Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 00:40 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 00:40
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
almirab
Joined: 24 Oct 2022
Last visit: 12 May 2024
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
976
 [85]
Location: Turkey
Posts: 11
Kudos: 976
 [85]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
80
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 18 Apr 2026
Posts: 11,230
Own Kudos:
44,980
 [20]
Given Kudos: 335
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,230
Kudos: 44,980
 [20]
17
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Edoua
Joined: 18 Feb 2024
Last visit: 16 Mar 2026
Posts: 103
Own Kudos:
55
 [2]
Given Kudos: 638
Posts: 103
Kudos: 55
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 18 Apr 2026
Posts: 11,230
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 335
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,230
Kudos: 44,980
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Edoua
Total value of all business in 2012
+(37501.22 *23) - 42998.33*44 = 862,528.06 -1,891,926.52 = -1,029,398.46

In. 2012 we have the value of all business -1,029,398.46 $

**In 2013
- (37985.15 *33) +( 38836.51*34) = 1,320,441.34 - 1,253,509.95 = 66,931.39

Increased

**in 2014
+(30521.97*28) - (41697.34*39) = -1,626,196.26 + 854,615.16= -771,581.1

Increased

** in 2014

+(31777.43*32) - (36522.13*35) = -1,278,274.55 + 1,016,877.76 = -261,396.79

Increased

Posted from my mobile device
­Try to approximate the amounts to save time. You mave have to look into the solution. Did you mean decreased for the years 2014 and 2015
User avatar
nikitathegreat
Joined: 16 Dec 2021
Last visit: 15 Apr 2026
Posts: 177
Own Kudos:
23
 [3]
Given Kudos: 110
Location: India
GMAT 1: 630 Q45 V31
Products:
GMAT 1: 630 Q45 V31
Posts: 177
Kudos: 23
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
chetan2u

Edoua
Total value of all business in 2012
+(37501.22 *23) - 42998.33*44 = 862,528.06 -1,891,926.52 = -1,029,398.46

In. 2012 we have the value of all business -1,029,398.46 $

**In 2013
- (37985.15 *33) +( 38836.51*34) = 1,320,441.34 - 1,253,509.95 = 66,931.39

Increased

**in 2014
+(30521.97*28) - (41697.34*39) = -1,626,196.26 + 854,615.16= -771,581.1

Increased

** in 2014

+(31777.43*32) - (36522.13*35) = -1,278,274.55 + 1,016,877.76 = -261,396.79

Increased

Posted from my mobile device
­Try to approximate the amounts to save time. You mave have to look into the solution. Did you mean decreased for the years 2014 and 2015
­How is the decrease for the last 2 years?
for 2012, it was negative 10L. For 2014 it is negative 7L. Then for 2014 it has increased right since -7L> -10L?
Similary for the next year. Can you tell me where I am going wrong?
User avatar
shyashyahs
Joined: 16 Sep 2024
Last visit: 22 Feb 2025
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
they are not talking about the value of the holding whereas the data given is about the average increase and decrease values , it is different from the value itself
nikitathegreat
chetan2u

Edoua
Total value of all business in 2012
+(37501.22 *23) - 42998.33*44 = 862,528.06 -1,891,926.52 = -1,029,398.46

