abhasjha wrote:In a certain year the United Nations' total expenditures were $1.6billion. Of this amount, 67.8 percent was paid by the 6 highest-contributing countries, and the balance was paid by the remaining 153 countries. Was Country X among the 6 highest-contributing countries?

1) 56 percent of the total expenditures was paid by the 4 highest-contributing countries, each of which paid more than Country X.

2) Country X paid 4.8 percent of the total expenditures.

Now,67.8% of 1.6 billion is $1.0848 billion.Rest $0.5152 billion will be paid by the remaining 153 countries.
Statement 1 alone:- 56% i.e. $0.896 billion is paid by the 4 highest-contributing countries.That means rest 2 countries paid
$0.1888 billion.Insufficient.
Statement 2 alone:-country X paid $0.0768 billion.Insufficient.
Considering both together,all the 4 countries paid more than $0.0768 billion.Also,if X is among the 2 bottom countries ,then the other county has paid $(0.1888 - 0.0768) = $0.112 billion.Still,we cant say surely.
IMO E.

abhasjha wrote:In a certain year the United Nations' total expenditures were $1.6billion. Of this amount, 67.8 percent was paid by the 6 highest-contributing countries, and the balance was paid by the remaining 153 countries. Was Country X among the 6 highest-contributing countries?

1) 56 percent of the total expenditures was paid by the 4 highest-contributing countries, each of which paid more than Country X.

2) Country X paid 4.8 percent of the total expenditures.

1) insufficient - doesnt give any details about how much Country x paid
2) insufficient - To know whether the country features in top 6

combining 5 th and 6th countries together paid 11.8%
There is not enough proof to conclude that the country x will be the 6th highest paying nation (it can't be 5th)
[spoiler]
E[/spoiler]

OA - E

2) alone
- to try to make country x NOT in the top six, distribute the percentages as evenly as possible: it's possible that each of the six highest-contributing countries paid 67.8/6 = 11.3 percent of the total. if that were the case, then country x, at 4.8%, would be lower than sixth place.
- to try to get country x INTO the top six, make the distribution as lopsided as possible: say one country paid 60% of everything. then country x could be second at 4.8%, and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th place countries could combine to pay 67.8 - 64.8%.
INSUFFICIENT

(1) alone
taken alone, this condition only tells you that country x is in fifth place or lower.
INSUFFICIENT

(together)
the fifth- and sixth-place countries together paid out 67.8 - 56 = 11.8 percent of the total. at this point the strategy is roughly the same as for statement (2) alone:
- to try to make country x NOT in the top six, distribute the percentages as evenly as possible: the fifth- and sixth-place countries could both have contributed 11.8/2 = 5.9 percent. this would mean country x = not in the top six.
- to try to get country x INTO the top six, let the fifth-place country pay 11.8 - 4.8 = 7 percent; therefore country x is in sixth place.
INSUFFICIENT

also see

https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-t51443.html

abhasjha wrote:In a certain year the United Nations' total expenditures were $1.6billion. Of this amount, 67.8 percent was paid by the 6 highest-contributing countries, and the balance was paid by the remaining 153 countries. Was Country X among the 6 highest-contributing countries?

1) 56 percent of the total expenditures was paid by the 4 highest-contributing countries, each of which paid more than Country X.

2) Country X paid 4.8 percent of the total expenditures.

1. If 56% of total expenditure was paid by the 4-highest contributing countries , then could x be one the other 2 remaining highest contributing countries or not. Hence Insufficient.


2. Country X paid 4.8 percent of the total expenditures. Insufficient.


Combine (1) and (2)

Now 6 countries paid 67.8 %.
4 countries paid 56%.
so the remaining 2 highest countries paid the rest 11.8% (67.8 - 56).

If X is one of remaining 2 highest countries then we can say the fourth highest country will pay 10% (11.8-4.8)

If X is one of t he remaining 153 countries, then the last 2 highest countries will pay 11.8% together.

Hence Insufficient.