From 1985 to 1994, what was the percent increase in total Un

Question

From 1985 to 1994, what was the percent increase in total United States trade?

(1) Total United States trade in 1985 was 17 percent of gross domestic product in 1985.
(2) Total United States trade in 1994 was 23 percent of gross domestic product in 1994.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

It's straight E. We don't know the change in gross domestic product from 1985 to 1994.

Answer: E.

Does this make sense?

Phoenix72 · Answer

Thanks Bunel got it now.Careless mistake at my end. I didn't consider the GDP change.

MathRevolution · Answer

This is a 2-by-2 question that frequently appears in the GMAT Math.
There are 4 variables (a, b, c and d) in the original condition and the question. In order match the number of variables to the number of equations, we need 4 equations. Since the condition 1) and the condition 2) each has 1 equation, there is high chance that E is the correct answer. In fact, using both the condition 1) and the condition 2), the correct answer is E.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Solution:

For figuring out the percentage change, we would need the trade values of 1985 and 1994.

St(1):- Total United States trade in 1985 was 17 percent of gross domestic product in 1985

No information provided or inferred on trade values  (Insufficient)

St(2):-Total United States trade in 1994 was 23 percent of gross domestic product in 1994

No information provided or inferred on trade values  (Insufficient)

On combining  both,
We still have no information on trade values  (option e)

Devmitra Sen
GMAT SME

BrentGMATPrepNow · Answer

Target question :    From 1985 to 1994, what was the percent increase in total United States trade?

Since we don't know the gross domestic product in 1985 and 1994, there's no way to answer the  target question  with certainty.
Consider these two possible cases:

Case a : In 1985 the gross domestic product was $100, and in 1994 the gross domestic product was $100 also. 
So, US trade in 1985 was $17, and US trade in 1994 was $23
This represents about an approximate   35% increase   from 1985 to 1994.

Case b : In 1985 the gross domestic product was $100,000 and in 1994 the gross domestic product was $100 also. 
So, US trade in 1985 was $17,000, and US trade in 1994 was $23
This represents an approximate   99.8% decrease   from 1985 to 1994.

Answer: E

Krishraj · Answer

I did not understand it in one go and took some time to understand because I took it as 17 per of GDP and 23 percent of GDP and then the GDP crosses out in the percentage change formula. However, we do not know if GDP stays the same throughout or if it might have changed between 1985 and 1994. Hence it is E.

From 1985 to 1994, what was the percent increase in total Un

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From 1985 to 1994, what was the percent increase in total Un

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