Last visit was: 14 May 2025, 10:28 It is currently 14 May 2025, 10:28
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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
 1   2   
avatar
mustu
avatar
Joined: 29 Mar 2011
Last visit: 12 Oct 2017
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
66
 [37]
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 7
Kudos: 66
 [37]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 Updated on: 03 Jul 2013, 04:07
Originally posted by mustu on 07 Jul 2011, 09:00.
Last edited by Bunuel on 03 Jul 2013, 04:07, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic, edited the question added the answer choices and OA.
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
35
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:

68% (02:49) correct 32% (03:04) wrong based on 866 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails. In the second quarter of 2008, the store sold 375 hammers and 18,000 nails. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter.

A. 0.4%
B. 2.1%
C. 2.5%
D. 17%
E. 25%
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 14 May 2025
Posts: 15,964
Own Kudos:
73,099
 [30]
Given Kudos: 467
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,964
Kudos: 73,099
 [30]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 07 Jul 2011, 22:08
18
Kudos
Add Kudos
12
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mustu
Hello,

A store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails on year 0 and 375 hammers and 18,000 nails on year 1. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease?


I have picked up this question from the MGMAT offical guide.

OA = 16.7%

Can someone please explain me the steps to reach the solution. I am lost in the middle ..

Regards
Mustu

Another approach:
The number of hammers increased by 25%.
Number of nails increased by 50%.
The new ratio is 1.25/1.5 = 5/6 as compared to 1 before. Hence it decreased by 1/6 which is 16.67%
User avatar
imerial
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jun 2011
Last visit: 21 May 2015
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
43
 [14]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 12
Kudos: 43
 [14]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 07 Jul 2011, 15:55
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
There's an easier way to do it.
300h + 1200n in year 0
375h + 1800n in year 1
75h+600n is the difference
75/600 = 1/8 or 16.67
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 13 May 2024
Posts: 6,761
Own Kudos:
33,578
 [10]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,761
Kudos: 33,578
 [10]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 Updated on: 12 Nov 2019, 17:27
Originally posted by BrentGMATPrepNow on 11 Sep 2016, 15:39.
Last edited by BrentGMATPrepNow on 12 Nov 2019, 17:27, edited 1 time in total.
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mustu
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails. In the second quarter of 2008, the store sold 375 hammers and 18,000 nails. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter.

A. 0.4%
B. 2.1%
C. 2.5%
D. 17%
E. 25%

1st quarter: hammers/nails = 300/12,000 = 150/6000
2nd quarter: hammers/nails = 375/18,000 = 125/6000
ASIDE: It's useful to write both ratios with the same denominator. This allows us to IGNORE the denominator and focus solely on the numerators.

So, our ratio went from 150/6000 to 125/6000
Ignoring the denominators, we went from 150 to 125
The percent change = 100(difference in values)/(original value)
= (100)(150 - 125)/150
= (100)(25)/150)
= (100)(1)/(6)
= 100/6
≈ 16.666...

Answer: D
General Discussion
User avatar
sudhir18n
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 26 May 2005
Last visit: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 352
Own Kudos:
589
 [1]
Given Kudos: 13
Posts: 352
Kudos: 589
 [1]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 07 Jul 2011, 09:12
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mustu
Hello,

A store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails on year 0 and 375 hammers and 18,000 nails on year 1. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease?


I have picked up this question from the MGMAT offical guide.

OA = 16.7%

Can someone please explain me the steps to reach the solution. I am lost in the middle ..

Regards
Mustu

The old ratio was
1:400 (300:12000)
new ratio is
1:480 (375:18000)

change = 1-400/480 = 1-.83333 =16.7%
or
1/400 = .0025
1/480 = .00208
1- .00208/.0025=16.7%
avatar
mustu
avatar
Joined: 29 Mar 2011
Last visit: 12 Oct 2017
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
66
 [1]
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 7
Kudos: 66
 [1]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 07 Jul 2011, 09:30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sudhir18n
The old ratio was
1:400 (300:12000)
new ratio is
1:480 (375:18000)

change = 1-400/480 = 1-.83333 =16.7%
or
1/400 = .0025
1/480 = .00208
1- .00208/.0025=16.7%


Hi Sudhir,
Why do u take it as 1-400/480 ?? This is the step that i am not understanding.

