GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 19 Sep 2018, 11:48

### 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

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

# From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49251
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2018, 01:21
00:00

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

80% (01:17) correct 20% (01:16) wrong based on 307 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of 1/4. From 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of 1/3. If there were 100 employees at the company in 2006, how many employees were there at the company in 2000 ?

A. 200

B. 120

C. 100

D. 75

E. 60

NEW question from GMAT® Official Guide 2019

(PS15957)

_________________
Intern
Joined: 04 Feb 2013
Posts: 14
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2018, 01:51
1
Bunuel wrote:
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of 1/4. From 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of 1/3. If there were 100 employees at the company in 2006, how many employees were there at the company in 2000 ?

A. 200

B. 120

C. 100

D. 75

E. 60

NEW question from GMAT® Official Guide 2019

(PS15957)

5/4 x 4/3 (Population in 2000) = 100, solving we get X = 60
Intern
Joined: 21 May 2017
Posts: 42
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2018, 01:59
1

Let population in 2000 be x.
Let population in 2003 be y.
Population in 2006 is 100
2y/3 = 100
y = 150

Also, population in 2003 is 5x/4
So, 5x/4 = 150
x = 120
Intern
Joined: 03 Feb 2016
Posts: 11
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2018, 02:51
1
In 2000 Let employees x
In 2003 employees then 5x/4
In 2006 employees then (5x/4-5x/12)=10x/12
10x/12=100
X=120

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Posts: 1992
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2018, 05:01
2

Solution

Given:
• From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of $$\frac{1}{4}$$
• From 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of $$\frac{1}{3}$$
• There were 100 employees at the company in 2006

To find:
• The number of employees in the company in 2000

Approach and Working:
Let us assume the number of employees in the company in 2000 is 12x [12 = LCM (4,3)]

Given that, from 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of $$\frac{1}{4}$$
• Therefore, the number of employees in 2003 = $$12x + \frac{1}{4} * 12x = 12x + 3x = 15x$$

It is also given that, from 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of $$\frac{1}{3}$$
• Therefore, the number of employees in 2006 = $$15x – \frac{1}{3} * 15x = 15x – 5x = 10x$$

As there were 100 employees in 2006, we can write
• 10x = 100
Or, x = 10
Or, 12x = 10 * 12 = 120

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

_________________

Number Properties | Algebra |Quant Workshop

Success Stories
Guillermo's Success Story | Carrie's Success Story

Ace GMAT quant
Articles and Question to reach Q51 | Question of the week

Number Properties – Even Odd | LCM GCD | Statistics-1 | Statistics-2
Word Problems – Percentage 1 | Percentage 2 | Time and Work 1 | Time and Work 2 | Time, Speed and Distance 1 | Time, Speed and Distance 2
Advanced Topics- Permutation and Combination 1 | Permutation and Combination 2 | Permutation and Combination 3 | Probability
Geometry- Triangles 1 | Triangles 2 | Triangles 3 | Common Mistakes in Geometry
Algebra- Wavy line | Inequalities

Practice Questions
Number Properties 1 | Number Properties 2 | Algebra 1 | Geometry | Prime Numbers | Absolute value equations | Sets

| '4 out of Top 5' Instructors on gmatclub | 70 point improvement guarantee | www.e-gmat.com

Senior Manager
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Posts: 272
Schools: Dartmouth College
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2018, 05:31
4
Bunuel wrote:
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of 1/4. From 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of 1/3. If there were 100 employees at the company in 2006, how many employees were there at the company in 2000 ?

A. 200

B. 120

C. 100

D. 75

E. 60

We can PLUG IN THE ANSWERS, which represent the number of employees in 2000.

Since the number of employees increases by 1/4 and then decreases by 1/3, the correct answer must be divisible by 4 and 3.
In other words, the correct answer must be a MULTIPLE OF 12.
Eliminate A, C and D.

Since the decrease (1/3) is greater than the increase (1/4), the number of employees must DECREASE from 2000 to 2006.
Implication:
The number of employees in 2000 must be GREATER than the number of employees in 2006 (100).
Eliminate E.

