Organization A currently has 1050 members, Organization B currently ha

Question

Organization A currently has 1,050 members. Organization B currently has 1,550 members. The number of members of Organization A and the number of members of Organization B are increasing annually, each at its own constant rate. Analysts project that if each of these organizations maintains its constant annual rate of membership increase, five years from now they will for the first time have the same number of members, and in subsequent years Organization A will have more members than Organization B.

In the table below, identify a rate of increase, in members per year, for Organization A and a rate of increase, in members per year, for Organization B that together are consistent with the analysts’ projection. Make only one selection in each column.

vmelgargalan · Accepted Answer

1050 + 5x = 1550 + 5y

5x - 5y = 500

(Divide both sides by 5)

x - y = 100

Only two digits were x - y = 100 is 130 and 30

Rahul885 · Answer

I absolutely agree with you, even I tried solving it using a GP.
Just saying "  constant annual rate of member increase  " is  AMBIGUOUS.  As it can mean both:
1. constant additive growth or linear growth  OR 
2. constant percentage increase or compound growth

BUT!!!

NOTICE THE UNITS GIVEN IN THE TABLE.  "Rate of increase   (members per year)  " 
Now if I say organization increases with a constant rate, it does clearly means increase in members per year is constant, and hence in AP or linear growth.
 
I hope this helps 
(PS" even I stayed frustrated by this question for a long time)

brajeshc · Answer

If this is the case it will match numbers in a year or so ..

1050+1050*1.30 and 1550+1550*.3 ....

In my opinion 40 and 30 should be Answer

Baps · Answer

It is said that after 5 years, the number of employees in organization A will be equal to the number of employees in organization B. 
If we take 40 and 30 then after 5 years, the result will be :

Org A : 1,050 + (40*5) = 1,250

Org B : 1,550 + (30*5) = 1,700

It doesn't match, so it can't be our answers.

However, if you take 130 and 30 :

Org A : 1,050 + (130*5) = 1,700

Org B : 1,550 + (30*5) = 1,700

It's a match !

Answers : 130 and 30.

Vidhi96 · Answer

1050+5x=1550+5y x-y=100 Only 130 and 30 suffice

CRACKGMATNUT · Answer

Whats the OA? Shouldnt the andwer be A>40 and B>30 ?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OA is updated

Organization A: 130
Organization B: 30

Thank you!

Rogerper123 · Answer

Why do we solve by means of an arithmetic progression and not a geometric prgression?

What I initially did was 1050*a^5 = 1550*b^5. a and b being A and B respective constant rates.

djangobackend · Answer

is my approach correct ?

Initally they have difference of 1550-1050 = 500 in b/w them and this 500 needs to be covered in 5 yrs and since rates are same so each year they will cover 500/5 = 100 ka difference 
now, since A surpasses B afterwards so A's rate is more than B and only 130 and 30 can be valid options since only then the difference of 100 in a year can be covered 
A moved ahead by 130, B moved ahead by 30 so overall difference b/w is 100

Rahul885 · Answer

Yes,  Your approach is correct as well, and it works because of the constant additive rates.
To clarify it lets look at this more mathematically:

1050 + 5a = 1550 + 5b
(Here a is the constant additive rate by which org A is growing and likewise for B)

1550-1050 = 5(a-b)
(a-b)=500/5 ---- This is what you arrived at directly
a-b =100

Hope this helps!
Regards.

Annukiran · Answer

Here there is a fault- the question explicitly states the number of member increases by a constant rate(not constant number) so there will a compounding of the number every year. if the question would have said by a constant number then we could use your method............

vmelgargalan

1050 + 5x = 1550 + 5y

5x - 5y = 500

(Divide both sides by 5)

x - y = 100

Only two digits were x - y = 100 is 130 and 30

bumpbot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.

Organization A currently has 1050 members, Organization B currently ha

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

Organization A	Organization B	Rate of increase (members per year)
		10
		30
		40
		120
		130
		150

GMAT Two-part Analysis (TPA) Questions

Organization A currently has 1050 members, Organization B currently ha

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards