GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 22 Sep 2018, 23:42

### 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

# Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and

 new topic post reply Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews Important topics
Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Senior Manager
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Posts: 301
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Jan 2010, 11:10
21
162
00:00

Difficulty:

85% (hard)

Question Stats:

63% (02:19) correct 37% (02:15) wrong based on 2370 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. $$\frac{k}{m} %$$

B. $$(k – m) %$$

C. $$\frac{100(k – m)}{(100 + k)} %$$

D. $$\frac{100(k – m)}{(100 + m)} %$$

E. $$\frac{100(k – m)}{(100 + k + m)} %$$
##### Most Helpful Expert Reply
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49303
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Jan 2010, 13:53
42
45
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. $$\frac{k}{m} %$$

B. $$(k – m) %$$

C. $$\frac{100(k – m)}{(100 + k)} %$$

D. $$\frac{100(k – m)}{(100 + m)} %$$

E. $$\frac{100(k – m)}{(100 + k + m)} %$$

Original price - $$x$$

Original earnings - $$y$$

Original ratio price per earnings - $$\frac{x}{y}$$

Increased price - $$x(1+\frac{k}{100})=\frac{x(100+k)}{100}$$

Increased earnings - $$y(1+\frac{m}{100})=\frac{y(100+m)}{100}$$

New ratio price per earnings- $$\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}$$

General formula for percent increase or decrease, (percent change):

$$Percent=\frac{Change}{Original}*100$$

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$

Answer: D.
_________________
##### Most Helpful Community Reply
Intern
Joined: 20 Jun 2011
Posts: 44
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

15 Jul 2012, 04:06
5
1
Bunuel wrote:

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$

Answer: D.

Could you explain step-wise how you derived his one? I keep missing one step.

Thanks.
##### General Discussion
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49303
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

15 Jul 2012, 06:00
17
6
superpus07 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$

Answer: D.

Could you explain step-wise how you derived his one? I keep missing one step.

Thanks.

Sure: $$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100$$ --> reduce by $$\frac{x}{y}$$:

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{\frac{100+k}{100+m}-1}{1}100=(\frac{100+k}{100+m}-1)*100=(\frac{100+k-100-m}{100+m})*100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$.

Hope it's clear.
_________________
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 8288
Location: Pune, India
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

15 Jul 2012, 23:44
57
18
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

Put in some values to figure it out.

Say original Price per share (PPS) = $100 and original Earnings per share (EPS) =$100
Ratio PPS/EPS = 100/100 = 1

Say PPS increased by 20% (k) and became 120
Say EPS increased by 10% (m) and became 110
Ratio PPS/EPS = 12/11

This is an increase of 1/11 = 100/11 %

Only option (D) gives you 100/11 when k = 20 and m = 10
_________________

Karishma
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor

Learn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their GMAT Prep Options >

GMAT self-study has never been more personalized or more fun. Try ORION Free!

Intern
Joined: 05 Dec 2012
Posts: 9
Concentration: Marketing, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 680 Q46 V38
GPA: 3.8
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

29 Mar 2013, 10:26
Bunuel wrote:
superpus07 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$

Answer: D.

Could you explain step-wise how you derived his one? I keep missing one step.

Thanks.

Sure: $$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100$$ --> reduce by $$\frac{x}{y}$$:

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{\frac{100+k}{100+m}-1}{1}100=(\frac{100+k}{100+m}-1)*100=(\frac{100+k-100-m}{100+m})*100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$.

Hope it's clear.

Hi could you explain please why do you convert x/y into 1?
thanks
Intern
Joined: 20 Jun 2011
Posts: 44
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

29 Mar 2013, 11:18
1
Bunuel wrote:
superpus07 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:

Could you explain step-wise how you derived his one? I keep missing one step.

Thanks.

Sure: $$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100$$ --> reduce by $$\frac{x}{y}$$:

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{\frac{100+k}{100+m}-1}{1}100=(\frac{100+k}{100+m}-1)*100=(\frac{100+k-100-m}{100+m})*100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$.