_________________

GMAT and GRE Tutor
Over 1800 followers
GMATGuruNY@gmail.com
New York, NY
If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "Kudos" icon.
Available for tutoring in NYC and long-distance.

Intern
Joined: 02 Sep 2015
Posts: 40
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

23 Jun 2018, 03:16
1
2000 -> 2003: x -> x + x/4
2003 -> 2006: (x + x/4) -> (x + x/4) - (x +x/4)/3
2006: 100

100 = (x + x/4) - (x +x/4)/3
x = 120

Target Test Prep Representative
Status: Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Posts: 3497
Location: United States (CA)
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Jun 2018, 12:04
Bunuel wrote:
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of 1/4. From 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of 1/3. If there were 100 employees at the company in 2006, how many employees were there at the company in 2000 ?

A. 200

B. 120

C. 100

D. 75

E. 60

Letting x = the number of employees in 2000, we have:

x(1 + 1/4)(1 - 1/3) = 100

x(5/4)(2/3) = 100

x(10/12) = 100

x = 100(12/10)

x = 120

_________________

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO

GMAT Quant Self-Study Course
500+ lessons 3000+ practice problems 800+ HD solutions

Intern
Joined: 11 Apr 2017
Posts: 1
Location: Brazil
Concentration: Marketing, Human Resources
Schools: BYU Marriott"20
GMAT 1: 650 Q45 V35
GPA: 3.1
WE: Research (Education)
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Jun 2018, 15:21
B is correct:

x+(1/4)x = (5/4)x
(5/4)x - (1/3)(5/4)x = (5/4)x[1 - 1/3] = (5/4)x.(2/3) = (5/6)x = 100

x = 120
Intern
Joined: 09 Jun 2018
Posts: 25
Location: United States (IN)
GPA: 3.95
WE: Engineering (Transportation)
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Jun 2018, 19:46
Let no of employees in 2000 be x
2000 to 2003: increase of 25% (i.e. 1/4), 2003 to 2006 decrease of 33% (i.e. 1/3)
Hence,

x * 1.25 * (1-(1/3)) = 100
x = (100*3)/(2*1.25) = 120

Hence B
_________________

If you found this relevant and useful, please Smash that Kudos button!

VP
Joined: 07 Dec 2014
Posts: 1087
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Jun 2018, 20:09
Bunuel wrote:
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of 1/4. From 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of 1/3. If there were 100 employees at the company in 2006, how many employees were there at the company in 2000 ?

A. 200

B. 120

C. 100

D. 75

E. 60

let x=number of employees in 2000
x*5/4*2/3=100
x=120
B
Manager
Joined: 09 Nov 2016
Posts: 70
Location: India
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

23 Aug 2018, 06:22
1
It is a very simple problem.. Its straightforward X=120..
Option B.
Intern
Joined: 30 Aug 2018
Posts: 4
Re: From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

14 Sep 2018, 13:36
Is it wise to use options here?
Like choose a middle option 'C' at first.

Option C: 100 so 100 + 1/4 of 100 = 125. Now 125- 125/3 = 125-41 = 84 (approx), but as of question 100 employes are there in 2006. So option C rejected.

Option B: 120, so 120+1/4 of 120 = 150. Now 150-150/3= 100. As of question, there are 100 employees in 2006. So Option B is correct.

Is it wise to solve the problem by this method of using options?
Manager
Joined: 09 Nov 2016
Posts: 70
Location: India
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

16 Sep 2018, 06:10
1
prav04 wrote:
Is it wise to use options here?
Like choose a middle option 'C' at first.

Option C: 100 so 100 + 1/4 of 100 = 125. Now 125- 125/3 = 125-41 = 84 (approx), but as of question 100 employes are there in 2006. So option C rejected.

Option B: 120, so 120+1/4 of 120 = 150. Now 150-150/3= 100. As of question, there are 100 employees in 2006. So Option B is correct.

Is it wise to solve the problem by this method of using options?

Hi prav04

Yes you can. That sometimes helps to solve questions quickly where forming equations and solving them is time consuming.
This approach is fine.

Hope this helps!

Please give +1 Kudos if you like this response!!
From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increa &nbs [#permalink] 16 Sep 2018, 06:10
Display posts from previous: Sort by

# Events & Promotions

 Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.