GRE Math : Sale Prices

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #881 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

Jenny is at a store and would like to buy a shirt. The shirt is labelled \dpi{100} \small 20\% off, and the store is having a store-wide sale where everything is \dpi{100} \small 15\% off. What percent of the original price does Jenny have to pay? 

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 68\%

\dpi{100} \small 65\%

\dpi{100} \small .68\%

\dpi{100} \small 75\%

\dpi{100} \small .75\%

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 68\%

Explanation:

Based on the shirts label, Jenny should pay \dpi{100} \small 80\% of the full price. With the store's discount, she will pay \dpi{100} \small 85\% of this. Thus, she will pay \dpi{100} \small .8\times .85=.68 of the full price. This is equivalent to \dpi{100} \small 68\%

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Sale Price

A car dealer purchased a used truck, marked it up to make a 30% profit, then sold it at a 30% discount from the sticker price.

Quantity A: The amount that the dealer paid for the truck

Quantity B: The amount for which the dealer sold the truck

Possible Answers:

Quantity B is greater

The two quantities are equal

Quantity A is greater

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater

Explanation:

Since no price is given, you can pick $100 as the starting point for the value of the truck. $100 marked up 30% is $130, and the 30% discount brings it to $91.

Example Question #12 : How To Find The Sale Price

A retail chain wishes to make at least a  profit on a new item. If it can only sell its items for integer values, what is the lowest price it can sell the item for if it costs the chain  to purchase it?

Possible Answers:

None of the answers are correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let's begin by finding the absolute amount necessary for a 27% profit. Following that, we will adjust for the needs of having a whole number price.  If the sale price is S, we can set up the following equation:

(S – 23)/23 = 0.27

S – 23 = 6.21

S = 29.21

The product must, however, be sold for at least $30 because it has to be an integer value.

Example Question #11 : Sale Prices

A car dealer sold two trucks for  each, resulting in a  profit on one truck and a  loss on the other.

Quantity A: The dealer's net gain

Quantity B: The dealer's net loss

Possible Answers:

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity A is greater.

Quantity B is greater.

Correct answer:

Quantity B is greater.

Explanation:

For the profitable truck, the dealer bought it for , where . Therefore, .

For the unprofitable truck, the dealer bought it for , where . Therefore, .

Thus, the dealer's net profit is $8,000, and the dealer's net loss is $10,000.

His loss is greater than his profit, so Quantity B is larger.

Example Question #14 : How To Find The Sale Price

The price of a laptop is reduced by . During a markdown sale, the price is reduced by another . What is the total percentage discount?

Possible Answers:

Cannot be determined

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, imagine that the original price of the laptop is $100. After the first 20% discount, the price of the laptop becomes $80. With the additional 10% reduction, we discount from $80, not $100. 10% of 80 is 8 so we must deduct $8 from $80. This gives $72 as the final price of the laptop after both reductions. Since we started at $100, the total discount is 28%.

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