In. 2012 we have the value of all business -1,029,398.46 $

**In 2013
- (37985.15 *33) +( 38836.51*34) = 1,320,441.34 - 1,253,509.95 = 66,931.39

Increased

**in 2014
+(30521.97*28) - (41697.34*39) = -1,626,196.26 + 854,615.16= -771,581.1

Increased

** in 2014

+(31777.43*32) - (36522.13*35) = -1,278,274.55 + 1,016,877.76 = -261,396.79

Increased

Posted from my mobile device
­Try to approximate the amounts to save time. You mave have to look into the solution. Did you mean decreased for the years 2014 and 2015
­How is the decrease for the last 2 years?
for 2012, it was negative 10L. For 2014 it is negative 7L. Then for 2014 it has increased right since -7L> -10L?
Similary for the next year. Can you tell me where I am going wrong?
User avatar
iamchinu97
Joined: 14 Dec 2020
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 136
Own Kudos:
145
 [1]
Given Kudos: 35
Products:
Posts: 136
Kudos: 145
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bb Can you please help here why the ans is not increased for last two as well. according to calculation even though value is in negative its increased from 2012 for other 2 as mentioned in above comments.
User avatar
cheshire
User avatar
DI Forum Moderator
Joined: 26 Jun 2025
Last visit: 18 Sep 2025
Posts: 261
Own Kudos:
299
 [3]
Given Kudos: 34
Posts: 261
Kudos: 299
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think the confusion comes from mixing up the year-to-year net changes with the cumulative change since 2012.
  1. 2013
    • Net change in 2013 alone: 34(38,836.51) - 33(37,985.15) = +$66,931
    • Since that is positive, Jan 1 2013 holdings exceed Jan 1 2012.
      Increased from 2012
  2. 2014
    • Net change in 2014 alone: 28(30,521.97) - 39*(41,697.34) = –$771,581
    • Cumulative 2012→2014 = +$66,931 (from 2013) + (–$771,581) = –$704,650
    • Because that total is negative, the Jan 1 2014 balance is below the Jan 1 2012 level.
      Did not increase from 2012
  3. 2015
    • Net change in 2015 alone: 32(31,777.43) - 35(36,522.13) = –$261,397
    • Cumulative 2012→2015 = –$704,650 + (–$261,397) = –$966,047
    • Still negative, so Jan 1 2015 is even further below the Jan 1 2012 total.
      Did not increase from 2012

Only 2013’s net effect turns the total positive. The negative cumulative sums for 2014 and 2015 mean the total holdings fell below the 2012 level, so those years “did not increase from 2012.”

iamchinu97
bb Can you please help here why the ans is not increased for last two as well. according to calculation even though value is in negative its increased from 2012 for other 2 as mentioned in above comments.
User avatar
steffe440
Joined: 29 Dec 2022
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 27
Own Kudos:
6
 [2]
Given Kudos: 32
Location: Sweden
Products:
Posts: 27
Kudos: 6
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The key to solving this quickly without a calculator is realizing that the question asks for the change relative to January 1, 2012. This means we are tracking the cumulative value over time, starting from zero at the beginning of 2012.

The 2012 Row is Irrelevant: The table shows changes "from the previous year." The 2012 row tells us the change from 2011 to 2012. Since our baseline is Jan 1, 2012, we ignore the 2012 row entirely. We start counting from the moment 2012 ends and 2013 begins.


2013 (Did it increase from 2012? YES): This one is straightforward. There were 34 businesses that increased (at a higher average of $38k) versus only 33 businesses that decreased (at a lower average of $37k). Since both the volume and the average value of increases are higher than the decreases, the net result for 2013 is positive. The total value definitely increased from the 2012 baseline.


2014 (Did it increase from 2012? NO): This is where estimation beats calculation. We need to see if the gain from 2013 is still alive after 2014. The 2013 net gain was small (a difference of just 1 business and $1k average). However, the 2014 net loss is massive. In 2014, there were only 28 increases (at a low average of $30k) compared to a huge 39 decreases (at a high average of $41k). The loss in 2014 is overwhelming. There are far more businesses losing money, and they are losing much more per business than the winners are gaining. This massive deficit easily wipes out the tiny buffer we built in 2013. We are now well below the 2012 baseline.


2015 (Did it increase from 2012? NO): We are already deep in the hole from 2014. The 2015 row shows another net loss (more businesses decreasing than increasing, and the average decrease is higher than the average increase). Adding another loss to an existing deficit means we are definitely still below the 2012 start point.

Conclusion: 2013: Increased 2014: Did not increase 2015: Did not increase
Moderators:
Math Expert
109715 posts
498 posts
210 posts