Hope it's clear.

Hi could you explain please why do you convert x/y into 1?
thanks

$$\frac{\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}} = \frac{x}{y} * \frac{y}{x}=1$$
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 8288
Location: Pune, India
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 May 2013, 06:53
5
4
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

Responding to a pm: (super detailed steps)
When you have variables in the question and variables in the options, one method of getting to the answer is by assuming values for the variables. If a question says: x is greater than y/3 but less than y/2. Which of the following relations must hold?
(A) y < x < 2y
(B) 2y < 6x < 3y
...
...

One way of doing this is assuming some value for y. Say, y = 60. So x is greater than 20 but less than 30. Say x could be 25.
Not put y = 60 and x = 25 in the options:
(A) y < x < 2y -----> 60 < 25 < 2*120 ( does not hold)
(B) 2y < 6x < 3y ------> 2*60 < 6*25 < 3*60 (holds so could be the answer)

Mind you, you need to check every option to ensure that the relation holds for only one option. If it holds for more than one options, you will need to check for some other values too.

The point is that we assume values and then plug them in the options to see which relation works.

We can do this question using the same concept.
Last Year:
Price per share (PPS) increased by k%. Let's say k = 20. So if the price was 100, it increased by 20% to become 120 (New PPS).
Earnings per share increased by m%. Let's say m = 10 (m must be less than k). So if earnings per share was also 100, it increased by 10% to become 110 (New EPS).

By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase?

Ratio of PPS/EPS was 100/100 = 1
New ratio = New PPS/ New EPS = 120/110 = 1.0909

%Increase = [(1.0909 - 1)/1] * 100 = 9.09%

Now, in the options, put k = 20, m = 10
Only (D) will give you 9.09%. Let me show you calculations of some of the options.

B. (k – m) %
(20 - 10)% = 10% (Not the answer)

C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
[100(20 - 10)]/(100 + 20) % = 1000/120 % = 8.3% (Not the answer)

D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
[100(20 – 10)] / (100 + 10) % = 1000/11 % = 9.09% (Answer)
_________________

Karishma
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor

Learn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their GMAT Prep Options >

GMAT self-study has never been more personalized or more fun. Try ORION Free!

Intern
Joined: 21 Mar 2013
Posts: 11
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Jan 2014, 13:52
1
but this number plugin should only work when you assume that price = earnings ?

VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

Put in some values to figure it out.

Say original Price per share (PPS) = $100 and original Earnings per share (EPS) =$100
Ratio PPS/EPS = 100/100 = 1

Say PPS increased by 20% (k) and became 120
Say EPS increased by 10% (m) and became 110
Ratio PPS/EPS = 12/11

This is an increase of 1/11 = 100/11 %

Only option (D) gives you 100/11 when k = 20 and m = 10
Manager
Joined: 10 Mar 2014
Posts: 205
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

16 Jul 2014, 05:24
Bunuel wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share
of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the
ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?
A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

OA

Original price - $$x$$
Original earnings - $$y$$
Original ratio price per earnings - $$\frac{x}{y}$$

Increased price - $$x(1+\frac{k}{100})=\frac{x(100+k)}{100}$$
Increased earnings - $$y(1+\frac{m}{100})=\frac{y(100+m)}{100}$$
New ratio price per earnings- $$\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}$$

General formula for percent increase or decrease, (percent change):

$$Percent=\frac{Change}{Original}*100$$

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$

Answer: D.

HI Bunuel,

Similar kind of question is mentioed on following link

currently-y-percent-of-the-members-on-the-finance-committee-33127.html

I just want to know what is the best way. I tried the above question is doable without picking numbers. but the question mentioned on above link i stuck there. Please provide your comments on the question mentioed in above link.

