Ken left a job paying $75,000 per year to accept a sales job

Ans : D

75000 = 45000 + [15/100 [750] * x]

30000 = [15 * 15 / 10] * x
[30000 * 10] / [15 * 15] = x
266.6 = x
267 = x

30000 = 15% × 750 × n
or, n = 800/3 = 266.666
So 267 sales.(Answer)
266 sales would decrease his earnings.

Let's be smart about these problem types. In fact, once I share this, you will pray you get a problem like this on test day.

The question asks us for the LEAST number of sales Ken must make to break even. Knowing that the makers of the GMAT will try to trap us with the wrong answer, we can quickly narrow the correct answer to one of two choices: C or D. We can assume without even doing any math that the answer will be some fractional answer. The trap here is that we round down instead of rounding up like the question asks us to do by asking for the LEAST number of sales he must make.

Without even putting pen to paper, I can be 99% confident that the answer is D, which is the larger of the two answers since the question asks for the LEAST number of sales he must make.

Now -- if I am short for time on test day, then this can be a fabulous way of making up time. If I have time to work out the answer that I can have 100% confidence in, then I will do the algebra, as others have stated.

Happy GMAT Hunting...

Hi,
We can solve it easily by making a simple eqn..
Consider the no. Of sales as x.

So, 45,000+(15/100)*750*X=75,000
This gives,
X=266.6
X=267

Option D

Sent from my Lenovo A6020a40 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

How do we know that the commission is received on total sales $ and not on each 750$ sale?

The options almost give away the answer. C or D.

It boils to recovering 30/11.25 which is 266.6666

Which is 267 Sales.

solved this by creating an equation :
Let number of min sales required= x
45,000+ (750)(0.15)(x)> 75,000

In essence, salary at new job > old job

Wasn't the fastest way but got me there

Hope that helped

Old job pay: $75,000

New job pay: $45,000 + 15% commission

Difference: $75,000 - $45,000 = $30,000

In order to not lose money, he must earn this $30,000.

Now every sales count for $750 and Ken gets 15% of it which is \(\frac{15}{100} * 750 = 112.5.\)

Number of sales : \(\frac{30,000 }{ 112.5} = 266.66 = 267\)

Answer D

15% of 750 = 225/2

75000-45000 = 30000
225/2 X = 30000
X>800/3
X=267

x= total number of sales numbers