AbeNeedsAnswers wrote:Jones has worked at Firm X twice as many years as Green, and Green has worked at Firm X four years longer than Smith. How many years has Green worked at Firm X ?
(1) Jones has worked at Firm X 9 years longer than Smith.
(2) Green has worked at Firm X 5 years less than Jones.
D
Source: Official Guide 2020
We can also solve the question using
one variable
Given: Jones has worked at Firm X twice as many years as Green, and Green has worked at Firm X four years longer than Smith.
Let
G = the number of years Green worked at Firm X
So,
G - 4 = the number of years Smith worked at Firm X (since we're indirectly told Smith worked
4 years less than Green)
And
2G = the number of years Jones worked at Firm X (since we're told Jones has worked at Firm X
twice as many years as Green)
Target question: How many years has Green worked at Firm X?
In other words,
"What is the value of G?"
Statement 1: Jones has worked at Firm X 9 years longer than Smith.
In other words, (Jones' years) = (Smith's years) + 9
Replace values to get:
2G = (
G - 4) + 9
Simplify: 2G = G + 5
Solve:
G = 5
The answer to the target question is
Green worked at Firm X for 5 years
Since we can answer the
target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT
Statement 2: Green has worked at Firm X 5 years less than Jones.
In other words, (Green's years) = (Jones' years) - 5
Replace values to get:
G = (
2G) - 5
Solve:
G = 5
The answer to the target question is
Green worked at Firm X for 5 years
Since we can answer the
target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT
Answer: D
Cheers,
Brent
