Therefore, (x -z) > (x—y), which means that x-z
represents小egreater of the numbers represented by
(x-z) and (x—y). Thus, x-z represents the greatest
of the numbers represented by出eanswer choices.
Al ternat1vely,
y>z given
-y<-z multiply both sides by -1
x-y<x—z add x to both sides
Thus, x—z represents the greater of the numbers
represented by (x -z) and (x—y). Therefore,
x - z represents the greatest of the numbers
represented by the answer choices.
Th e correct answer 1s A.
PS12926
- To order certain plants from a catalog, it costs
$3.00 per plant, plus a 5 percent sales tax, plus $6. 95
for shipping and handling regardless of the number
of plants ordered. If Company C ordered these plants
from the catalog at the total cost of $69.95, how
many plants did Company C order?
(A) 22
(Bl 21
(C) 20
(D) 19
(E) 18
Algebra
Letting x represent the number of plants
Company C bought from the catalog, then,
in dollars, 3.00x is the cost of the plants,
(0.05)(3.00x) is the sales tax, and 6.95 is the
shipping and handling fee. It follows that
3.00x + (0.05)(3.00x) + 6.95 == 69.95 plants+ tax+
shipping == total
(3.00x)(l.05) + 6.95 == 69.95 add like terms
(3.00x)(l.05) == 63.00 subtract 6.95
from both sides
x == 20 divide both sides
by (3.00)(1.05)
Therefore, Company C bought 20 plants from the
catalog.
Th e correct answer 1s C.
4.5 Answer Explanations
PS008!2
- A rug manufacturer produces rugs at a cost of $75
per rug. What is the manufacturer's gross profit from
the sale of 150 rugs if -^2 of the rugs are sold for $150
per rug and the rest are sold for $200 per rug?
(A) $10,350
(B) $11,250
(C) $13,750
(D) $16,250
(E) $17,800
Arithmetic
The gross profit from the sale of^150 rugs is equal
to the revenue from the sale of the rugs minus
the cost of producing them. For -of the 150
rugs— 100 of them—the gross profit per rug is
$150-$75 = $75. F or t e h remammg 50 rugs,
the gross profit per rug is $200 -$75 = $125.
The gross profit from the sale of the 150 rugs is
therefore 100 x $75 + 50 x $125 = $13,750.
Th e correct answer 1s C.
PS07793
- The value of Maureen's investment portfolio has
decreased by 5.8 percent since her们itialinvestment
in the portfolio. If her initial investment was $16,800,
what is the current value of the portfolio?
(A) $7,056.00
(B) $14,280.00
(C) $15,825.60
(D) $16,702.56
(El $17,774.40
Arithmetic
Maureen's initial investment was $16,800, and
it has decreased by 5.8%. Its current value is
therefore (100%—5.8%) = 94.2% of $16,800,
which is equal to 0.942 x $16,800. To make the
multiplication simpler, this can be expressed as
$(942 X 16.8). Thus multiplying, we obtain the
result of $15,825.60.
Th e correct answer 1s C.
