The hard drive, monitor, and printer for a certain... | Free GMAT Practice Question | GMAT Panda

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Question

The hard drive, monitor, and printer for a certain desktop computer system cost a total of 2,500USD. The cost of the printer and monitor together is equal to \frac{2}{3} of the cost of the hard drive. If the cost of the printer is 100USD more than the cost of the monitor, what is the cost of the printer?

Answer Choices

A. $800USD$
B. $600USD$
C. $550USD$
D. $500USD$
E. $350USD$

Steps

Explanation	Calculations	Help
$We first create variables for each item to avoid ambiguity$	$H = cost of the hard drive M = cost of the monitor P = cost of the printer$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-A Click to view full details
$We translate the statement that all three costs sum to 2,500USD$	$H + M + P = 2500$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-C Click to view full details
$We translate that the combined cost of printer and monitor equals two-thirds of the hard drive cost$	$P + M = \frac{2}{3} H$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS2-B Click to view full details Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-B Click to view full details
$We translate that the printer costs 100USD more than the monitor$	$P = M + 100$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-C Click to view full details
$We isolate the hard drive cost in terms of the monitor cost using algebra$	$2 M + 100 = \frac{2}{3} H H = 3 M + 150$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA1-A Click to view full details
$We substitute expressions for H and P into the total-cost equation$	$(3 M + 150) + M + (M + 100) = 2500$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA3-A Click to view full details
$We collect like terms and move constants to solve for M$	$5 M + 250 = 2500 5 M = 2250$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA1-B Click to view full details
$We divide both sides by 5 to find the monitor cost$	$M = 450$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA1-C Click to view full details
$We then find the printer cost by adding 100USD to the monitor cost$	$P = 450 + 100 = 550$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA3-A Click to view full details

Scroll horizontally to view all columns

Final Answer

550USD

Question

The hard drive, monitor, and printer for a certain desktop computer system cost a total of 2,500USD. The cost of the printer and monitor together is equal to \frac{2}{3} of the cost of the hard drive. If the cost of the printer is 100USD more than the cost of the monitor, what is the cost of the printer?

Answer Choices

A. $800USD$
B. $600USD$
C. $550USD$
D. $500USD$
E. $350USD$

Steps

Explanation	Calculations	Help
$We first create variables for each item to avoid ambiguity$	$H = cost of the hard drive M = cost of the monitor P = cost of the printer$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-A Click to view full details
$We translate the statement that all three costs sum to 2,500USD$	$H + M + P = 2500$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-C Click to view full details
$We translate that the combined cost of printer and monitor equals two-thirds of the hard drive cost$	$P + M = \frac{2}{3} H$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS2-B Click to view full details Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-B Click to view full details
$We translate that the printer costs 100USD more than the monitor$	$P = M + 100$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-C Click to view full details
$We isolate the hard drive cost in terms of the monitor cost using algebra$	$2 M + 100 = \frac{2}{3} H H = 3 M + 150$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA1-A Click to view full details
$We substitute expressions for H and P into the total-cost equation$	$(3 M + 150) + M + (M + 100) = 2500$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA3-A Click to view full details
$We collect like terms and move constants to solve for M$	$5 M + 250 = 2500 5 M = 2250$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA1-B Click to view full details
$We divide both sides by 5 to find the monitor cost$	$M = 450$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA1-C Click to view full details
$We then find the printer cost by adding 100USD to the monitor cost$	$P = 450 + 100 = 550$	Theory & Tactics Method Card EQUA3-A Click to view full details

Scroll horizontally to view all columns

Final Answer

550USD