Critical Reasoning

Two business school students, Maya and Dana, received the same overall grade in only one of four classes. Each grade was on a scale of 1 to 10.

From which of the following statements can one determine whose average overall grade was higher?

(A) Maya graduated at the top of her class
(B) Maya's lowest grade was less than or equal to Dana’s highest grade
(C) Maya's highest grade and Dana's lowest grade were in the same class
(D) Maya scored higher than Dana in two areas and neither girl scored lower than 5 in any class
(E) Dana received a grade of 10 in three classes and Maya did not score higher than 8 in any class

OA: B

why not E?

My reasoning:
total 4 classes out of which in one class both got equal.
as per E, Dana got 30 in rest and Maya's highest would have been 24 (not considering the class in which both of them scored same). So clearly Dana's average would be greater than Maya's

gmataug08 wrote:Two business school students, Maya and Dana, received the same overall grade in only one of four classes. Each grade was on a scale of 1 to 10.

From which of the following statements can one determine whose average overall grade was higher?

(A) Maya graduated at the top of her class
(B) Maya's lowest grade was less than or equal to Dana’s highest grade
(C) Maya's highest grade and Dana's lowest grade were in the same class
(D) Maya scored higher than Dana in two areas and neither girl scored lower than 5 in any class
(E) Dana received a grade of 10 in three classes and Maya did not score higher than 8 in any class

OA: B

why not E?

My reasoning:
total 4 classes out of which in one class both got equal.
as per E, Dana got 30 in rest and Maya's highest would have been 24 (not considering the class in which both of them scored same). So clearly Dana's average would be greater than Maya's

Assuming that the OA given is right, I wonder if we have made an assumption that both take the same number of classes.
If Maya takes only two classes and got grade 8 in one of the classes, the grade that is the same as the one that Dana got, choice B only gives reason to say Maya's average is higher than Dana's.
In other words, let's say Maya's another grade is 10, but Dana's highest grade is 9, then Maya's lowest grade is 8 which is lower than 9. In this case, Maya's average grade is always higher than Dana's.
Any other thoughts? Thx.

A - Dana could have graduated at the top of the class with Maya.
B - Dana or Maya could have a higher average.
C - So what? This says nothing about what grade each got. Their grades could be anything.
D - Dana could've still averaged higher than Maya overall.
E - Has to be correct.

It's E. B is absolutely wrong.

Let's say Maya's lowest grade is 2. Let's make Dana's highest grade 10.
2 is <= 10

M = 2, 9, 9, 10; total 30
D = 5, 7, 10, 10; total 32 Dana will have a higher average.

What about this scenario?

M = 2, 9, 9, 10; total 30
D = 3, 7, 10, 10; total 30 Averages are the same.

If I'm sorely misguided, please let me know.

i feel we can get answer from both B and E

Two business school students, Maya and Dana, received the same overall grade in only one of four classes. Each grade was on a scale of 1 to 10.

(B) Maya's lowest grade was less than or equal to Dana’s highest grade

But as the stimulus says that both received same in one class,thus Maya's lowest grade has to be equal to Dana's highest grade.

Let, Maya's grades : 6,7,8,9
Dana's grades: 6,5,4,3 0r 6,6,5,4 or 6,6,6,5 or 6,6,6,6

in either of the cases Dana's average is gonna be less than Maya's.

E) Dana received a grade of 10 in three classes and Maya did not score higher than 8 in any class

We know both received same in one class.

so Dana's grades : 10,10,10,8

As one grade is same and maya didnt score more than 8

and mayas grades can be: 8,7,6,5 or 8,8,7,6 or 8,8,8,7 or 8,8,8,8

in either of the cases maya's average will be lower than Dana's


what's the source????

any more views..??

raunekk wrote:
(B) Maya's lowest grade was less than or equal to Dana’s highest grade

But as the stimulus says that both received same in one class,thus Maya's lowest grade has to be equal to Dana's highest grade.

I don't think that Maya's lowest grade HAS to be equal to Dana's highest.

What if Maya's lowest grade is LESS than Dana's highest grade, but one of Maya's grade is equal to one of Dana's grades.

For example

Maya's Grades - 3,5,7,9
Dana's grades - 5,6,6,9

Here Maya's lowest grade IS lower than Dana's highest but both have equal grades overall (assuming each took 4 classes)

imo E

B looks absurd !!

what's the source????

any more views..??

it was from a paper diagnostic test.

B is more suitable