EM Normandie 11 / 01 / 2021
1937: What does the entrance examination for ESC Le Havre look like?
The examination covered French composition, geography, applied arithmetic and algebra. Candidates had to master both language and figures, and of course have a critical mind. Try putting yourself in the shoes of a candidate (see below):
The examination covered French composition, geography, applied arithmetic and algebra. Candidates had to master both language and figures, and of course have a critical mind. Try putting yourself in the shoes of a candidate (see below):
Applied arithmetic
The staff of a trading firm are paid as follows:
- Each employee, whether present or on leave, receives 250 francs per fortnight.
- A bonus is calculated on the total amount of sales for the fortnight and distributed equally among all employees present.
All employees were present the first fortnight of July, and the bonus rate was 1.25%.
For the second fortnight, four employees were on leave and the rate was raised to 1.875%.
The total turnover each fortnight was proportional to the number of employees present.
The total compensation the company paid its employees remained the same in both cases, i.e. 18,600 francs.
Calculate:
- 1) The number of employees employed by the firm.
- 2) The turnover for each fortnight.
- 3) The salary of one employee present in each fortnight.
French composition
Explain and discuss this text by Montesquieu: “The natural effect of trade is to bring about peace because all unions are founded on natural requirements. However, two nations which trade with one another become mutually dependent”.
