GMAT data sufficiency practice. This one is a word problem testing basic understanding of ratio, and percents. Such questions often appear as part of the GMAT quantitative reasoning section.

1. Word Problem
Ratio, percents
Data Sufficiency – Question 7

2. Question
A candy manufacturer decided to decrease the weight of
each candy bar, while retaining the price. By how many cents
did the per kilogram cost of candy change after the reduction
in weight?
1. The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9
grams.
2. The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion

3. ◴Answer these questions before evaluating the statements.
Determine approach to solve the question
Step 1

4. Spend a few seconds answering the following questions
Before going to the statements
When is the data sufficient? Assign variables
The data is sufficient
when we are able to
find a unique value for
the change in cost per
kilogram of the candy.
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion

5. Spend a few seconds answering the following questions
Before going to the statements
When is the data sufficient? When is it not sufficient? Assign variables
The data is sufficient
when we are able to
find a unique value for
the change in cost per
kilogram of the candy.
The data is NOT sufficient
either when we get more
than one value or we are
not able to determine
the value.
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion

6. Spend a few seconds answering the following questions
Before going to the statements
When is the data sufficient? When is it not sufficient? Assign variables
The data is sufficient
when we are able to
find a unique value for
the change in cost per
kilogram of the candy.
The data is NOT sufficient
either when we get more
than one value or we are
not able to determine
the value.
Let x be the initial cost per
kilogram of the candies.
Let y be the cost per
kilogram after the weight
of the candies are
reduced. So, y > x
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion

7. Meticulously evaluate the statements to see whether we can find values for x and y
Approach to solve the question
Does statement 1 provide values for x and y or (y – x)?
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
Does statement 2 provide values for x and y or (y – x)?

8. Meticulously evaluate the statements to see whether we can find values for x and y
Approach to solve the question
Does statement 1 provide values for x and y or (y – x)?
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
Does statement 2 provide values for x and y or (y – x)?
If the answer to the previous 2 questions were NO, combine the data in the two statements to
see whether we can find values of x and y or (y – x).

9. ◴Evaluate Statement 1 alone
Step 2

10. By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 1 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams.
Yes
1
 Can we find x
using statement 1?
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion

11. By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 1 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams.
Yes
1
 Can we find x
using statement 1?
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
NO

12. By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 1 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams.
Yes
1
 Can we find x
using statement 1?
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
2
 Can we find y
using statement 1?
NO

13. By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 1 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams.
Yes
1
 Can we find x
using statement 1?
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
2
 Can we find y
using statement 1?
NONO

14. By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 1 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams.
Yes
1 3
 Can we find x
using statement 1?
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
2
 Can we find y
using statement 1?
NO
 Can we find
(y – x) using (1)?
NO

15. By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 1 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams.
Yes
1 3
 Can we find x
using statement 1?
NO
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
2
 Can we find y
using statement 1?
NO
 Can we find
(y – x) using (1)?
NO

16. By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 1 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams.
Yes
1 3
 Can we find x
using statement 1?
NO
Choices narrow
down to B, C or E.
Eliminate
choices A and D
Statement 1
alone is NOT
sufficient
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
2
 Can we find y
using statement 1?
NO
 Can we find
(y – x) using (1)?
NO

17. ◴Evaluate Statement 2 alone
Step 3

18. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
1
 Can we find x
using statement 2?
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 2 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%

19. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
1
 Can we find x
using statement 2?
NO
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 2 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%

20. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
1
 Can we find x
using statement 2?
2
 Can we find y
using statement 2?
NO
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 2 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%

21. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
1
 Can we find x
using statement 2?
2
 Can we find y
using statement 2?
NONO
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 2 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%

22. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
1
 Can we find x
using statement 2?
2
 Can we find y
using statement 2?
NO
 Can we find
(y – x) using (2)?
NO
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 2 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%
3

23. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
1
 Can we find x
using statement 2?
NO
2
 Can we find y
using statement 2?
NO
 Can we find
(y – x) using (2)?
NO
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 2 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%
3

24. Yes
Choices narrow
down to C or E.
Eliminate
choice B as well
Statement 2
alone is NOT
sufficient
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
1
 Can we find x
using statement 2?
NO
2
 Can we find y
using statement 2?
NO
 Can we find
(y – x) using (2)?
NO
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Statement 2 : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%
3

25. ◴Evaluate the data given in the two statements together
Step 4

26. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
What can we deduce?
Do we have the answer for (y – x)?
9% reduction is 9 grams .
Therefore, weight of each candy bar before the reduction in
weight is 100 grams.
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Combine the statements : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams & The
weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%
.

27. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
What can we deduce?
Do we have the answer for (y – x)?
9% reduction is 9 grams .
Therefore, weight of each candy bar before the reduction in
weight is 100 grams.
We still do not know x and y or (y – x )
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Combine the statements : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams & The
weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%
.

28. Yes
CombineStatement 2Statement 1ApproachQuestion StemQuestion
What can we deduce?
Do we have the answer for (y – x)?
9% reduction is 9 grams .
Therefore, weight of each candy bar before the reduction in
weight is 100 grams.
We still do not know x and y or (y – x )
By how many cents did the per kilogram cost of candy change?
Combine the statements : The weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9 grams & The
weight of each piece of candy bar reduced by 9%
.
Answer Choice E
Eliminate
choice C.
Statements
together are
NOT sufficient

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