BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

A market research company surveyed users of the toothpaste

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:27 am
Location: India
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:620

A market research company surveyed users of the toothpaste

by vinni.k » Wed Mar 28, 2018 8:40 am
A market research company surveyed users of the toothpaste industry's two most popular brands, Brand X and Brand Y. If each person contacted reported that they used at least one of the two brands, what percent of respondents reported that they only use Brand Y?

(1) Among the respondents, the ratio of those who reported that they use Brand Y to those who reported that they use Brand X was 3:2
(2) Among the respondents who reported that they use Brand X, one half also use Brand Y.

OA is C

Finding it difficult to interpret the language. Those who reported that they use brand Y to those who reported that they use brand X --> Is it talking about common of X and Y (Both) ? or Is it X = 2x and Y = 3x ?
How to solve it via martix table ?
I have solved most of the questions by set-matrix approach, but in this case i am not able to do so. Would the venn diagram approach works ?

Please let me know how you will approach this question.
Top
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pm
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
Followed by:511 members
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Thu Mar 29, 2018 4:05 pm
Hi vinni.k,

We're told that a market research company surveyed users of the toothpaste industry's two most popular brands, Brand X and Brand Y and that each person contacted reported that they used AT LEAST ONE of the two brands. We're asked for the percent of respondents who reported that they ONLY use Brand Y. This question can be approached in a number of different ways (including TESTing VALUES), but it ultimately comes down to determining the percentages of 3 groups: Those who use JUST X, those who use JUST Y and those who use BOTH. Those sum of those 3 percentages MUST total 100%.

1) Among the respondents, the ratio of those who reported that they use Brand Y to those who reported that they use Brand X was 3:2

The information in Fact 1 is 'tricky' because there's no way to define the exact percents involved. The ratio of 3:2 means that for every 3 people who use Y, 2 people use X. However, this information does NOT account for those who use BOTH.

IF....
60% of the respondents use Brand Y
40% of the respondents use Brand X
then there is NO "overlap", 0% of people use both. and the answer to the question is 60% - 0% = 60%.
IF....
75% of the respondents use Brand Y
50% of the respondents use Brand X
then 25% of the people use both (since the total can't be greater than 100%, some of these people have been counted 'twice' and appear in both groups) and the answer to the question is 75% - 25% = 50%.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

2) Among the respondents who reported that they use Brand X, one half also use Brand Y.

Fact 2 defines the "Both" group - it's equal to HALF of the total number of people who use Brand X. This does not give us the actual percentages though...

IF....
75% of the respondents use Brand Y
50% of the respondents use Brand X
then 25% of the people use both and the answer to the question is 75% - 25% = 50%.
IF....
70% of the respondents use Brand Y
60% of the respondents use Brand X
then 30% of the people use both and the answer to the question is 70% - 30% = 40%.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we have a ratio comparing those who use Y to those who use X to those who use BOTH (re: 3:2:1). The only possible option is:
75% of the respondents use Brand Y
50% of the respondents use Brand X
then 25% of the people use both and the answer to the question is 75% - 25% = 50%.

Final Answer: C

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 421
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:27 am
Location: India
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:620

by vinni.k » Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:47 am
Thanks.
Quite clear but how to approach this question with matrix-table ?

Matrix-table - Any idea ?
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1