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Bunuel
Increasing the original price of a certain item by 25 percent and then increasing the new price by 25 percent is equivalent to increasing the original price by what percent?

A. 31.25
B. 37.50
C. 50.00
D. 52.50
E. 56.25



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X*1.25*1.25 = 1.5625 X
so there is a net increase of 56.25% . Answer E.
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Price * 1.25 * 1.25 = Price \(* \frac{5}{4}*\frac{5}{4}\) = Price * \(\frac{25}{16}\) = Price *(1 \(+ \frac{9}{16}\))

\(\frac{9}{16}\) is 1 sixteenth more than one half; one eighth is .125, so one sixteenth is .0625, so total increase is 56.25%.

Answer:D


i hope you meant to say Answer E.

I did! Whoops. Thanks for the correction!
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Hi All,

The math behind this prompt can be done in a number of different ways (using fractions, decimals or ratios). The prompt is perfect for TESTing VALUES.

We're told that the original price of an item is increased by 25% and then THAT price is increased by 25%....

IF....
Starting value = $100
+ 25% = 100 + .25(100) = 125

+ 25% = 125 + .25(125) = 125 + 31.25 = 156.25

The question asks how the final price relates to the original price. This is essentially about Percentage Change, which means we should use the Percentage Change Formula:

Percentage Change = (New - Old)/Old = Difference/Original

Doing either calculation will yield the same result:

56.25/100 = 56.25%

Final Answer:
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Let Orignal Cost be 100
First Increase = 100 *1.25 = 125
Second Increase = 125 * 1.25 = 156.25

Total Increase = 56.25
Ans : E
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Answer = E. 56.25

For initial price of 100, twice the hike of 25% means

\((100+25) * \frac{125}{100} = 156.25\)

Hike = 156.25 - 100 = 56.25
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Bunuel
Increasing the original price of a certain item by 25 percent and then increasing the new price by 25 percent is equivalent to increasing the original price by what percent?

A. 31.25
B. 37.50
C. 50.00
D. 52.50
E. 56.25


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MAGOOSH OFFICIAL SOLUTION:
Attachment:
increasefollowedbyincrease_text.PNG
increasefollowedbyincrease_text.PNG [ 19.7 KiB | Viewed 14822 times ]
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Bunuel
Increasing the original price of a certain item by 25 percent and then increasing the new price by 25 percent is equivalent to increasing the original price by what percent?

A. 31.25
B. 37.50
C. 50.00
D. 52.50
E. 56.25


Kudos for a correct solution.

Let original price = 100.
Increase by 25% = 125
Increase by 25% again = 125 * 1.25
= 156.25
This is 56.25 more than original price.

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Picked an easy number.

100*1,25 = 125
125*1,25 = 156,25
156,25 - 100 = 56,25
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Hi,

Could someone please tell me if we can use the Net change formula a+b+(ab/100)

Thanks!!
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Original = 100
New1 = 100 ( 1.25 ) = 125
New2 = 125(1.25) = 156.25
\(\frac{Change}{Original} = \frac{Percent}{100}\)
E
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I can’t do calculation : 1.25 * 1.25 = 156.25
Can anybody please tell me how to do these types of calculations faster?

Thank you.

Posted from my mobile device
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Hi Mansi89,

Most GMAT questions can be approached in more than one way (and sometimes the necessary calculations can even be done in different ways - or even estimated).

To start, this prompt is perfect for TESTing VALUES.

We're told that the original price of an item is increased by 25% and then THAT price is increased by 25%....

IF....
Starting value = $100
+ 25% = 100 + .25(100) = 125

+ 25% = 125 + .25(125) = 125 + 31.25 = 156.25

As an alternative, you might also consider converting your decimals to fractions:

(1.25)(1.25) = (5/4)(5/4) = 25/16 = 1 9/16

Since 1/16 is a little more than 6%, 9(a little more than 6%) = a little more than 54%

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