Last visit was: 05 May 2026, 22:31 It is currently 05 May 2026, 22:31
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
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 05 May 2026
Posts: 110,104
Own Kudos:
813,165
 [6]
Given Kudos: 106,051
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 110,104
Kudos: 813,165
 [6]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
pushpitkc
Joined: 26 Feb 2016
Last visit: 19 Feb 2025
Posts: 2,800
Own Kudos:
6,241
 [2]
Given Kudos: 47
Location: India
GPA: 3.12
Posts: 2,800
Kudos: 6,241
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
luffy_ueki
Joined: 23 Oct 2017
Last visit: 13 Apr 2020
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 44
Kudos: 20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
GMATGuruNY
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Last visit: 02 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,347
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9
Schools:Dartmouth College
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,347
Kudos: 3,914
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
John and Ed work for the same Sales Company. John receives a $600 basic salary plus 20 percent of any profit he realizes for the company in excess of $5,000, while Ed receives an $800 basic salary in addition to 40 percent of any profit he realizes for the company only if the total profit he realizes is greater than $8,000, otherwise he receives a flat salary of $1,000. For what amount of profit will both John and Ed earn the same amount?

A. $1,000
B. $1,200
C. $2,400
D. $6,000
E. $7,000

We can PLUG IN THE ANSWERS, which represent the amount of profit.

Since Ed earns a flat salary of $1000 if the amount of profit does not exceed $8000 -- and all of the answer choices are less than 8000 -- Ed's earnings = $1000.
Since John and Ed must earn the same amount, John must also earn $1000.

John earns a $600 base salary plus 20% of any profit in excess of $5000.
Thus, for John to earn $1000, the correct answer must be greater than 5000.
Eliminate A, B and C.
When the correct answer is plugged in, the amount of profit in excess of $5000 will yield John an additional $400 on top of his $600 base salary, bringing his total earnings to $1000.

D: 6000, implying $1000 profit in excess of $5000
Additional earnings for John = 20% of $1000 = 200.
Too small.
Eliminate D.



E: 7000, implying $2000 profit in excess of $5000
Additional earnings for John = 20% of $2000 = 400.
Success!
User avatar
adstudy
Joined: 11 Mar 2018
Last visit: 15 Dec 2023
Posts: 247
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 270
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37 (Online)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V37 (Online)
Posts: 247
Kudos: 439
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
John and Ed work for the same Sales Company. John receives a $600 basic salary plus 20 percent of any profit he realizes for the company in excess of $5,000, while Ed receives an $800 basic salary in addition to 40 percent of any profit he realizes for the company only if the total profit he realizes is greater than $8,000, otherwise he receives a flat salary of $1,000. For what amount of profit will both John and Ed earn the same amount?

A. $1,000
B. $1,200
C. $2,400
D. $6,000
E. $7,000

According to question -

John's earning => 600 + 20% (P - 5000) ------ (1)
where P is the amount company earned

Ed's earning => 800 + 40% (P)
where P is the amount company earned
----------------------------
Now if P < 8000 then
Ed's earning => 1000 ------ (2)

if P>8000
Ed's earning => 800 + 40% (Q) ------ (3)

Now question says for what profit (P) will they earn the same amount i.e John's earning = Ed's earning

Now if we look at the options, we see that P is less than 8000, therefore Ed's earning will be 1000 (From (2))

Therefore using (1) and (2)

600 + 20% (P - 5000) = 1000

On solving this we get P = 7000

Hence E
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,974
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,974
Kudos: 8,732
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
John and Ed work for the same Sales Company. John receives a $600 basic salary plus 20 percent of any profit he realizes for the company in excess of $5,000, while Ed receives an $800 basic salary in addition to 40 percent of any profit he realizes for the company only if the total profit he realizes is greater than $8,000, otherwise he receives a flat salary of $1,000. For what amount of profit will both John and Ed earn the same amount?

A. $1,000
B. $1,200
C. $2,400
D. $6,000
E. $7,000

Notice that Ed earns a higher basic salary and a higher percentage of the profit (if the profit is over $8000) than John. Therefore, there is no way John will earn the same amount as Ed unless the profit is not over $8000. In that case, Ed will only receive a flat salary of $1,000. Therefore, we can create the equation:

600 + 0.2(P - 5000) = 1000

0.2P - 1000 = 400

0.2P = 1400

P = 1400/0.2 = 14000/2 = 7000

Answer: E
User avatar
800Dreamer
Joined: 28 Jan 2017
Last visit: 04 Feb 2024
Posts: 188
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 186
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V36
WE:Consulting (Computer Software)
Products:
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V36
Posts: 188
Kudos: 187
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Many of you might be thinking that for Ed we need to check 2 cases. One less than and one greater than 8000.
But no.
See carefully the options. None is >8000.
So case 2 gone.
Only case is left ---> 0.2∗(x−5000)+600=1000

x=7000.

Solved in a minute.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 39,018
Own Kudos:
Posts: 39,018
Kudos: 1,123
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
110104 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts