For this problem we need to know whether X was in the top six contributing countries. We know that The top 6 contributed 67.8% of 1.6 Billion from the question stem.
Statement 1 says that X is not in the top 4 because the top 4 contributed more than X and it tells us that numbers 5 and 6 contributed a total of 11.8% (67.8-56) - but it doesn't tell us how much X contributed compared to the other countries. So this cannot be enough information.BCE
Statement 2 tells us the total percent country X spent but it doesn't tell us what that number would be in comparison to the other countries and since the top 6 contributed 67.8% we can't know whether X's 4.8% is in the top 6.
CE
If you put them together wehave more information, we know that numbers 5 and 6 contributed 11.8% and that X contributed 4.8%. But it doesn't tell us whether X is in that top 6 becuase numbers 5 and 6 could have each contributed 5.9% which would mean X is not in the top six, or 5 could have contributed 7% and x could have contribued 4.8% and been in the top 6 therefore the answer is E.
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GMAT preb prob
Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency |
I really don't like to get questions like this but inevitably you will get at least one. Basically one approach to evaluating statements for theses types ofquestions is to do your best to create a case in which the question is answered with a YES and a case in which the question is answered with a NO. If using the data from a statement, you can create both cases, the statement is definitely insufficient. On the other hand, if whichever case you come up always answers the original question the same way (only YES or only NO), then the statement is sufficient.
Merging the statements works the same way. In this question, when evaluating both statements we could build the following cases:
Case 1: Top 4=16% each. 5th=7%. X=4.8%. Remaining 153 countries=tiny%
Case 2: Top 4=16% each. 5th=6.8%. 6th=5%, X=4.8% Remeaining 152=tiny%
In the first case the question "Is X in the top 4" would be answered with a YES. In the 2nd casee, the question would be answered with a NO. So we don't have sufficiency. The answer is E
If this still doesn't make much sense, study the detailed solution and the video solution at GMATPrep question 1491
-Patrick
Merging the statements works the same way. In this question, when evaluating both statements we could build the following cases:
Case 1: Top 4=16% each. 5th=7%. X=4.8%. Remaining 153 countries=tiny%
Case 2: Top 4=16% each. 5th=6.8%. 6th=5%, X=4.8% Remeaining 152=tiny%
In the first case the question "Is X in the top 4" would be answered with a YES. In the 2nd casee, the question would be answered with a NO. So we don't have sufficiency. The answer is E
If this still doesn't make much sense, study the detailed solution and the video solution at GMATPrep question 1491
-Patrick
















