If a stationery store owner buys 50% more identically-priced calendars

Question

If a stationery store owner buys 50% more identically-priced calendars than she usually purchases, she will be given a 20% discount off the standard price. Her total cost would then be 120 times the dollar value of the standard price of one calendar. How many calendars does she usually purchase?

A 40

B 80

C 100

D 120

E 140

A 40

B 80

C 100

D 120

E 140

Cez005 · Accepted Answer

If n=number of calendars usually purchased and x=standard price, then 1.5n*0.8x = 120x.

1.5n=120x/0.8x
1.5n=150
n=100

Kudos if you like the solution!

tryambaks · Answer

Let the Price is x per item
and the final number of items she bought is y items

So to buy y items , the cost will be .8x (80% of original price , since there is a 20% discount on it)
then,

120*x = y*0.8*x
Solving we get y =150

now to get the discount she bought 50% more than what she usually buys
So the number of items she usually buys is 50% less than 150 
i.e. original number of items she usually buys is = 150*(100/150) = 100

Hence Answer is (C)

Abhishek009 · Answer

Plug in some values it will be a matter of 30 seconds - Calculation.PNG Now, multiple quantity by 10 Amount changes as well and we have the complete calculation in line of the problem - Calculation 1.PNG Answer is definitely (C)

alphaprint · Answer

If a stationery store owner buys 20% more identically-priced calendars than she usually purchases, she will be given a 20% discount off the standard price. Her total cost would then be 120 times the dollar value of the standard price of one calendar. How many calendars does she usually purchase?

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Hi,
This is a Algebra question,
There are two ways to solve most of the Algebra question in GMAT.
1. Normal equation way.
2. Plugging in/ Back-Solving.
1. Normal Equation way:
This is like your school math; assume variables for the unknown quantities in the question.
Also try to keep variables minimal.
Here in this question,
Let “x” the usual price of each calendar and “n” be the usual number of purchase,
Question says, 20 percent discount given on the usual price and 50 percent more number of calendars purchased.

Price No. of Items 
“x” “n"
0.8x 1.5n

From the question,
120 * x = (0.8x)*(1.5n)
So n = 100
So that’s it, you just need to form the equation and find a relation given in the question.
In 30 seconds, if you are not able to construct the equation then think about the alternate way.

2. BackSolving:
Whenever it’s a equation type question, we can also use the answer choices and work backwards rather than solving it using equations.
Always start with answer choice “C”, because answer choices will be in order in GMAT.
Here the answer choice C is 100.
That is it means to usually hundred calendars purchased,
Let’s check whether it matches condition given in the question,

Price No. of Items

“x” 100
0.8x 150

Question says,
120 * x = 150 * 0.8x
Yes it is, 150 * 0.8 = 120.
Answer choice “C” matches the condition that, 120 times the initial cost is equal to the total cost.
So the answer is C.
Hope this helps

JeffTargetTestPrep · Answer

We can let q = the normal quantity purchased and p = the regular price. Thus:

(1.5q)(0.8p) = 120p

(1.5q)(0.8) = 120

1.2q = 120

q = 120/1.2 = 100

Answer: C

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

This prompt can also be solved with a combination of TESTing VALUES.

Here's how we can TEST VALUES using 'round numbers':

Regular price = $10 each 
Discount price = $8 each

To get the discounted price, we have to buy 50% more calendars... and that total spent would be 120 times $10...

(1.5X)($8) = (120)($10) 
$12X = $1200 
X = 100 calendars

Final Answer:  C

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

shreyagupta1401 · Answer

Let's say she buys A calendars for $B per calendar. She pays a total of $AB for A calendars.

Now if she buys 50% more calendars = 3A/2, she pays 20% less price per calendar = $4B/5. She pays a total of $3A/2 * 4B/5 = $6AB/5

The question says that the new amount ($6AB/5) = 120 times the price of each calendar = $120B

6AB/5 = 120B will give me value of A. A = 100.

MagnusSamIBA · Answer

We know:

Buying 50% more calendars → get 20% off

Total cost = 120 × price of 1 calendar (x)

Let’s work backward from the total cost:

Total cost = 120x
Discounted price = 0.8x →
So, number of calendars bought = 120x / 0.8x = 150

Now, if 150 is 50% more than usual, divide by 1.5:
150 / 1.5 = 100

Answer: C (100)

If a stationery store owner buys 50% more identically-priced calendars

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