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by theCodeToGMAT » Sat Oct 12, 2013 4:36 am
A certain college has a total of 400 seniors, each majoring in exactly one of six subjects. A minimum of 20 seniors major in each of the six subjects. If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects, what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects?

a) 100
b) 80
c) 75
d) 60
e) 50

Can someone explain me the meaning of the RED colored Line.. Does it mean that 300 seniors major in one of the 4 subjects.. or 300 seniors major in 4 subjects.
According to me, earlier is correct and answer must be "20"; OA is [spoiler]{B}[/spoiler]
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by mevicks » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:08 am
The wording is damning for sure. What is the original source?

If B is the answer "one of four" should mean EXACTLY FOUR.

In general sense one of four would mean 1 out of 4!

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by theCodeToGMAT » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:44 am
mevicks wrote:The wording is damning for sure. What is the original source?

If B is the answer "one of four" should mean EXACTLY FOUR.

In general sense one of four would mean 1 out of 4!

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Princeton Review's MOCK
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:45 am
theCodeToGMAT wrote:A certain college has a total of 400 seniors, each majoring in exactly one of six subjects. A minimum of 20 seniors major in each of the six subjects. If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects, what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects?

a) 100
b) 80
c) 75
d) 60
e) 50

Can someone explain me the meaning of the RED colored Line.. Does it mean that 300 seniors major in one of the 4 subjects.. or 300 seniors major in 4 subjects.
According to me, earlier is correct and answer must be "20"; OA is [spoiler]{B}[/spoiler]
Wow, I've read the question several times, and I still don't get it!

Each student majors in exactly one subject.

I read it as, If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects (say subjects A, B, C and D), what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects (say subjects E and F)?

It seems that, if three-quarters of the seniors (300 seniors) major in either A, B, C or D, then one-quarter of the seniors (100 seniors) must major in E or F.

I'm not sure what's wrong with this logic, but the question's author has a different interpretation. Fortunately, official GMAT questions don't leave any room for multiple interpretations.

What's the source?

Cheers,
Brent
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by theCodeToGMAT » Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:48 am
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
theCodeToGMAT wrote:A certain college has a total of 400 seniors, each majoring in exactly one of six subjects. A minimum of 20 seniors major in each of the six subjects. If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects, what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects?

a) 100
b) 80
c) 75
d) 60
e) 50

Can someone explain me the meaning of the RED colored Line.. Does it mean that 300 seniors major in one of the 4 subjects.. or 300 seniors major in 4 subjects.
According to me, earlier is correct and answer must be "20"; OA is [spoiler]{B}[/spoiler]
Wow, I've read the question several times, and I still don't get it!

Each student majors in exactly one subject.

I read it as, If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects (say subjects A, B, C and D), what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects (say subjects E and F)?

It seems that, if three-quarters of the seniors (300 seniors) major in either A, B, C or D, then one-quarter of the seniors (100 seniors) must major in E or F.

I'm not sure what's wrong with this logic, but the question's author has a different interpretation. Fortunately, official GMAT questions don't leave any room for multiple interpretations.

What's the source?

Cheers,
Brent
This question appeared in Princeton Review's MOCK. I spent like 8 minutes on this question to figure out answer other than "20" :)
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by [email protected] » Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:19 pm
Hi All,

This question is poorly worded, but here is the "intent":

If 300 seniors major in 4 of the subjects, what is the MAXIMUM number of seniors that COULD be majoring in either of the other 2 subjects?

From here, we have to consider that a minimum of 20 seniors major in each subject. With the 300 seniors accounted for, the other 100 have to be placed in the remaining 2 subjects. To maximize one of the subjects, we'd have to minimize the other; we'd have 80 in one and 20 in the other.

This type of question can occur on the GMAT, but it won't be this poorly worded.

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by sanju09 » Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:11 am
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
theCodeToGMAT wrote:A certain college has a total of 400 seniors, each majoring in exactly one of six subjects. A minimum of 20 seniors major in each of the six subjects. If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects, what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects?

a) 100
b) 80
c) 75
d) 60
e) 50

Can someone explain me the meaning of the RED colored Line.. Does it mean that 300 seniors major in one of the 4 subjects.. or 300 seniors major in 4 subjects.
According to me, earlier is correct and answer must be "20"; OA is [spoiler]{B}[/spoiler]
Wow, I've read the question several times, and I still don't get it!

