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# Harold needs to buy a ticket to attend a conference for work

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Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Posts: 4675
Harold needs to buy a ticket to attend a conference for work [#permalink]

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07 Aug 2014, 14:54
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Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

80% (01:43) correct 20% (02:21) wrong based on 170 sessions

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Harold needs to buy a ticket to attend a conference for work. His own department contributes $4 less than half the price of the ticket. The HR department will contributes$1 more than a third of the price of the ticket. With these two contributions, Harold has to pay only $10 out of his own pocket to cover the cost of the ticket. What was the price of the ticket? (A)$36
(B) $42 (C)$48
(D) $54 (E)$60

This is a problem that is screaming for a solution by backsolving. If this is a technique with which you are unfamiliar, or if you have trouble deciding when to use this strategy, see:
http://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/backsolving-on-gmat-math/
which also has the OE for this particular question.

Mike
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Mike McGarry
Magoosh Test Prep

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Intern
Joined: 14 May 2014
Posts: 26
Concentration: General Management, Operations
GPA: 3.15
Re: Harold needs to buy a ticket to attend a conference for work [#permalink]

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07 Aug 2014, 18:50
1
KUDOS
To me, this problem is still easier to solve with algebra. Probably since I'm an engineer and going with equations is our go to nature; brain seems to be hardwired for it. Only used backsolving when I couldn't readily create any equation.

$$(\frac{1}{2}x-4)+(\frac{1}{3}x+1)+10=x$$
$$3x-24+2x+6+60=6x$$
$$x=42$$

Equation was relatively easy to set up and to solve.

SVP
Status: The Best Or Nothing
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Posts: 1837
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Re: Harold needs to buy a ticket to attend a conference for work [#permalink]

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08 Aug 2014, 00:27
Say price of ticket = x

Own department contribution $$= \frac{x}{2} - 4$$

HR contribution $$= \frac{x}{3} + 1$$

Self contribution = 10

Setting up the equation

$$x = \frac{x}{2} - 4 + \frac{x}{3} + 1+10$$

x=42

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Re: Harold needs to buy a ticket to attend a conference for work [#permalink]

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18 Dec 2017, 06:51
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).

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Re: Harold needs to buy a ticket to attend a conference for work   [#permalink] 18 Dec 2017, 06:51
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