I30-43

Question

https://gmatclub.com/gmat-focus-tests/resources/import/img/I30-43new.png 
 
The chart above shows the monthly sales (in $1000s) for three product categories — Electronics, Clothing, and Furniture — across twelve months of the year.
 
From each drop-down menu, select the option that creates the most accurate statement based on the information provided.

Between January and December, the product category that experienced the highest overall growth in sales was  GRAPH_1_PLACEHOLDER  with an increase of  GRAPH_2_PLACEHOLDER

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

We are asked to determine which product category experienced the highest overall growth in sales between January and December. Since the growth is measured in dollars, we are interested in the absolute increase, not the percentage change.
 
Among the three product categories, Electronics had the highest absolute growth in sales, with a change of $180,000 (December) – $120,000 (January) = $60,000.

Correct answer:

Dropdown 1:  "Electronics"

Dropdown 2:  "$60,000"

sb995 · Answer

This is a great question that’s helpful for learning.

canadianmonkey3 · Answer

Good to note that the wording is crucial. During my first go around, I interpreted as highest overall growth and thought of percentage instead of pure numerical increase.

Thanks  Bunuel

alrightalright · Answer

What in the question gives away that its talking about absolute increase in number and not percentage increase? I thought 'highest overall GROWTH' would mean percentage increase? if it was asking for absolute increase in number it would ask highest increase in sales rather than growth right?

Bunuel · Answer

Do you see anywhere in the question that it mentions percentage change? For example, it does not ask “by how many percent did sales increase.” The question only says “growth in sales,” and since the chart is in dollars, that means the growth is the absolute increase in sales dollars, not percentage.

iamyogi25 · Answer

This is a great question that’s helpful for learning. Hi Bunuel...What if with the same first part "highest overall growth" which is absolute change not the percentage but the second part shows the percentage changes options. Would it make a little bit confusing? Would we still look at the absolute change for the first part or now we are looking at the % change? Thank you as always.

Bunuel · Answer

Yes, that would change how you interpret the sentence.

If the second dropdown contains percentage values, then “highest overall growth” would naturally mean  highest percentage growth , because the completed sentence would read something like:

“Furniture experienced the highest overall growth in sales, with an increase of 100%.”

So you should read the  entire completed statement , not interpret the first dropdown in isolation.

Here, because the second dropdown gives dollar amounts, we compare absolute increases.

I30-43

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