A frustrated greengrocer is trying to cell cucumbers at a price of $1.

Question

A frustrated greengrocer is trying to cell cucumbers at a price of $1.5 per Kg. Unfortunately he has no success. The greengrocer gives a discount of 18% on the original price but than the cucumbers are sold too fast so he raises the price again by 10%. At that final price, how many cucumbers can you buy for $4.5 assuming that there are 12 cucumbers per Kg and that only a whole number of Kgs are sold?

A. 25
B. 34
C. 40
D. 46
E. 48

A. 25
B. 34
C. 40
D. 46
E. 48

rohit8865 · Answer

Given discount 18% less on 1.5=$1.32
corrected price=10% increased on $1.32=$1.452
@ $4.5 one can buy 4.5/1.5(aprox.)=3 kgs
1kg has 12 cucumber so in 3 Kg= 3*12=36 cucumbers
as we approximated the corrected amount
Ans B seems the closer choice
Ans B

Divyadisha · Answer

New price = 1.5 *72/100 * 110/100
at $1.5, I can buy= 12 cucumber

at new price, I can buy = 12/1.5 *100/72 * 100/110

in $4.5, I can buy= 12/1.5 *100/72 * 100/110 *4.5= 45.5

D is the answer

Anigr16 · Answer

Confused with the wording or the options

If whole number of Kgs are to be sold, shouldn't the answer be a multiple of 12? That does not seem to be the case over here. Where am I going wrong? If we look on solving it- New Price: 1.5*.82*1.1 Kgs =4.5/(1.5*.82*1.1)= approx >3 Now since we have to take only whole number, I presume the value would be 3 So 3*12 = 36.. Closest value 34..option B Is this correct? Please advice

rohit8865 · Answer

Please reconsider the highlighted part...

rohit8865 · Answer

obviously...
if we do not take whole numbers,then ans would be 40...

Divyadisha · Answer

My bad

It should be 1.5 *82/100 *110/100 And hence the answer will be B thanks rohit8865 for pointing out the mistake.

ligeraks · Answer

I don't think you need to really solve. Only one option is a multiple of 12 and hence can be the answer....

AbhijitGoswami · Answer

Hi  Divyadisha ,

Can you plz explain why have you multiplied the first equation with (110/100) New price = 1.5 *72/100 *  110/100 
Because no where in the question it is mentioned that 10% rise in on discounted price or original price .

Regards,
Abhijit

Divyadisha · Answer

Hi! Abhijit,

It is mentioned in the question that greengrocer first reduced the price by 18% and then again increased the price by 10%

Let's say x was the price after 18% discount. The new price after increasing it to 10% will be x+10x/100= 110x/100

P.S:- instead of 72 it should be 82 as price was reduced by 18% (100-18=82)

Hope it is clear.

matsuda · Answer

I actually did all the math before looking at the answers choices, but then, when I saw it, I had to agree with you. But something is off:

I would agree with most users and their calculations because:
 Original price =\frac{1.5$}{kg} 
 New Price 1 = \frac{1.5$}{kg}*\frac{82}{100}= \frac{1.23$}{kg} 
 FinalPrice = \frac{1.5$}{kg}*\frac{110}{100} = \frac{1.353$}{kg}

So with 4.5$ you would be able to buy:

KG of Cucumbers = \frac{money I got}{finalPrice} = \frac{4.5}{1.353}kg = 3.32 kg  - or 3 whole kg of cucumbers (it doesn't matter if you round 1.353 to 1.35 or 1.36, it is still whole 3 kg)

So

NumberOfCucumbers = 12*3 = 36

But it is not in the answer choices.

Bunuel , any comments ?

jgnmhn29 · Answer

Ans is 40 cucumbers. ---> option C

first a discount of 18% = price changes to 1.23 
Then a increase of 10% on the discounted price, price changes to 1.353

So for $4.5, we can purchase 4.5/1.35 = 10/3 kg

if 1 kg = 12 cuc --> 10/3 will be 10/3*12 = 40 cuc

DensetsuNo · Answer

I found this explanation: 
1.5 x 0.82 = $1.23.
$1.23 x 1.1 = 1.353$
5 / 1.353 = 4 Kg and change = 48 cucumbers.

But  Bunuel  your take on it would be appreciated.

matsuda · Answer

DensetsuNo , why $5 and not $4.5? Or are you saying that would be right if it was $5 ?

DensetsuNo · Answer

matsuda , as I said I found it, I didn't reach it myself. If you google the problem you'll find a pdf from which Bunuel is likely to have taken the question, and there the author provides the aforementioned solution.

But I'm convinced that either the solution is wrong or the problem is really badly worded.

So I wouldn't stress it too much until  Bunuel  gives us his position on the problem.  :)

A frustrated greengrocer is trying to cell cucumbers at a price of $1.

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