Problem Solving

BTGmoderatorDC wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 11, 2022 8:09 pm

If 75 percent of the employees of a certain company take a winter vacation, 40 percent take a winter and a summer vacation, and 20 percent take neither a winter nor a summer vacation, what percent of the employees take a summer vacation but not a winter vacation?

A) 5%
B) 15%
C) 25%
D) 35%
E) 45%


OA A

Source: GMAT Prep

Here's a step-by-step approach using the Double Matrix method.

We have a population of employees, and the two characteristics are:
- take a winter vacation or don't take a winter vacation
- take a summer vacation or don't take a summer vacation

So, we'll set up our matrix as follows:

NOTE: Since we're need to find a PERCENT (rather than the actual number of people), we'll say that there are 100 employees altogether. This will make our calculations easier.

75 percent of the employees of a certain company take a winter vacation
If 75% TAKE a winter vacation, the remaining 25% DON'T take a winter vacation.
Since we've let 100 = the total number of employees, we can see that 75 take a winter vacation and 25 don't. We'll add this to our diagram:


40 percent take a winter and a summer vacation
So, 40 employees take a winter AND a summer vacation, which we can add to our diagram.


20 percent take neither a winter nor a summer vacation
Add that here:


what percent of the employees take a summer vacation but not a winter vacation
We'll place a heart in the box that represents the value we're trying to solve for.


IMPORTANT: Since the bottom 2 boxes must add to 25, we can see that the bottom left box must equal 5


Answer: A

This question type is very common on the GMAT, so be sure to master the technique.

To learn more about the Double Matrix Method, watch this video: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... ems?id=919

Once you’re familiar with this technique, you can attempt these additional practice questions:

Easy Problem Solving questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/finance-majo ... 67425.html

Medium Problem Solving questions
- https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/920
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/posted-speed ... 72374.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/motel-t271938.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/of-the-appli ... 70255.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/opening-nigh ... 64869.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/at-least-100 ... 74669.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/prblem-solving-t279424.html

Difficult Problem Solving questions
- https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/946
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ratio-problem-t268339.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/overlapping- ... 65223.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/fractions-t264254.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/overlapping- ... 64092.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-2

Easy Data Sufficiency questions
- https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/943
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/for-what-per ... 70596.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ds-quest-t187706.html

Medium Data Sufficiency questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sets-matrix-ds-t271914.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/each-of-peop ... 71375.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/a-manufacturer-t270331.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/in-costume-f ... 69355.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-1

Difficult Data Sufficiency questions
- https://youtu.be/dsCeqF9Kbk8
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/double-set-m ... 71423.html
- https://youtu.be/dOZ9KM1m5Hs
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sets-t269449.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-3

Cheers,
Brent