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# If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased

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Senior Manager
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If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2017, 15:04
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25% (medium)

Question Stats:

73% (00:56) correct 27% (00:37) wrong based on 97 sessions

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If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased by 50%, by how many percent would the volume of the box decrease?

A) 12.5%

B) 25%

C) 50%

D) 75%

E) 87.5%
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If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2017, 18:27
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KUDOS
LakerFan24 wrote:
If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased by 50%, by how many percent would the volume of the box decrease?

A) 12.5%

B) 25%

C) 50%

D) 75%

E) 87.5%

Method $$1$$:

Let the length, width and depth of rectangle box be $$= l, b, h$$ respectively.

Volume $$= l * b * h = lbh$$

Length, width, depth of the rectangle box is decreased by $$50$$%.

Therefore, New length, width and depth of rectangle box $$= \frac{1}{2}l, \frac{1}{2}b, \frac{1}{2}h = (0.5)l, (0.5)b, (0.5)h$$

New Volume $$= (0.5)l* (0.5)b* (0.5)h = (0.125)lbh$$

Difference in Volume $$= lbh - (0.125)lbh = lbh(1-0.125) = (0.875)lbh$$

Required Percentage $$=$$ (Difference $$/$$ Original Volume) $$* 100 = \frac{(0.875)lbh}{lbh} * 100 = 0.875 * 100 = 87.5$$%

Method $$2$$:

Let the length ($$l$$), width ($$b$$) and depth ($$h$$) of rectangular box be $$= 4, 2, 2$$ respectively.

Volume $$= l*b*h = 4*2*2 = 16$$

Length, width, depth of the rectangle box is decreased by $$50$$%.

Therefore, New length, width and depth of rectangle box be $$= 2, 1, 1$$ respectively.

New Volume $$= l*b*h = 2*1*1 = 2$$

Difference in Volume $$= 16 - 2 = 14$$

Required Percentage $$=$$ (Difference $$/$$ Original Volume) $$* 100 = \frac{14}{16} * 100 = 87.5$$%

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If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2017, 18:54
LakerFan24 wrote:
If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased by 50%, by how many percent would the volume of the box decrease?

A) 12.5%

B) 25%

C) 50%

D) 75%

E) 87.5%

Assume values.

Let the original box have these dimensions [a cube is a special kind of rectangular box]

L = 2
W = 2
H = 2

Its volume is length * width * height = 8

Decrease each length by half, and new dimensions are

L = 1
W = 1
H = 1

The new volume is 1 * 1 * 1 = 1

By what percent did the volume decrease?

$$\frac{change}{original}$$ * 100 =

$$\frac{(8-1)}{8}$$ * 100 =

$$\frac{7}{8}$$ = 87.5 * 100 is 87.5 percent

You can also use multipliers, as sashiim20 has done above. See below for a very helpful post by a GMAT Club expert.*

*McGarry, Mike. Scale Factors on the GMAT: Percent Increases and Decreases. https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/scale-factors-on-the-gmat-percent-increases-and-decreases/. August 31,2012.
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Re: If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased [#permalink]

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02 Sep 2017, 06:24
LakerFan24 wrote:
If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased by 50%, by how many percent would the volume of the box decrease?

A) 12.5%

B) 25%

C) 50%

D) 75%

E) 87.5%

We can let L, W, and H be the length, width, and depth of the original rectangular box. Thus, the original volume is L x W x H = LWH, and the new volume is 0.5L x 0.5W x 0.5H = 0.125LWH

The percentage decrease is: (0.125LWH - LWH)/LWH = -0.875 x 100 = -87.5%

Alternate Solution:

Assume that the original dimensions of the box were 2 X 2 X 2, with a volume of 8. Reduce each dimension by 50% to get new dimensions of 1 X 1 X 1, with a volume of 1. The percentage decrease will be (old – new)/old x 100% = (8 – 1)/8 x 100% = 7/8 x 100% = 87.5%.

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Re: If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased [#permalink]

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11 Sep 2017, 03:00
L=10
B=10
H=10

V=10X10X10=1000

50% reduction

L=5
B=5
H=5

Volume is 5X5X5=125

$$\frac{125}{(1000)}$$*100=12.5 ie new volume is 12.5 % of old volume or 100-12.5=87.5% reduction in volume
Senior Manager
Joined: 26 Dec 2015
Posts: 285
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
WE: Investment Banking (Venture Capital)
Re: If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased [#permalink]

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19 Sep 2017, 09:05
If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased by 50%, by how many percent would the volume of the box decrease?

A) 12.5%

B) 25%

C) 50%

D) 75%

E) 87.5%

since we're not given hard #s in the question, i thought immediately to pick #s.
> original box dimensions: 2, 2, 2. v=8
> new box dimensions: 1, 1, 1. v=1

> % change = $$\frac{new-old}{old}$$ = $$\frac{1-8}{8}$$ = $$\frac{-7}{8}$$
> key: multiply numerator & denominator by 12.5 to get 100 = (-7)*(12.5) = 87.5%

Kudos please if you find this helpful
Re: If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased   [#permalink] 19 Sep 2017, 09:05
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# If the width, depth and length of a rectangle box were each decreased

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