The above is the simplest way to solve it.

Possible other solutions would become cumbersome.

Regards

YES

1/2 is 1/6th of 3 which means 16.67%

1/4 is 1/8th of 2 which means 12.5%

Increasing/decreasing length and breadth is like successive percentage increase/decrease in area

So successive percentage increase of 16.67 and 12.5 can be an overall 30% increase

But successive percentage decrease of 16.67 and 12.5 will be an overall decrease less than 29%

So -30% is not possible

Thank you Sir for the explanation

How did you calculate the percentage?

I am quite sure you do not read our quant book.

The % change is well explained here https://gre.myprepclub.com/forum/gre-quant ... tml#p52034

\(\frac{7.875-6}{6}=0.3125 \times 100 = 31.25\) which is \(\approx 31\)%

Regards

Oh ofcourse I did read all the chapters and percent change formula is easiest of all to remember. I didnt read this question correctly though that it is asking for percent change

In fact, the % change is what the question is asking you but it is not clearly stated. it is an inference reading it

We can answer this question by looking within the allowable ranges of percentage changes.


Largest possible area is the area with using the length and breadth with the highest possible values.

Highest possible Length, L = 3+(1/2) = 3.5
Highest possible Breadth, B = 2+(1/4) = 2.25

Max Area, A = LB = 3.5*2.25= 7.875

Highest percentage increase = ((7.875 - 6)*100)/6 = +31.25%


Smallest possible area is the area with using the length and breadth with the lowest possible values.

Lowest possible Length, L2 = 3-(1/2) = 2.5
Lowest possible Breadth, B2 = 2-(1/4) = 1.75

Min Area, A (min) = LB = 2.5*1.75 = 4.375

Highest percentage decrease = ((4.375 - 6)*100)/6 = -27.08%

Only options B, C, and D are in between -27.08% and +31.25% and are correct.

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