On June 1 a bicycle dealer noted that the number of bicycles in stock

Question

On June 1 a bicycle dealer noted that the number of bicycles in stock had decreased by 4 for each of the past 5 months. If the stock continues to decrease at the same rate for the rest of the year, how many fewer bicycles will be in stock on September 1 than were in stock on January 1?

(A) 8
(B) 12
(C) 20
(D) 32
(E) 36

(A) 8 
(B) 12 
(C) 20 
(D) 32 
(E) 36

Abhishek009 · Answer

Please recheck the options , IMHO options will be -

Bunuel · Answer

_______________
Edited. Thank you.

Abhishek009 · Answer

Jan 1 = C
Feb 1 = C - 4
March 1 = C - 8 
April 1 = C - 12
May 1 = C - 16
June 1 = C - 20
July 1 = C - 24
Aug 1 = C - 28
Sept 1 = C - 32

Difference between stock on September 1 than were in stock on January 1 will be -

C - ( C - 32 )= 32
  
Hence answer will be (D)

hemanthPA · Answer

I feel like most of the solutions here do not capture the importance of a trick or a trap in this question.

it says that as of June 1st number of bicycles in stock had decreased by 4 for each of the past 5 months.

which means 5 months before June is Jan and in jan there was 4 less bicycles, cause it says "4 for each of the past 5 months"

now that would bring us the below

Say no of bicycles in stock be "x"

Jan = x -4
Feb = x - 8
.................June = x - 24 & Sep = x - 36

now the question asks us how many fewer bicycles will be in stock on September 1 than were in stock on January 1?

Diffrence of no of cycles between Jan and Sept = (x-4) - (x-36) = x-4-x+36 = 32

hence the diffrence is 32.

most or all soultions forgot to consider that even Jan is included in the 5 month period of 4 cycles short in the stock. (Remember its a trap)

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On June 1 a bicycle dealer noted that the number of bicycles in stock

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On June 1 a bicycle dealer noted that the number of bicycles in stock

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