Original - change = New

--> We have original as 1/40 and change as 1/48.

So change = Original - New
1/40 - 1/48 right ?

Should we consider original as 100% ( 1 ) and thats the reason?

Regards
Mustu
User avatar
sudhir18n
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 26 May 2005
Last visit: 13 Feb 2013
Posts: 352
Own Kudos:
589
Given Kudos: 13
Posts: 352
Kudos: 589
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 07 Jul 2011, 09:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mustu
sudhir18n
The old ratio was
1:400 (300:12000)
new ratio is
1:480 (375:18000)

change = 1-400/480 = 1-.83333 =16.7%
or
1/400 = .0025
1/480 = .00208
1- .00208/.0025=16.7%


Hi Sudhir,
Why do u take it as 1-400/480 ?? This is the step that i am not understanding.

Original - change = New

--> We have original as 1/40 and change as 1/48.

So change = Original - New
1/40 - 1/48 right ?

Should we consider original as 100% ( 1 ) and thats the reason?

Regards
Mustu

I should have taken 40 and 48 and not 400 and 480.
your formula is right , but that will give u only the absolute value of change and % change

for percent change
change% = ( original - new)/orginal * 100
=( 1/40 - 1/48)/1/40 * 100
solve this and you will get a negative 16.7 % , which means a decrease of 16.7 %
User avatar
Spidy001
User avatar
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Last visit: 16 Feb 2015
Posts: 300
Own Kudos:
339
Given Kudos: 42
Posts: 300
Kudos: 339
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 07 Jul 2011, 15:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
year 0 -> H/N = 300/12000 = 1/40

year 1 -> H/N = 375/18000 = (1/40)(150/180)

% decrease = (1/40)(1-150/180) *100 / (1/40)

=16.67%
User avatar
gablaze23
User avatar
Retired Thread Master
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Last visit: 10 Dec 2014
Posts: 451
Own Kudos:
118
Given Kudos: 123
GMAT 1: 680 Q44 V38
GMAT 1: 680 Q44 V38
Posts: 451
Kudos: 118
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 08 Jul 2011, 17:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I made it until .00208/.0025, my answer was .20

The problem said "APPROXIMATELY" so I stopped at .20 (which should have been .208)

I mean, 375/18000 is .00208, but my approximate is .0020 (I stopped bec it said APPROXIMATE)

1-.0020/.0025 is 20%, as compared to the answer, 1-.00208/.0025, which is 16.7%.

16% is a huge diff from 20%. I thought when they used the word "APPROXIMATELY", I could estimate like that. How do I avoid this problem again? How do you know when to estimate like that or not? I guess if they show the answer choices, I'll get it. But I want to be sure.
User avatar
KarishmaB
User avatar
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 14 May 2025
Posts: 15,964
Own Kudos:
73,099
 [1]
Given Kudos: 467
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,964
Kudos: 73,099
 [1]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 11 Jul 2011, 04:07
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gablaze23
I made it until .00208/.0025, my answer was .20

The problem said "APPROXIMATELY" so I stopped at .20 (which should have been .208)

I mean, 375/18000 is .00208, but my approximate is .0020 (I stopped bec it said APPROXIMATE)

1-.0020/.0025 is 20%, as compared to the answer, 1-.00208/.0025, which is 16.7%.

16% is a huge diff from 20%. I thought when they used the word "APPROXIMATELY", I could estimate like that. How do I avoid this problem again? How do you know when to estimate like that or not? I guess if they show the answer choices, I'll get it. But I want to be sure.

