in this question is that statement 2 says - lowest no of items checked out in one month was 459

The statement does not mention that the lowest no of items necked out each month is 459 , so why are we multiplying it with 12 ?

Posted from my mobile device


What is meant by "the lowest number of items checked out in one month is 459"?

It means the lowest value of "no of items checked out in a month" is 459
Say No. of items checked out in Jan = 500
No of items checked out in Feb = 567
No of items checked out in March = 459
No of items checked out in April = 489
and so on...

The minimum value of no of items checked out in a month is 459. In all other months, the number of items checked out were either equal to 459 or more than 459.

So the minimum number of items checked out in the whole year = 459 * 12 = 5508

The question tells us: the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000

Since more than 5000 items were checked out in the year, the library would have got the bonus.
User avatar
avigutman
User avatar
Joined: 17 Jul 2019
Last visit: 03 Oct 2024
Posts: 1,296
Own Kudos:
1,861
 [1]
Given Kudos: 66
Location: Canada
Schools: NYU Stern (WA)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V45
GMAT 2: 780 Q50 V47
GMAT 3: 770 Q50 V45
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: NYU Stern (WA)
GMAT 3: 770 Q50 V45
Posts: 1,296
Kudos: 1,861
 [1]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 11 Mar 2021, 05:32
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Video solution from Quant Reasoning:
Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/QuantReasoning? ... irmation=1
User avatar
GMATinsight
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 08 Jul 2010
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 6,215
Own Kudos:
15,073
Given Kudos: 126
Status:GMAT/GRE Tutor l Admission Consultant l On-Demand Course creator
Location: India
GMAT: QUANT+DI EXPERT
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
WE:Education (Education)
Products:
My Reviews
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
Posts: 6,215
Kudos: 15,073
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 27 May 2021, 08:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AbdurRakib
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new book is $28. The library receives $15,000 from the city each year,the library also receives a bonus of $2,000 if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.Did the library receive the bonus last year ?

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

(2) The lowest number of items checked out in one month was 459 .
Answer: Option D

Video solution by GMATinsight

User avatar
VIGHNESHKAMATH
User avatar
Joined: 28 Sep 2021
Last visit: 21 Nov 2022
Posts: 152
Own Kudos:
51
Given Kudos: 259
Posts: 152
Kudos: 51
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 30 Nov 2021, 22:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasKarishma
578vishnu
What put me off in this question was St 1. St 2 can be solved using worst case scenario method.

The question explicitly says that the bonus is given if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.

1) In St1, we do not know whether the library received the bonus. What if the fund of 15,000 dollars was increased this year to cover the cost?

2) Also, since in question statement, the condition of providing bonus is explicitly mentioned, how can we just assume that the bonus was provided in St 1 without even knowing the number of items checked out?

chetan2u VeritasKarishma Bunuel ScottTargetTestPrep egmat

Please help!

As per stmnt 1, the total money spent on buying the books during the year = 50*12 *28 = 16,800
We are given that the library received enough money from the city to cover this cost. So it received at least $16,800 from the city. But the city gives only $15,000 per year (given in the question). A bonus is given only if more than 5000 books are checked out. Since the city gave $16,800, the city must have given the bonus 2000. So more than 5000 books must have been checked out.


This question ask us to call for some assumption. Whether bonus would be received last year or year before the last year is questionable. If statement 1 has to be true, we need to assume that at the start of last year, they would have received 15000$+ bonus to cover for the entire year expense for coming 12 months.

However if statement 2 has to be true, bonus could only be received this year (not last year), since we would come to know if checkout is more than 5000 Nos. ONLY after last month of Dec last year (and not in advance)

Thus either Statement 1 or statement 2 alone has to be true. If we are saying both are true, that means ,we are assuming last year, library received bonus twice.

Would request if you could shed light on this? Isn't this question ambiguous?
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 15,835
Own Kudos:
72,328
 [1]
Given Kudos: 461
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,835
Kudos: 72,328
 [1]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 02 Dec 2021, 00:19
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VIGHNESHKAMATH
VeritasKarishma
578vishnu
What put me off in this question was St 1. St 2 can be solved using worst case scenario method.