Thanks
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49303
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Jul 2014, 10:05
PathFinder007 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share
of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the
ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?
A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

OA

Original price - $$x$$
Original earnings - $$y$$
Original ratio price per earnings - $$\frac{x}{y}$$

Increased price - $$x(1+\frac{k}{100})=\frac{x(100+k)}{100}$$
Increased earnings - $$y(1+\frac{m}{100})=\frac{y(100+m)}{100}$$
New ratio price per earnings- $$\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}$$

General formula for percent increase or decrease, (percent change):

$$Percent=\frac{Change}{Original}*100$$

$$\frac{\frac{x(100+k)}{y(100+m)}-\frac{x}{y}}{\frac{x}{y}}100=\frac{100(k-m)}{100+m}$$

Answer: D.

HI Bunuel,

Similar kind of question is mentioed on following link

currently-y-percent-of-the-members-on-the-finance-committee-33127.html

I just want to know what is the best way. I tried the above question is doable without picking numbers. but the question mentioned on above link i stuck there. Please provide your comments on the question mentioed in above link.

Thanks

Number plugging approach is in Karishma's post there: currently-y-percent-of-the-members-on-the-finance-committee-33127.html#p1318632
_________________
Retired Moderator
Joined: 29 Oct 2013
Posts: 272
Concentration: Finance
GPA: 3.7
WE: Corporate Finance (Retail Banking)
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 08 Nov 2015, 23:49
3
1
I think this type of problems lends itself well to easy number picking:

(P) share price= 100
(E) earnings=100
P/E = 1

Let k=200 and m=50

New P/E = 100*{(100+200)/100} / 100*{(100+50)/100} = 2 so increase of 100%

1) 200/50= 4 % wrong
2) 200-50= 150% wrong
3) 100(200-50)/(100+200)= (100*150)/300=50% wrong
4) 100(200-50)/(100+50)= (100*150)/150 = 100% Right
5) 100(200-50)/(100+200+50)= 100*150/350= wrong

--> Ans D
_________________

Please contact me for super inexpensive quality private tutoring

My journey V46 and 750 -> http://gmatclub.com/forum/my-journey-to-46-on-verbal-750overall-171722.html#p1367876

Originally posted by NoHalfMeasures on 29 Jul 2014, 08:03.
Last edited by NoHalfMeasures on 08 Nov 2015, 23:49, edited 2 times in total.
Manager
Joined: 03 Jan 2015
Posts: 65
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
WE: Research (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

10 Jan 2015, 07:32
1
2
Earlier year share price = P
Earlier earnings = E
Ratio = P/E

Assume:
k = 50%
m = 25%

Therefore:
New share price = 1.5P
New earnings = 1.25E
New Ratio: 1.5P/1.25E = 150P/125E = 6P/5E = [1 + (1/5)]P/E
i.e. P/E ratio increased by 1/5 or 20%

Now, plug k = 50 and m = 25 in solutions. Only D yields 20%

Hence, Answer: D
Intern
Joined: 31 Oct 2015
Posts: 33
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

03 Jan 2016, 11:25
2
First year:

Price = P
Earnings = E
Ratio#1 = P/E

Second year:

Price = P*K/100 + P
Earnings = E*M/100 + E
Ratio#2 = (P*K/100 + P)/(E*M/100 + E)

Percent increase in ratio = ((ratio#2 - ratio#1)/(ratio#1))*100
Percent increase in ratio = (((P*K/100 + P)/(E*M/100 + E) - P/E)/(P/E))*100

= ((K/100 + 1)/(M/100 + 1) - 1)*100

(K/100 + 1 - M/100 - 1)/(M/100 + 1)

=((K - M)/(M + 100))100
Intern
Joined: 02 Feb 2016
Posts: 15
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

13 Mar 2016, 08:11
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

Put in some values to figure it out.

