The Ramos family of 4 is estimating the cost of a planned trip that in

Question

The Ramos family of 4 is estimating the cost of a planned trip that includes 4 round-trip airline tickets (each consisting of 2 nonstop flights—one to their destination and the other back home) and 1 hotel room for the 6 days/nights at their destination.

While at their destination, they can use public transportation, which they estimate will cost a total of $200, or they can rent a car. If they rent a car for the
6 days, they will be charged a total of $150 for parking at the hotel in addition to paying the daily rental fee for the car for each of the 6 days. Also, if and only if they rent a car, the 2 children will each need to be buckled into an appropriate child safety seat, which the Ramos family can take with them or rent for a separate fee where they rent the car. They are not including any estimated gasoline costs in their planning.

They plan to take a total of 3 suitcases on each of the nonstop flights, and each suitcase will be checked as a separate baggage item for each nonstop flight. If they take their own child safety seats, then each seat will be checked as a separate baggage item, and they will check a total of 5 baggage items on each flight.

SomeOneUnique · Accepted Answer

medhaojha   Thaania   satyapsr27   aarushi63

Q1. We need to calculate the difference between estimated costs if they use public transportation and if they rent ONLY a car.

While renting the car we need to decide whether to rent the child safety seats or to carry them with the flight baggage paying money for 2 additional baggage items.
It is mentioned that the family rents ONLY a car which means they are not renting child safety seats.
So they are carrying the seats with them. In this case according to 'Trip plans' tab, last line: If they take their own child safety seats, then they will check a total of 5 baggage items on each flight.
Airline Costs tab: A5 airline child safety seat baggage fee=$25x4=$100  
Based on the lowest daily car rental fees(excluding child safety seat charges), the family would pick company C2.
6 days car rent=27x6=$162
Parking charge=$150
Total car renting charge=$100+$162+$150=$412

Public transportation costs $200

The required difference=$412-$200=$212 (Option C)

Bunuel · Answer

Similar question, also from GMAT Prep focus, is here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-ramos-fa ... 26041.html

aarushi63 · Answer

Hello! Can you please explain the calculations of Q1? Please correct me where I am wrong.

Renting a Car: 405*4 (flight tickets) + 25*4 (luggage) + 27*6+150 (Car rental +parking) = 2032

Using Public Transportation: 405*4 (flight tickets) + 25*2 (luggage) + 200 (Public tran)
=1870

Difference = 2032 - 1870 + 162

dhyeyd · Answer

The baggage cost is per non-stop flight and there are two such flights included in one round-trip so will have to add 25*2 (child seat), so will add up to 162+50=212.

satyapsr27 · Answer

Hey I think there is no use of Airline Calculation in Question 1 as it talks about rental difference. If also we take the cost there is no mention of Child Safety seats. Kindly help as I am not getting the correct answer . getting 112

dhyeyd · Answer

Hi Satya, actually there is a mention of the child safety seats (1st tab-3rd paragraph) and we need to consider it as the cost of renting the safety seats would be higher than if the family carries it!
Hope this helps.

SomeOneUnique · Answer

aarushi63

According to 'Trip plans' tab, line "While at their destination, they can use public transportation, which they estimate will cost a TOTAL of $200".
With the total charge of $200, adding child safety seat charges is not required.
In short, while using public transport, the family need not carry kids in child safety seats because the passage claims  if and only if (not in public transport case) they rent a car, children require child safety seats.

Moreover,
1. if the family members take public transport, they need to pay for the flight tickets.
If the family members rent a car, they still need to pay for the flight tickets.
2. 3 suitcases also need to be paid for, in both cases.
Thus, flight tickets and suitcase charges will not contribute to the asked difference as they are common in both cases; calculation effort can be saved there.

Taking all this into account, your calculation can be re-framed as:
Renting a car:25*4 + 27*6 + 150 =$412
Using Public Transport: $200
Difference=$412-$200=$212 (Option C)

jasmineeeeee · Answer

In Q1, they are said to use flight option A5 which allows the first check-in item free. They have total 3 suitcases + 2 child safety seats and they are 4 people so surely one of the child safety seats will be the free checked in item for one person. Hence they have to only pay for 1 child safety seat. So even if counting for round trip and 2 child safety seats, shouldn't we go 25 * 2 and not 25 * 4?

