ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)Hard
A military base has a budget of $450,000 for equipment upgrades. They spend 2/5 of the budget on communication systems and then 1/3 of the *remaining* budget on vehicle enhancements. How much money is left in the budget?
- A$270,000
- B$180,000
- C$120,000
- D$90,000
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. $180,000
First, calculate the amount spent on communication systems and the remaining budget. Then, calculate the amount spent on vehicle enhancements from the *new remaining* budget and subtract again.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This option is incorrect; it represents the amount remaining after only the first spending, not after both.
- C. This option is incorrect; it might result from calculation errors or incorrect fractional application.
- D. This option is incorrect; it might result from calculation errors or misunderstanding 'remaining budget'.
Successive Fractional Spending
Successive fractional spending involves calculating expenditures where subsequent fractions are applied to the *reduced* or remaining amount after previous expenditures.
- Each spending calculation uses the current remaining balance as its 'whole'.
- Often involves finding the fraction remaining after each step.
- Requires careful tracking of the current balance.
Memory trick: Imagine a wallet with money spent, then more spent from what's left.