Math questions and topics from the Official Guide and Quantitative Review books. Please try to follow the posting pattern (e.g. OG - DS - #142) to allow for easier searches. Questions posted in the GMAT Math section regarding the OG have been moved here.
Guest
 
 

OG - Quant Review #137

by Guest Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:01 am

Hello,

Just wanted some help on the following:

Last year Department store X had a sales total for December that was 4 times the average of the monthly sales totals for January through November. The sales total for December was what fraction of the sales total for the year?

In the solution, it assumes that the the sales total for december was 4 times the sales of each individual month from Jan - Nov. I assumed that it was 4 times the sales of all 11 months from Jan - Nov. What is the clue in the sentence that distinguishes between these two alternatives?

Thank you!
StaceyKoprince
ManhattanGMAT Staff
 
Posts: 9349
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
Location: Montreal
 

by StaceyKoprince Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:13 pm

Please post the answer choices as well, in case others want to study the whole problem.

"average of the monthly sales totals" means take each monthly sales total (11 values) and calculate an average - add them up and divide by 11. That gives you one monthly average - not an 11-month value.
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep
Greg
 
 

by Greg Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:03 am

I'm thinking 4/15 is the answer...