They use the word 'approximate' because 16.67% is an approximation of 1/6. You cannot approximate .00208 to be .0020 since the denominator is .0025 which is quite close to .00208. If you do want to approximate, you can use .0021 instead. Of course, options will help.
User avatar
Izvos
User avatar
Joined: 01 Jun 2011
Last visit: 08 Oct 2011
Posts: 103
Own Kudos:
23
Given Kudos: 6
Posts: 103
Kudos: 23
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 11 Jul 2011, 04:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gablaze23
I made it until .00208/.0025, my answer was .20

The problem said "APPROXIMATELY" so I stopped at .20 (which should have been .208)

I mean, 375/18000 is .00208, but my approximate is .0020 (I stopped bec it said APPROXIMATE)

1-.0020/.0025 is 20%, as compared to the answer, 1-.00208/.0025, which is 16.7%.

16% is a huge diff from 20%. I thought when they used the word "APPROXIMATELY", I could estimate like that. How do I avoid this problem again? How do you know when to estimate like that or not? I guess if they show the answer choices, I'll get it. But I want to be sure.

Agree. There are no variants in the question. In case if there will be a big gap btw possible answer the one can save some time.
User avatar
nishtil
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jan 2011
Last visit: 08 Feb 2015
Posts: 71
Own Kudos:
351
 [1]
Given Kudos: 25
Location: India
GMAT Date: 07-16-2012
GPA: 3.4
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 71
Kudos: 351
 [1]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 27 Sep 2011, 10:22
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Year 0 --> 300/12000= 1/40
year 1 ---> 375/18000 = 1/48

%change = (1/40 -1/48)/1/40 *100 = 16.6666
avatar
RSG
avatar
Joined: 29 Jan 2011
Last visit: 24 Sep 2014
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
13
Given Kudos: 7
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
Schools: ISB HKUST
GMAT Date: 11-20-2011
GPA: 3.6
WE:Business Development (Other)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: ISB HKUST
Posts: 7
Kudos: 13
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 29 Dec 2011, 11:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
% Decrease = 100 - New Ratio/Old Ratio x 100
100 - 375/18*12/300*100
16.67%
avatar
saxenaashi
avatar
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
Last visit: 30 Mar 2018
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
29
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 15
Kudos: 29
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 04 Jan 2013, 02:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasPrepKarishma
mustu
Hello,

A store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails on year 0 and 375 hammers and 18,000 nails on year 1. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease?


I have picked up this question from the MGMAT offical guide.

OA = 16.7%

Can someone please explain me the steps to reach the solution. I am lost in the middle ..

Regards
Mustu

Another approach:
The number of hammers increased by 25%.
Number of nails increased by 50%.
The new ratio is 1.25/1.5 = 5/6 as compared to 1 before. Hence it decreased by 1/6 which is 16.67%

Karishma,
This is a fantastic approach. Would this work even though hammers are increasing and nails are decreasing in % something like
The number of hammers increased by 25%.
Number of nails decreased by 50%.
The new ratio - 1.25/0.5 ?
avatar
saxenaashi
avatar
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
Last visit: 30 Mar 2018
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
29
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 15
Kudos: 29
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 04 Jan 2013, 03:03
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nishtil
Year 0 --> 300/12000= 1/40
year 1 ---> 375/18000 = 1/48

%change = (1/40 -1/48)/1/40 *100 = 16.6666


Before coming to this post, I was thinking why hasn't anybody solved the problem this way. I solved this way but after looking at other solutions I thought I got answer by fluke
avatar
PareshGmat
avatar
Joined: 27 Dec 2012
Last visit: 10 Jul 2016
Posts: 1,541
Own Kudos:
7,781
Given Kudos: 193
Status:The Best Or Nothing
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Technology
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 1,541
Kudos: 7,781
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 03 Jul 2013, 03:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
300/12000 = 1/40
375/18000 = 1/48

1/40 got reduced to (1/40-1/48), so 100 would get reduced to:

