M28-23

Question

Mary spent 64 percent of her salary on food (including meat) and 16 percent of her salary on meat. What percent of her salary spent on food was not spent on meat?

A.  16% 
B.  25% 
C.  32% 
D.  48% 
E.  75%

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Official Solution:

Mary spent 64 percent of her salary on food (including meat) and 16 percent of her salary on meat. What percent of her salary spent on food was not spent on meat?

A.  16% 
B.  25% 
C.  32% 
D.  48% 
E.  75%

Mary spent:
 
64% of her salary on food (including meat);
 
16% of her salary on meat;
 
Therefore, 64% - 16% = 48% of her salary was spent on food excluding meat. Thus,  \frac{48}{64} = \frac{3}{4} = 75\%  of the salary spent on food was not spent on meat.

Answer: E

amanvermagmat · Answer

Hi

The question clearly says "64% on food (including meat) and 16% on meat". This means out of Rs 100, Rs 64 spent on food and out of those 64, Rs 16 spent on meat. So Rs (64-16) = Rs 48 spent on food but not on meat.

Required percentage = 48/64 * 100

ssr300 · Answer

I think this is a  poor-quality  question and I agree with explanation. poor question wording. makes it seem as if there were two. a 64% which had meat and non meat, then another 16% that had only meat.

PrayasT · Answer

I think this is a  high-quality  question and I agree with explanation.

sunilreddy · Answer

tricked with wording. 64-14= 48 and 3/4*100=75%

nust2017 · Answer

Blinder of a question!

carma19 · Answer

I think this is a  high-quality question  and I agree with explanation.

Bunuel · Answer

I have edited the question and the solution by adding more details to enhance its clarity. I hope it is now easier to understand.

BaoN. · Answer

I think this is a  high-quality  question and I agree with explanation. I think this is a high-quality question.
The wording trick is very similar to that of real GMAT questions. This reminds us to always be careful on tests.

aronbhati · Answer

Hi Bunuel,

I don't understand the wording of the last sentence of the question.

I don't understand why we have divided 48/64 in order to calculate percentage. 48% is nothing but 48% of salary spent on food and not on meat.

Can you explain so I can understand why you have divided 48/64

Bunuel · Answer

The question asks: what percent of the  food budget  was not spent on meat, not what percent of the  salary .

Mary spent 64% of her salary on food, and 16% on meat. So 48% of her salary was spent on food  excluding  meat.

To find what portion of the  food  budget that is, we divide:

48/64 = 75%

So, 75% of the  food spending  was not on meat. That's why 48 is divided by 64.

anushree01 · Answer

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

M28-23

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