GMAT Focus Practice Questions — All Questions

A jacket originally priced at $50 is discounted 20%, and then an additional 10% is taken off the reduced price. What is the final price?

• a.$35.00
• b.$34.00
• c.$36.00✓
• d.$30.00

Apply the discounts in sequence, not by adding them. First: 50 x 0.80 = 40. Then: 40 x 0.90 = 36. The final price is $36.00. (Adding 20% + 10% = 30% off would wrongly give $35.)

A car travels 240 miles in 4 hours and then 180 miles in 2 hours. What is its average speed for the entire trip?

• a.70 mph✓
• b.75 mph
• c.65 mph
• d.60 mph

Average speed = total distance / total time. Total distance = 240 + 180 = 420 miles. Total time = 4 + 2 = 6 hours. 420 / 6 = 70 mph. Averaging the two segment speeds (60 and 90) would be incorrect because the times differ.

If 3x + 7 = 22, what is the value of x?

• a.3
• b.5✓
• c.7
• d.15

Subtract 7 from both sides: 3x = 15. Divide by 3: x = 5. Check: 3(5) + 7 = 15 + 7 = 22.

A rectangle's length is twice its width, and its perimeter is 36. What is its area?

• a.36
• b.48
• c.60
• d.72✓

Let width = w and length = 2w. Perimeter = 2(w + 2w) = 6w = 36, so w = 6 and length = 12. Area = 6 x 12 = 72.

Pump A can fill a tank alone in 6 hours, and pump B can fill the same tank alone in 3 hours. Working together, how long will they take to fill it?

• a.1.5 hours
• b.2 hours✓
• c.2.5 hours
• d.4.5 hours

Add the rates: A fills 1/6 of the tank per hour and B fills 1/3 = 2/6 per hour. Combined rate = 3/6 = 1/2 tank per hour. Time = 1 / (1/2) = 2 hours.

A retailer marks up the cost of an item by 25% and sells it for $60. What was the item's cost?

• a.$40
• b.$45
• c.$48✓
• d.$50

Cost x 1.25 = 60, so cost = 60 / 1.25 = 48. Check: 48 + 25% of 48 = 48 + 12 = 60. The cost was $48.