{100 x (1/40-1/48)} / (1/40)
= 100 x { (48-40) / 48 x 40 } x 40
= 100 x 8 / 48
= 16.66
avatar
vibhor143
avatar
Joined: 28 Feb 2016
Last visit: 14 Aug 2016
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
2
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 5
Kudos: 2
 [1]
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 29 Feb 2016, 15:00
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
imerial
There's an easier way to do it.
300h + 1200n in year 0
375h + 1800n in year 1
75h+600n is the difference
75/600 = 1/8 or 16.67


I dont think 1/8 equals 16.67
User avatar
Nasahtahir
User avatar
Joined: 30 Sep 2016
Last visit: 01 Feb 2025
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 23 Nov 2016, 05:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATPrepNow
mustu
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails. In the second quarter of 2008, the store sold 375 hammers and 18,000 nails. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter.

A. 0.4%
B. 2.1%
C. 2.5%
D. 17%
E. 25%

1st quarter: hammers/nails = 300/12,000 = 150/6000
2nd quarter: hammers/nails = 375/18,000 = 125/6000
ASIDE: It's useful to write both ratios with the same denominator. This allows us to IGNORE the denominator and focus solely on the numerators.

So, our ratio went from 150/6000 to 125/6000
Ignoring the denominators, we went from 150 to 125
The percent change = 100(difference in values)/(original value)
= (100)(150 - 125)/150
= (100)(25)/150)
= (100)(1)/(6)
= 100/6
≈ 16.666...

Answer: [you-tube]D[/you-tube]


Would you mind explaining how you got those 6000 ie common denominator under 2 minutes? What approach did you take?
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 14 May 2025
Posts: 20,754
Own Kudos:
25,804
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: 20,754
Kudos: 25,804
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 27 Nov 2019, 11:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mustu
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails. In the second quarter of 2008, the store sold 375 hammers and 18,000 nails. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter.

A. 0.4%
B. 2.1%
C. 2.5%
D. 17%
E. 25%

The ratio of hammers to nails in the first quarter was 300/12,000 = 3/120 = 1/40. The ratio of hammers to nails in the second quarter was 375/18,000 = 1/48.

We can use the percent change formula: (New - Old)/Old x 100 to create the equation:

(375/18,000 - 300/12,000)/(300/12,000) x 100

(1/48 - 1/40)/(1/40) x 100

(5/240 - 6/240)/(1/40) x 100

-1/240 x 40 x 100 = -1/6 x 100 = -16.67%, which is approximately a 17% decrease.

Answer: D
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 13 May 2024
Posts: 6,761
Own Kudos:
33,578
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,761
Kudos: 33,578
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 30 27 Sep 2020, 14:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Nasahtahir
GMATPrepNow
mustu
In the first quarter of 2008, Harry's Hardware Store sold 300 hammers and 12,000 nails. In the second quarter of 2008, the store sold 375 hammers and 18,000 nails. By approximately what percent did the ratio of hammers sold to nails sold decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter.

A. 0.4%
B. 2.1%
C. 2.5%
D. 17%
E. 25%

1st quarter: hammers/nails = 300/12,000 = 150/6000
2nd quarter: hammers/nails = 375/18,000 = 125/6000
ASIDE: It's useful to write both ratios with the same denominator. This allows us to IGNORE the denominator and focus solely on the numerators.

So, our ratio went from 150/6000 to 125/6000
Ignoring the denominators, we went from 150 to 125
The percent change = 100(difference in values)/(original value)
= (100)(150 - 125)/150
= (100)(25)/150)
= (100)(1)/(6)
= 100/6
≈ 16.666...

Answer: [you-tube]D[/you-tube]


Would you mind explaining how you got those 6000 ie common denominator under 2 minutes? What approach did you take?

We have 300/12,000 and 375/18,000
I recognized that 12,000 and 18,000 are both multiples of 6000
So, if we take 300/12,000 and divide numerator and denominator by 2, we get: 150/6000
Similarly, we can take 375/18,000 and divide numerator and denominator by 3, we get: 125/6000
 1   2   
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
101412 posts
Krunaal
PS Forum Moderator
581 posts