SomeOneUnique · Answer

jasmine130698 
Q1. Suitcases and flight tickets would not contribute to the difference asked. You can save effort on that unwarranted calculation.
 1 free item on the round trip would be the mandatory suitcase  which the Ramos family must carry while going on the trip and while coming back.
For  optional child safety seats , the family would pay depending on their preferred mode of transportation.
Note: Baggage fees are per nonstop flight NOT per person.
Even then if you want to see through, here is the calculation.

While taking public transport:
Round-trip flight tickets cost per person= 405x4 = 1620
Going= (3 suitcases)0x1+25x2 = 50
Public Transport= 200
Coming back= (3 suitcases)0x1+25x2 = 50
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: $1,920
---------------------------------------------------------------------

While renting ONLY car:
Round-trip flight tickets cost per person= 405x4 = 1620
Going= (3 suitcases + 2  child safety seats = total 5 items to be carried ) 0x1+25x4 = 100 
(According to A5's policy, any 1 item for the family can be carried for free so 0x1+25x4.)
 6 days car rent from C3 company=27x6=$162
 Parking charge=$150 
Coming back= (3 suitcases + 2  child safety seats = total 5 items to be carried ) 0x1+25x4= 100
(According to A5's policy, any 1 item for the family can be carried for free so 0x1+25x4.) 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: $2,132
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Required difference= 2132-1920 = 212
 The required difference is $212 (Option C)

PS: Post updated for clarity.

jasmineeeeee · Answer

Referring to the last para of the first tab - "They plan to take a total of 3 suitcases on each of the nonstop flights, and each suitcase will be checked as a separate baggage item for each nonstop flight. If they take their own child safety seats, then each seat will be checked as a separate baggage item, and they will check a total of 5 baggage items on each flight."

I believe that in your calculation of While Renting Only car, the cost of one of the child safety seats should not be included IMO as it will be checked in as a free bag according to A5's policy (4 members are each allowed one free bag but they only have 3 suitcases, hence one child seat can be checked in for free)

bb · Answer

Question 3 is pretty straightforward:

Assume the Ramos family plans to take their own child safety seats for their children. In accordance with the Ramos family's plans for their trip, for each of the following airlines, select Yes if the total baggage fee for using that airline would be greater than the total baggage fee for using Airline A1. Otherwise, select No.

They  would have 5 luggage items. With airline 1, it is $125 total.    
   With airline 2, it is 30*3 = $90, so the answer is NO   
   With airline 3, it is $30*5=150, so the answer is YES   
   With airline 4, it is $25*5=125, so the answer is NO again because 125 is not greater than 125. This is the catch here.

Yes 
 No

X 
 Airline A2 
 
  X 
  
 Airline A3

X 
 Airline A4

adi007 · Answer

but You did not consider the initial baggage are also 3 which also makes up the cost to 50 dollar. Wont that should not be substracted

cheshire · Answer

No, because they are bringing that luggage regardless of if they take public transportation or if they rent a car.

iamgonnarockgmat · Answer

why are you taking 100 here ?? if you are taking 100 then it should be counted in public transportation as well

nish114 · Answer

as for q3 why do we consider baggage fees for the full family, i mean if the prices mention per person dont the baggage limits also refer it as per person??
like for a2: each person is entitled to carry 2 bags, so in total the family can carry 8bags for free??

cheshire · Answer

You don't need to bring car seats for public transportation so it's not included.

cheshire · Answer

a2 is cheaper than a1 either way so it doesn't affect the answer.

Robo_123 · Answer

Can someone please help with the second one?
C1 cost should be 200 by multiplying 30 x 6 + 10 x 2.
C2 = 186
C3 = 210
C4 = 236

Where am I wrong here?

Bunuel · Answer

Assume the Ramos family plans to rent a car and child safety seats for their children. In accordance with the Ramos family's plans for their trip, for each of the following car rental companies, select Yes if the total  daily  rental fees for using that company are greater than the total  daily  rental fees for using Company C1. Otherwise, select No.

You’re mixing things up in two ways.

The question is about daily rental fees, so for C1 it should be
30 + 2*10 = 50 per day, not a 6-day total.

Even if you wanted the 6-day total, the seats are per day per seat, so C1 should be
6*30 + 6*2*10 = 180 + 120 = 300, not 30*6 + 10*2 = 200.

	77
	102
	212
	350
	450

Yes	No
		Company C2
		Company C3
		Company C4

The Ramos family of 4 is estimating the cost of a planned trip that in

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