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The current erection cost of a structure is Rs. $13,200$. If the labour wages per day increase by $\frac 1 5$ of the current wages and the working hours decrease by $\frac 1 {24}$ of the current period, then the new cost of erection in Rs. is

$(A)\ 16,500$.

$(B)\ 15,180$.

$(C)\ 11,000$.

$(D)\ 10,120$.

I have got an answer different from the answer which is approximately equal to $16528$. Which is very close to option $(A)$. Is it correct? Please help me in this regard.

Thank you very much.

Attempt:

Labour wages increment is proportional to erection cost and working hours decrement is reverse proportional to the erection cost.

So the required erection cost is $13200×\frac{\frac65}{\frac{23}{24}}$ which simplifies to $16528$ (approx.)

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    $\begingroup$ Welcome to Math StackExchange! Please tell us how you got the answer of $16528$. Explaining what you did will help us understand where you went wrong and allow us to give you more assistance. $\endgroup$
    – Noble Mushtak
    Oct 20, 2018 at 19:47
  • $\begingroup$ What's that? Just at the very beginning $3$ downvotes. Who are bloodies? $\endgroup$
    – math maniac.
    Oct 20, 2018 at 19:47
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    $\begingroup$ Labour wages increment is proportional to erection cost and working hours decrement is reverse proportional to the erection cost. $\endgroup$
    – math maniac.
    Oct 20, 2018 at 19:49
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    $\begingroup$ So the required erection cost is $\frac {13200 \times \frac 6 5} {\frac {23} {24}}$ which simplifies to $16528$ (approx.). $\endgroup$
    – math maniac.
    Oct 20, 2018 at 19:52
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    $\begingroup$ math maniac: Please add your work and thoughts in an edit to your question, and not only in comments. Else, it is bound to be overlooked. In any case, the information you've added in comments is what belongs in your question post, as it is the question post that is posted that is and will be evaluated. $\endgroup$
    – amWhy
    Oct 20, 2018 at 20:14

2 Answers 2

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Suppose we assuming that the total number of hours needed remain the same, then indeed your solution is correct, that is the answer is

$$13200 \times \frac65 \times \frac{24}{23} \approx 16528$$

which unfortunately not one of the option.

However, suppose for some reason, their efficiency improves and the days needed remains the same, then the answer is $$13200 \times \frac65 \times \frac{23}{24}=15180.$$

This is a badly framed question where the setting is not clear.

Just FYI, $13200 \times \frac65 \times \frac{25}{24}$ gives you the first option but it is not correct.

I am aware of the background of the question which is from GATE, the answer key is $B$, hence they have assumed that the number of days required remain the same.

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  • $\begingroup$ Yeah this is what I have said. The efficiency of the workers cannot be improved all of a sudden. So the second case that you and Noble Mushtak have mentioned is somewhat absurd unless some extra conditions were given in the question. Isn't it so @Siong Thye Goh. $\endgroup$
    – math maniac.
    Oct 22, 2018 at 8:43
  • $\begingroup$ Seems like a question understanding problem now, rather than a maths problem. $\endgroup$
    – Siong Thye Goh
    Oct 22, 2018 at 8:56
  • $\begingroup$ Yeah! 😕😕 You are right! $\endgroup$
    – math maniac.
    Oct 22, 2018 at 14:05
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As you said, the increase in erection cost is proportional to the increase in wages, so the new cost after wages increase is:

$$13,200\cdot \left(1+\frac{1}{5}\right)=15,840$$

Now, the decrease in working hours is actually proportional to the decrease in wages because if the working hours decrease, then since the workers are on an hourly wages, the amount you need to pay the workers also decreases, so the erection cost decreases. Thus, the new cost after wages increase and hours decrease is:

$$13,200\cdot \left(1+\frac{1}{5}\right)\cdot (1-\frac{1}{24})=13,200\cdot\frac{6}{5}\cdot\frac{23}{24} =15,180$$

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