S&K Capital Partners is a venture capital firm that divides its employees into three classes: Analysts, Associates, and Partners. The firm has been stable in size for the last 30 years, ignoring growth opportunities in the 90s, but also not suffering from a need to downsize in the recession at the beginning of the 21st century. Specifically, there have been - and are expected to be - 200 Analysts, 60 Associates, and 20 Partners.

The work environment at S&K is rather competitive. After four years of working as an Analyst, an employee goes "either up or out"; that is, becomes an Associate or is dismissed from the company. Similarly, after working as an Associate for six years, an Associate either becomes a Partner or is dismissed. The company recruits MBAs as Analysts; no hires are made at the Associate or Partner level.

Q6. Every year 2 associates are promoted to Partner level. How many years on average does a Partner stay in the company?