MPA& MBA PROGRAMME

Analytical Skills

Daw Thazin Htwe

Associate Professor
Department of Economics
(1) Bob breaks up a 220-mile trip into three parts. If the first part of the
trip is 20 miles longer than the second part of the trip, and the third part
of the trip is 50 miles longer than the second part of the trip, how many
miles was the second part of the trip?

A.50 B.60 C. 70 D.80 E.100

Solution
Let f = the number of miles of the first part of the trip.
Let s = the number of miles of the second part of the trip.
Let t = the number of miles of the third part of the trip.
The sum of the three parts is 220 miles, so f + s + t = 220.
The first part of the trip is 20 miles longer than the second part, so f = s +
20.
The third part of the trip is 50 miles longer than the second part, t = s + 50.
To solve for s, substitute (s + 20) for f and (s + 50) for t in the original
equation:
(s + 20) + s + (s + 50) = 220
3s + 70 = 220
3s = 150
s = 50
(2) A certain store sells only shirts and ties. The price of a shirt is
$40 and the price of a tie is $20. If Bob pays $340 for 10 items from
this store, how many shirts did he purchase?

A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6 E. 7
 Solution

Let S = the number of shirts Bob purchases.

Let T = the number of ties Bob purchases.
S + T= 10.
($per shirt) × (number of shirts) = 40 S
($per tie) × (number of ties) = 20 T
40 S + 20T = 340
S + T= 10
40S + 20T = 340
T = 10 – S
40S + 20(10 – S) = 340
40S + 200 – 20S = 340
20S = 140
S=7
(3) Michel is 10 years older than Jack. In 2 years, Michel will be double
Jack’s age. How old will Michel be in 5 years?

A.8 B. 18 C. 22 D. 23 E. 27
Let m = Michel’s current age

Let j = Jack’s current age

m = j + 10

m + 2 = 2(j + 2)

m– 10 = j
Substitute m – 10 for j

m + 2 = 2(m – 10 + 2)
m + 2 = 2(m – 8)
m + 2 = 2m – 16
18 = m
(4) Telecharge charges $0.75 for the first minute of a call and $0.25

for each minute thereafter. If total cost for a Telecharge call is $5.75,

how many minutes long was the call?

A. 18 B. 19 C. 20 D. 21 E. 22
Solution

Let L = length of the call

0.75 + 0.25(L – 1) = 5.75

0.75 + 0.25(L – 1) = 5.75

0.75 + 0.25L – 0.25 = 5.75

0.5 + 0.25L = 5.75

0.25L = 5.25

L = 21
(5) The average of a and b is 70. The average of a and c is 100. What
is b – c ?

(A ) –60 (B) –30 (C) 15 (D) 30 (E) 60

Solution

A = Average
A = S/N
(a + b )/ 2 = 70
a + b = 140
A = S /N
(a + c)/ 2 = 100
a + c = 200 ……………………………(1)
Now set up a system of equations to solve for b – c:
a + b = 140 …………………………….(2)

Subtract eq (1) from eq (2)

a + b = 140
–a – c = –200
___________________
b – c = –60
6. The set of numbers 2, 3, 5, 9, 11, x is in increasing order. If the

average of the set equals the median, what is x?

A .12 B. 14 C. 15 D.30 E. 42
Solution

Since the set has an even number of items, the median is the average
of the two middle terms:

(5 + 9)/2 = 7

The average of the set is (2 + 3 + 5 + 9 + 11 + x )/6 = (30 + x)/6

Given, the average equals the median

(30 + x)/6 = 7
30 + x = 42
x = 12
7. In 2012, a store’s average monthly revenue was $20,000. For the
first 10 months of the year, the store’s average monthly revenue
was $18,000. If the revenue in December was 50% greater than the
revenue in November, what was the store’s revenue in November?

A. 24,000 B. 30,000 C. 36,000 D .48,000 E. 56,000

Solution
Revenue for the entire year = average monthly revenue × number of months

= $20,000 × 12

= $240,000.

Revenue for the first 10 months =average monthly revenue × number of months

= $18,000 × 10

= $180,000.
The revenue for the last two months = $240,000 – $180,000 = $60,000.
Solution(con’d)

Let n = the revenue in November.

Since the revenue in December was 50% greater than the revenue in
November,

Revenue in December = 1.5 n = n

Solve for n:
n + ( ) n = 60,000
( ) n = 60,000
n = 24,000
(8) Train A and train B start at the same point and travel in opposite
directions. Train A travels at a constant rate of 80 miles per hour, and
train B travels at a constant rate of 60 miles per hour. If train A starts
traveling 2 hours before train B, how many miles will train A have
traveled when the two trains are 720 miles apart?
A.200 B.280 C.350 D.400 E.480
Let t = the number of hours Train A travels.

Since Train A started 2 hours before Train B, and the two trains stop traveling at the same time,

Train B must have traveled t – 2 hours.

Train A’s distance is 80t and Train B’s distance is 60 (t –2).

rate (mi/hr) × time (hr) = distance (miles)

Train A: 80 × t = 80t
Train B: 60 × t – 2 = 60(t – 2)

Train A’s distance + Train B’s distance = 720

80t + 60(t – 2) = 720
80t + 60t – 120 = 720
140t = 840
t = 6
Train A: 80 × t = 80t
80 × 6 = 80(6)
9. An asteroid travels through space at a constant rate of 2.6 million
feet per day. If the distance between the asteroid and a certain planet is
10.2 million feet, approximately how many seconds will it take the
asteroid to reach the planet?

A. 80,000 B. 120,000 C. 200,000 D. 250,000 E. 350,000

Solution
R×T=D
2.6 million × T = 10.2 million
T = 10.2 million / 2.6 million =
= approximately 4 days
Convert days to seconds,1 day = 24 hours
= 60(24) minutes
= 60(60)(24) seconds
= 86,400 seconds
The number of seconds in 4 days = 86,400 × 4 = 345,600 seconds
The closest answer is 350,000