Three out of every four

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Three out of every four

by vidhya16 » Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:49 am
Three out of every four automobile owners in the United States also own a bicycle

(A) Same as above
(B) Out of every four, three automobile owners in the United States also owns a bicycle
(C) Bicycles are owned by three out of every four owners of automobiles in the United States
(D) In the United States, three out of every four automobile owners owns a bicycles.
(E) Out of every four owners of automobiles in the United States, bicycles are also owned by three


Ta.
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by abhijit_ghonge » Wed Jun 22, 2011 4:01 am
I think the answer is A.
Three out of every four automobile owners in the United States also own a bicycle

(A) Same as above - Correct takes the plural verb
(B) Out of every four, three automobile owners in the United States also owns a bicycle
(C) Bicycles are owned by three out of every four owners of automobiles in the United States - passive construct and wordy
(D) In the United States, three out of every four automobile owners owns a bicycles.
(E) Out of every four owners of automobiles in the United States, bicycles are also owned by three - Awkward

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by sameerballani » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:41 am
vidhya16 wrote:Three out of every four automobile owners in the United States also own a bicycle

(A) Same as above
(B) Out of every four, three automobile owners in the United States also owns a bicycle
(C) Bicycles are owned by three out of every four owners of automobiles in the United States
(D) In the United States, three out of every four automobile owners owns a bicycles.
(E) Out of every four owners of automobiles in the United States, bicycles are also owned by three


Ta.
imo A
oa and source?

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by Frankenstein » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:02 am
Hi,
Although A is the best among all options, I feel the usage of 'three out of every four' in all options is bad. It implies that whenever you pick four, there will be three of this kind, which is not the case.
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by sameerballani » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:08 am
Frankenstein wrote:Hi,
Although A is the best among all options, I feel the usage of 'three out of every four' in all options is bad. It implies that whenever you pick four, there will be three of this kind, which is not the case.
What you feel it should be?
three in every four OR three in four ??
like one in million chances....

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by Frankenstein » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:10 am
sameerballani wrote: What you feel it should be?
three in every four OR three in four ??
like one in million chances....
Hi,
Just 'three out of four'.
Cheers!

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by sameerballani » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:15 am
Frankenstein wrote:
sameerballani wrote: What you feel it should be?
three in every four OR three in four ??
like one in million chances....
Hi,
Just 'three out of four'.
can you explain why you feel "three out of four" is correct and "three out of every four" is incorrect?

i mean that picking thing you have mentioned, i don't think its ok. then it should be applicable for both above mentioned options.

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by Frankenstein » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:34 am
sameerballani wrote:
Frankenstein wrote:
sameerballani wrote: What you feel it should be?
three in every four OR three in four ??
like one in million chances....
Hi,
Just 'three out of four'.
can you explain why you feel "three out of four" is correct and "three out of every four" is incorrect?

i mean that picking thing you have mentioned, i don't think its ok. then it should be applicable for both above mentioned options.
Okay.. Lets say there are 12 mangoes. 9 of them are sour and the remaining 3 are sweet. So, the fraction of sore fruits is 9/12. So, we say 3 out of 4 fruits are sour
Now, consider 'three out of every four':
This means, out of every 4 fruits you pick, 3 should be sour right?
Let's say your pick is 2 sweet and 2 sour. This is one of the possibilities of every four pick right? But, three out of those four are not sour right? This actually changes the intended meaning of 'three out of four'.
Cheers!

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by Target2009 » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:36 am
IMO - A
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Abhishek
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by sameerballani » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:45 am
ok. this thing i understood and i am even convinced. but don't u think that this is going too much into math rather than verbal.
What if the automobile owner in US were = 8 and 7 had bicycle. then will it be ok?
or it should be "atleast three out of every four" ?
Frankenstein wrote:
sameerballani wrote:
Frankenstein wrote:
sameerballani wrote: What you feel it should be?
three in every four OR three in four ??
like one in million chances....
Hi,
Just 'three out of four'.
can you explain why you feel "three out of four" is correct and "three out of every four" is incorrect?

i mean that picking thing you have mentioned, i don't think its ok. then it should be applicable for both above mentioned options.
Okay.. Lets say there are 12 mangoes. 9 of them are sour and the remaining 3 are sweet. So, the fraction of sore fruits is 9/12. So, we say 3 out of 4 fruits are sour
Now, consider 'three out of every four':
This means, out of every 4 fruits you pick, 3 should be sour right?
Let's say your pick is 2 sweet and 2 sour. This is one of the possibilities of every four pick right? But, three out of those four are not sour right? This actually changes the intended meaning of 'three out of four'.

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by Frankenstein » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:50 am
sameerballani wrote:ok. this thing i understood and i am even convinced. but don't u think that this is going too much into math rather than verbal.
Well, that is how things work.
What if the automobile owner in US were = 8 and 7 had bicycle. then will it be ok?
or it should be "atleast three out of every four" ?
Yeah, then it is "atleast three out of every four" :D
Cheers!

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by vidhya16 » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:48 am
OA is A and original source is 800gmat question with out any explanation.

I fell for D and later realised that Owners is subject not United States.

Vidhya

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