The profits of QRS company rose 10% from March to April, then dropped

Question

The profits of QRS company rose 10% from March to April, then dropped 20% from April to May, then rose 50% from May to June. What was the percent increase for the whole quarter, from March to June?

A. 15% 
B. 32% 
C. 40% 
D. 62% 
E. 80%

Kudos for a correct  solution .

adityadon · Accepted Answer

Is answer B? 
Assume 100 in march , then 110 in April as 10% increase , Then 88 in may as 20% decrease from April , and then 132 in june which is 150% of 88 . 
So overall increase is from 100 to 132 is 32%

KS15 · Answer

+1 for B. Assuming profit as 100. 100+10=110
110-22=88
88+44=132
Net profit=132-100=32

Bunuel · Answer

MAGOOSH OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

Given the foregoing discussion, it may be obvious now the trap-mistake answer is (C), which results from simply adding and subtracting the percents. We need multipliers.

multiplier for a 10% increases = 1 + 0.10 = 1.1
multiplier for a 20% decreases = 1 – 0.20 = 0.8
multiplier for a 50% increases = 1 + 0.50 = 1.5

Now, multiply these. First, multiply (0.8) and (1.5), using the  doubling & halving trick . Half of 0.80 is 0.40, and twice 1.5 is 3
(0.8)*(1.5) = (0.4)*(3) = 1.2

Now, multiply this by 1.1
1.2*1.1 = 1.32

Thus, the three percent changes combined produce a 32% increase.

Answer = (B).

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

We can let the profit in March be 100. So the profit in April is 100 x 1.1 = 110, the profit in May is 110 x 0.8 = 88, and the profit in June is 88 x 1.5 = 132, which is a 32% increase from 100.

Answer: B

The profits of QRS company rose 10% from March to April, then dropped

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The profits of QRS company rose 10% from March to April, then dropped

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