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I used the following method.
when 2 consecutive percents are involved then we can use the following formula
total percent increase can be written as: x+y + x*y/100
So we found the total percentage as : 1026080 - 880000 = 146080 =>> (146080/880000) x100 =>> 16.60 %
Now if we compare with our formula we can only find 6 and 10 would satisfy the scenario.
Gmat860sanskar
Company T projected the number of international students studying in the United States (US) for three consecutive school years from 2014–2015 through 2016–2017. The projected numbers for the 2014–2015 school year and during the 2016–2017 school year would be 880,000 and 1,026,080, respectively. Let X % and Y % denote the company’s predicted percentage increase in the number of international students studying in the US from school year 2014–2015 to school year 2015–2016, and from school year 2015–2016 to school year 2016–2017, respectively. Both X and Y are positive integers, and X is less than Y.


In the table, identify the value of X and the value of Y. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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We can solve like this

SInce it was given 880000(1+x%)(1+y%)=1026080

880000(100+x)(100+y)/10000=1026080

(100+x)(100+y)=1026080/88=11660

(100+x)(100+y)=2*2*5*11*53

Since we know X<Y

we can see that

(100+x)(100+y)=2*2*5*11*53 can be written as (100+x)(100+y)=106*110

Hence X=6, y=10

Gmat860sanskar
Company T projected the number of international students studying in the United States (US) for three consecutive school years from 2014–2015 through 2016–2017. The projected numbers for the 2014–2015 school year and during the 2016–2017 school year would be 880,000 and 1,026,080, respectively. Let X % and Y % denote the company’s predicted percentage increase in the number of international students studying in the US from school year 2014–2015 to school year 2015–2016, and from school year 2015–2016 to school year 2016–2017, respectively. Both X and Y are positive integers, and X is less than Y.


In the table, identify the value of X and the value of Y. Make only two selections, one in each column.
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(1 + X/100)(1 + Y/100) = 1.166

Fastest exam shortcut
Notice:
1.166 = 1 + 0.16 + 0.006
For two successive increases:
a% + b% + (ab/100)
must equal 16.6%.
Among choices:
10 + 6 + (10×6)/100
= 16 + 0.6
= 16.6
Immediate match.
Answer: X = 6, Y = 10.
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What they are asking us: Year-on-year % increase over 2 consecutive periods (Y1 to Y2 and Y2 to Y3).

What they are telling us: Absolute values of Y1 and Y3.

First, approximate the values of Y1 and Y3 to the nearest 1000, i.e., 880 and 1026.

We can see that the overall % increase from Y1 to Y3 is 16.6% (using the calculator).
Therefore, the compounded increase of X% and Y% is 16.6%.

Therefore, X% + Y% will be approximately equal to 16.6% but cannot exceed 16.6%.
In fact, X% + Y% must be slightly less than 16.6% because of compounding.

We can immediately eliminate 2, 15, and 20 from both columns, because there is no combination among them that will satisfy the above requirements.

The only remaining question is whether it will be 6 and 10 or 10 and 6.
Since we are told that X is less than Y, we know that X must be 6 and Y must be 10.
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880,000(1+x%)(1+y%)=1026000
(1+x%)(1+y%)=1.1636...

this means the original value when first increases by x% and then by y% gives a value such as 16.36%
hence, the percentage increase must have been like x+y+xy/100 = 16.36%
we can just plug values and see how if x=6 and y=10, we get approx 16 percent.
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I see this question, as one of compounding. The percentage increase from 8.8 to 10 is a increase OF 16.6% [((1026-808)/880)*100] {approximation}

This 16.6% is equal to X+Y+XY/100 = 10 + 6 + 0.6. Hence, the answer.
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