Beth's bank charges a service fee on a regular checking account for each month in which the balance on the account falls

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Beth's bank charges a service fee on a regular checking account for each month in which the balance on the account falls below $100 at any time during the month. Did the bank charge a service fee on Beth's regular checking account last month?

(1) During last month, a total of $1,000 was withdrawn from Beth's regular checking account.
(2) At the beginning of last month, Beth's regular checking account balance was $500.

Answer: E
Source: official guide
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

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Target question => Did the bank charge a service fee on Beth's regular checking account last month?
i.e is the money left in the account at the end of the month < $100?


Statement 1 => During last month, a total of $1,000 was withdrawn from Beth's regular checking account
We don't know the opening balance and the total deposits made into the account, so statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT


Statement 2 => At the beginning of last month, Beth's regular checking account balance was $500
The opening balance is $500 but there is no information concerning deposits and withdrawals made on the account, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT


Combining both statements together =>
From statement 1 =>
Total withdrawals = $1000
From statement 2 => Opening balance = $500
None of the statement provides information about total deposits so both statements combined together is NOT SUFFICIENT


Answer = E

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BTGModeratorVI wrote:
Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:06 am
Beth's bank charges a service fee on a regular checking account for each month in which the balance on the account falls below $100 at any time during the month. Did the bank charge a service fee on Beth's regular checking account last month?

(1) During last month, a total of $1,000 was withdrawn from Beth's regular checking account.
(2) At the beginning of last month, Beth's regular checking account balance was $500.

Answer: E
Source: official guide
Target question: Did the bank charge a service fee on Beth's regular checking account last month?

REPHRASED target question: Did Beth's balance ever go below $100?

Statement 1: During last month, a total of $1,000 was withdrawn from Beth's regular checking account.
Were given no information about her starting balance, so we can't say whether or not Beth's balance went below $100
INSUFFICIENT

Statement 2: At the beginning of last month, Beth's regular checking account balance was $500.
Were given no information about how much money Beth withdrew over the month, so we can't say whether or not Beth's balance went below $100
INSUFFICIENT

Statements 1 and 2 combined
Here are two CONTRADICTORY scenarios that could have occurred:
Case a: Beth begins the month with $500. On Day 2, she deposits $500 more. On Day 3, she withdraws $1000. In this case, Beth's balance went below $100.
Case b: Beth begins the month with $500. On Day 2, she deposits $10,000 more. On Day 3, she withdraws $1000. No other deposits or withdrawals are made for the rest of the month. In this case, Beth's balance NEVER went below $100.
Since we cannot answer the REPHRASED target question with certainty, the combined statements are NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer: E

Cheers,
Brent
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BTGModeratorVI wrote:
Wed Jan 06, 2021 8:06 am
Beth's bank charges a service fee on a regular checking account for each month in which the balance on the account falls below $100 at any time during the month. Did the bank charge a service fee on Beth's regular checking account last month?

(1) During last month, a total of $1,000 was withdrawn from Beth's regular checking account.
(2) At the beginning of last month, Beth's regular checking account balance was $500.

Answer: E
Source: official guide
Target question: Did the bank charge a service fee on Beth's regular checking account last month?

REPHRASED target question: Did Beth's balance ever go below $100?

Statement 1: During last month, a total of $1,000 was withdrawn from Beth's regular checking account.
Were given no information about her starting balance, so we can't say whether or not Beth's balance went below $100
INSUFFICIENT

Statement 2: At the beginning of last month, Beth's regular checking account balance was $500.
Were given no information about how much money Beth withdrew over the month, so we can't say whether or not Beth's balance went below $100
INSUFFICIENT

Statements 1 and 2 combined
Here are two CONTRADICTORY scenarios that could have occurred:
Case a: Beth begins the month with $500. On Day 2, she deposits $500 more. On Day 3, she withdraws $1000. In this case, Beth's balance went below $100.
Case b: Beth begins the month with $500. On Day 2, she deposits $10,000 more. On Day 3, she withdraws $1000. No other deposits or withdrawals are made for the rest of the month. In this case, Beth's balance NEVER went below $100.
Since we cannot answer the REPHRASED target question with certainty, the combined statements are NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer: E

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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