The monthly incomes of X and Y are in the ratio of 4: 3 and their monthly expenses are in the ratio of 3: 2. However, each saves ₹ 6,000 per month. What is their total monthly income?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) ₹ 42,000
Let incomes be 4k and 3k and expenses 3m and 2m. Equal savings give 4k − 3m = 3k − 2m, so k = m, and then 4k − 3k = ₹6,000 gives k = ₹6,000. Total income = 7k = ₹42,000.
- Incomes: 4k and 3k; expenses: 3m and 2m.
- Savings: 4k − 3m = 6000 and 3k − 2m = 6000.
- Subtracting: k − m = 0, so m = k. Then 4k − 3k = k = 6000.
- Total income = 4k + 3k = 7 × 6000 = ₹42,000.
- Check: X earns ₹24,000 and spends ₹18,000; Y earns ₹18,000 and spends ₹12,000 — each saves ₹6,000.
Remember · When both save the same amount, equate the two savings expressions first — it links the two ratio multipliers.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·