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Bunuel
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John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. 23 Jun 2025, 00:30
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35% (medium)

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76% (02:17) correct 24% (02:42) wrong based on 136 sessions

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John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. John contributes three times as much as Steve, who contributes half as much as Mary. At the dealership, the trio buys the car and receives a 15% rebate. If they split the rebate funds proportional to each person's initial investment, how much more money does John receive back compared to Mary?

A. $400
B. $600
C. $1,200
D. $1,800
E. $3,600

Source: Veritas Prep

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John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. 23 Jun 2025, 01:12
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Let contribution by Steve be x

Contribution by John = 3x
Contribution by Mary = 2x

S:M:J
1:2:3

Extra money John receives back compared to Mary= 0.15*24000*(3-2) = 600


Bunuel
John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. John contributes three times as much as Steve, who contributes half as much as Mary. At the dealership, the trio buys the car and receives a 15% rebate. If they split the rebate funds proportional to each person's initial investment, how much more money does John receive back compared to Mary?

A. $400
B. $600
C. $1,200
D. $1,800
E. $3,600

Source: Veritas Prep

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Gentle note to all experts and tutors: Please refrain from replying to this question until the Official Answer (OA) is revealed. Let students attempt to solve it first. You are all welcome to contribute posts after the OA is posted. Thank you all for your cooperation!
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John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. 23 Jun 2025, 03:19
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Let M=x , S = 0.5x , J =1.5x

M+S+J = 24,000
3x = 24,000
x= 8,000

Investment by each equals
M = 8,000; S = 4,000 and J = 12,000

Rebate = 15%*24,000 = 3,600

J pays = 12,000/24,000 * 3,600 = 1,800
M pays = 8,000/24,000 * 3,600 = 1,200

Difference = 1800 - 1200 = 600

Answer B
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John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. 23 Jun 2025, 11:37
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Bunuel
John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. John contributes three times as much as Steve, who contributes half as much as Mary. At the dealership, the trio buys the car and receives a 15% rebate. If they split the rebate funds proportional to each person's initial investment, how much more money does John receive back compared to Mary?

A. $400
B. $600
C. $1,200
D. $1,800
E. $3,600

Source: Veritas Prep

­

Gentle note to all experts and tutors: Please refrain from replying to this question until the Official Answer (OA) is revealed. Let students attempt to solve it first. You are all welcome to contribute posts after the OA is posted. Thank you all for your cooperation!
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Let the contribution by John, Steve and Mary be J, S , M respectively.

J + S + M = $ 24,000

J = 3S

M = 2S

Hence, the equation becomes 3S+ S + 2S = 24000

6S = 24000

S = 4000

J:S:M = 3S : S : 2S = 3:1:2 ( the ratio of their investments).

They receive 15% rebate = 15%*(24000) = $3600.

J:S:M = 3S : S : 2S = 3x:1x:2x = 6x = $3600

x = $600.

John more than Mary is 3x -2x = x = $600

Option B
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John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. 23 Jun 2025, 19:51
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J+M+S= 24,000
J=3S and M=2S; J=(3/2)M
(3/2)M+M+(1/2)M=24,000
M=8,000
S=4,000
J=12,000
J:M:S=3:2:1
Rebate= 24,000*15%= 3600
J gets back = 3*600
And M gets back= 2*600
Difference= 1800-1200= 600

Answer: B
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John, Steve, and Mary are buying a car with a list price of $24,000. 26 Jun 2025, 09:47
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Express each person’s contribution in terms of Steve’s contribution.
\(\text{Let's call Steve's contribution} = S\)
\(\text{Then John’s contribution} = 3S\)
\(\text{And Mary’s contribution} = 2S\)

Determine the total combined contribution in terms of S.
\(\text{Total contribution} = S + 3S + 2S = 6S\)

Now we can calculate the total rebate amount as 15% of the car’s list price.
\(\text{Total rebate} = 24000 \times 0.15 = 3600\)

and find John’s share of the rebate proportional to his contribution.
\(\text{John’s share} = 3600 \times \frac{3S}{6S} = 3600 \times \frac{1}{2} = 1800\)

Now we can find Mary’s share of the rebate proportional to her contribution.
\(\text{Mary’s share} = 3600 \times \frac{2S}{6S} = 3600 \times \frac{1}{3} = 1200\)

Calculate how much more John receives compared to Mary.
\(1800 - 1200 = 600\)

Answer 600 (B)

Hope this helps!
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