Say original Price per share (PPS) = $100 and original Earnings per share (EPS) =$100
Ratio PPS/EPS = 100/100 = 1

Say PPS increased by 20% (k) and became 120
Say EPS increased by 10% (m) and became 110
Ratio PPS/EPS = 12/11

This is an increase of 1/11 = 100/11 %

Only option (D) gives you 100/11 when k = 20 and m = 10

Karishma, in what cases would you advise to put in values rather than solve algebraically?
Board of Directors
Joined: 17 Jul 2014
Posts: 2683
Location: United States (IL)
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
GPA: 3.92
WE: General Management (Transportation)
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

13 Mar 2016, 20:53
i tried to use values..
suppose k=80, and m=50
then we have 20% increase of the ratio.
if we plug in the values, then only D works.
Director
Joined: 17 Dec 2012
Posts: 636
Location: India
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

13 Mar 2016, 21:21
3
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k/m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

Let Original price =100
Let original earnings per share =100
Price/ earnings =1

New price = 100+k
New earnings per share= 100+m
price /earnings = (100+k)/(100+m)

Percent increase =((100+k)/(100+m) - 1) *100
= (k-m)*100/(100+m)
_________________

Srinivasan Vaidyaraman
Sravna Holistic Solutions
http://www.sravnatestprep.com

Holistic and Systematic Approach

Manager
Joined: 09 Jun 2015
Posts: 97
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 22 Dec 2017, 22:04
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k/m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

I just plugged in values for k = 20 and m = 10.
The answer you get is 100/11
Again, I plugged in values for k and m in the options.
Only option D is true.
Alternatively.
Let price per share is 100 and earnings per share is 100; the ratio is 1.
After increase, the ratio is (100+k)/(100+m).
The difference between these two ratios is (k-m)/(100+m)
Therefore, the required percentage is 100(k-m)/(100+m)

Originally posted by Mathivanan Palraj on 13 Mar 2016, 21:37.
Last edited by Mathivanan Palraj on 22 Dec 2017, 22:04, edited 1 time in total.
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 8288
Location: Pune, India
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

14 Mar 2016, 01:19
Viktoriaa wrote:
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

Put in some values to figure it out.

Say original Price per share (PPS) = $100 and original Earnings per share (EPS) =$100
Ratio PPS/EPS = 100/100 = 1

Say PPS increased by 20% (k) and became 120
Say EPS increased by 10% (m) and became 110
Ratio PPS/EPS = 12/11

This is an increase of 1/11 = 100/11 %

Only option (D) gives you 100/11 when k = 20 and m = 10

Karishma, in what cases would you advise to put in values rather than solve algebraically?

When the question doesn't give any concrete numbers and talks in terms of variables (the answer options would also be in terms of variables in that case), you can plug in values to get to the answer.
Percentage questions often provide an opportunity to plug in values too, say 100 for a base value.
_________________

Karishma
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor

Learn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their GMAT Prep Options >

GMAT self-study has never been more personalized or more fun. Try ORION Free!

Intern
Joined: 07 Oct 2015
Posts: 14
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

19 Jun 2016, 18:33
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and the earnings per share of Stock X increased by m percent, where k is greater than m. By what percent did the ratio of price per share to earnings per share increase, in terms of k and m?

A. k m %
B. (k – m) %
C. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k) %
D. [100(k – m)] / (100 + m) %
E. [100(k – m)] / (100 + k + m) %

Put in some values to figure it out.

Say original Price per share (PPS) = $100 and original Earnings per share (EPS) =$100
Ratio PPS/EPS = 100/100 = 1

Say PPS increased by 20% (k) and became 120
Say EPS increased by 10% (m) and became 110
Ratio PPS/EPS = 12/11

This is an increase of 1/11 = 100/11 %

Only option (D) gives you 100/11 when k = 20 and m = 10

How did you go from 12/11 to an increase of 100/11 percent?
Re: Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and &nbs [#permalink] 19 Jun 2016, 18:33

Go to page    1   2    Next  [ 38 posts ]

Display posts from previous: Sort by

# Last year the price per share of Stock X increased by k percent and

 new topic post reply Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews Important topics

## Events & Promotions

 Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.