Each student majors in exactly one subject.

I read it as, If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects (say subjects A, B, C and D), what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects (say subjects E and F)?

It seems that, if three-quarters of the seniors (300 seniors) major in either A, B, C or D, then one-quarter of the seniors (100 seniors) must major in E or F.

I'm not sure what's wrong with this logic, but the question's author has a different interpretation. Fortunately, official GMAT questions don't leave any room for multiple interpretations.

What's the source?

Cheers,
Brent
Hi Brent,

Before I deal with this question I have the following remarks to make.

1. At the kick-off I do not find any surmountable problem with the words of the question.

2. Consider that even GMAT has experimental questions. Even on the GMAT, once in a while, there may be a 'not so clear' question. You are supposed to make the best out of it.

3. According to me, GMAT questions are very factual. They mean what they say. This question is also to be understood the way it is written.

Deducing it as "one of four" should mean FAITHFULLY FOUR" is wrong.

If the given correct answer is (B), there isn't any confusion.

It (the question) simply means 300 seniors major in one of four subjects. Consider the words in the question, "each majoring in exactly one of six subjects".

Consequently, 100 seniors major in one (or the other) of the other two subjects.

Since "A minimum of 20 seniors major in each of the six subjects", "the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects" has got to be 100 -- 20 = 80.

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by theCodeToGMAT » Tue Oct 15, 2013 4:23 am
Hi Sanjeev,

How would you interpret the below lines:

I passed in all 6 subjects & I scored 99 in one of the 4 subject?

Did i mean to say that i scored 99 in TOTAL in 4 subjects??
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:31 am
The problem I have with this question is that requires us to interpret "major in one of four subjects" and " majoring in one of the other two subjects" differently. I interpreted them as having similar meanings.
sanju09 wrote: Consequently, 100 seniors major in one (or the other) of the other two subjects.
The question asks, What is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects?
Your own words suggest (to me at least) that the answer is 100.

Cheers,
Brent
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by sanju09 » Thu Oct 17, 2013 1:11 am
theCodeToGMAT wrote:A certain college has a total of 400 seniors, each majoring in exactly one of six subjects. A minimum of 20 seniors major in each of the six subjects. If three-quarters of the seniors major in one of four subjects, what is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects?

a) 100
b) 80
c) 75
d) 60
e) 50

Can someone explain me the meaning of the RED colored Line.. Does it mean that 300 seniors major in one of the 4 subjects.. or 300 seniors major in 4 subjects.
According to me, earlier is correct and answer must be "20"; OA is [spoiler]{B}[/spoiler]
You cited of "one of the four subjects".

The question doesn't pronounce "one of the four subjects". It pronounces "one of four subjects".

That's a giant distinction!

That's why it's said that GMAT questions are "factual". They mean what they EXACTLY say.

I will concur with Brent's analysis:
Three-quarters of the seniors (300 seniors) major in either A, B, C or D, then one-quarter of the seniors (100 seniors) must major in E or F.
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by sanju09 » Thu Oct 17, 2013 1:27 am
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:The problem I have with this question is that requires us to interpret "major in one of four subjects" and " majoring in one of the other two subjects" differently. I interpreted them as having similar meanings.
sanju09 wrote: Consequently, 100 seniors major in one (or the other) of the other two subjects.
The question asks, What is the greatest possible number of seniors majoring in one of the other two subjects?
Your own words suggest (to me at least) that the answer is 100.

Cheers,
Brent
This 100 also include those minimum 20 who major in all six, so it needs to be taken out of it in order to answer the target question, Brent.
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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Thu Oct 17, 2013 6:14 am
We may have to agree to disagree on this one, Sanjeev.

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by sanju09 » Thu Oct 17, 2013 11:44 pm
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:We may have to agree to disagree on this one, Sanjeev.

Cheers,
Brent
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