The question explicitly says that the bonus is given if the total number of items checked out over the course of the year exceeds 5,000.

1) In St1, we do not know whether the library received the bonus. What if the fund of 15,000 dollars was increased this year to cover the cost?

2) Also, since in question statement, the condition of providing bonus is explicitly mentioned, how can we just assume that the bonus was provided in St 1 without even knowing the number of items checked out?

chetan2u VeritasKarishma Bunuel ScottTargetTestPrep egmat

Please help!

As per stmnt 1, the total money spent on buying the books during the year = 50*12 *28 = 16,800
We are given that the library received enough money from the city to cover this cost. So it received at least $16,800 from the city. But the city gives only $15,000 per year (given in the question). A bonus is given only if more than 5000 books are checked out. Since the city gave $16,800, the city must have given the bonus 2000. So more than 5000 books must have been checked out.


This question ask us to call for some assumption. Whether bonus would be received last year or year before the last year is questionable. If statement 1 has to be true, we need to assume that at the start of last year, they would have received 15000$+ bonus to cover for the entire year expense for coming 12 months.

However if statement 2 has to be true, bonus could only be received this year (not last year), since we would come to know if checkout is more than 5000 Nos. ONLY after last month of Dec last year (and not in advance)

Thus either Statement 1 or statement 2 alone has to be true. If we are saying both are true, that means ,we are assuming last year, library received bonus twice.

Would request if you could shed light on this? Isn't this question ambiguous?

No, it is not necessary that books can be purchased only after the bonus is received. We are not given that.

(1) The library purchased an average of 50 new books each month last year and received enough money from the city to cover this cost.

We are given that the money received was enough to cover the cost of purchase. Was the purchase made using that money only, we don't know and we don't need to assume that it was. The library would have its own funds too and they could have easily purchased books using those. At the end of the year, they will find out whether the funds received that year were enough to cover their purchases or not. Also, things can easily be purchased on credit etc. Another possibility is that what if the 5000 number was reached in June itself and the bonus given at that time? There are lots of scenarios possible.

Also, whether the actual bonus payment happened in June last year or on 31st Dec last year or in Jan this year, doesn't matter. It will come as a receivable of last year.
User avatar
SJKC
User avatar
Joined: 29 May 2020
Last visit: 23 Oct 2024
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 80
Location: India
Schools: Booth '24 Columbia CBS '24 Haas '24 Harvard '24 Said '23 Ross '24 Sloan '24 Stanford '24 Wharton '24 Yale '24
Schools: Booth '24 Columbia CBS '24 Haas '24 Harvard '24 Said '23 Ross '24 Sloan '24 Stanford '24 Wharton '24 Yale '24
Posts: 12
Kudos: 5
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 27 Dec 2023, 13:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey,

KarishmaB

I'm quite confused with the solution here.

(b) states the lowest number of items checked out was 459.

But, the Q never stated that every month has got a certain number of books checked out. So, I'm thinking, probably out of 12 months, only in a few months, we might have seen the items checked out, in other months, it might be 0.
With this reasoning, the statement B is insufficient.

Please assist here.

Thank you!
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 27 Mar 2025
Posts: 15,835
Own Kudos:
72,328
 [2]
Given Kudos: 461
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,835
Kudos: 72,328
 [2]
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 27 Dec 2023, 22:05
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SJKC
Hey,

KarishmaB

I'm quite confused with the solution here.

(b) states the lowest number of items checked out was 459.

But, the Q never stated that every month has got a certain number of books checked out. So, I'm thinking, probably out of 12 months, only in a few months, we might have seen the items checked out, in other months, it might be 0.
With this reasoning, the statement B is insufficient.

Please assist here.

Thank you!

In that case the lowest number of items checked out would be 0, not 459. It is certainly mathematically acceptable to say that '0 items were checked out this month.' It is not necessary to have at leats 1 item checked out to use this phrase.
The lowest number of items checked out was 459 means every month at least 459 items were checked out.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 36,716
Own Kudos:
963
Posts: 36,716
Kudos: 963
For a certain city's library, the average cost of purchasing each new 23 Mar 2025, 13:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
100114 posts