I would choose E

(1) Insufficient: We know that there are at least 3 of each sock. By the statement telling us that there are 11 socks, we do not know if the last two socks are a pair. Eliminate A and D

(2) Insufficient: there could be 3 black socks and 3 gray socks, or there could be four of each. Without knowing anything about the number of blue socks or the exact number of black and gray socks, we can't answer the question. Eliminate B.

(1) and (2) Insufficient: We still do not know how many pairs are in the drawer. Lets say there are 3 black socks 3 gray socks, that would mean that there are 4 blue socks, which would mean that there are 4 pairs. But lets say that there are 4 black socks, 4 gray socks, and 3 blue socks. That would mean that there are 5 pairs. Thus both statements are insufficient. Choose E



When guessing, and I feel that the question is a higher level question, I usually look to choose one of the answer choices or D. I read in Princeton Review that the higher level DS questions have a higher percentage chance of being A, B, or D.

sumanr84 wrote:From a drawer containing black, blue and gray solid-color socks, including at least three socks of each color, how many matched pairs can be removed?

(1) The drawer contains 11 socks.

(2) The drawer contains an equal number of black and gray socks.


MGMAT ( 600-700)

Help : - what option do you guys generally guess in DS questions when there is abs no clue ?

Help first - I go for C

1) insufficient - we do not know the composition

2) insufficient - to determine the composition

A&B together also fails to give the no of gray black and blue socks - 3,3, 5 or 4,4,3 both are possible

E

sumanr84 wrote:From a drawer containing black, blue and gray solid-color socks, including at least three socks of each color, how many matched pairs can be removed?

(1) The drawer contains 11 socks.

(2) The drawer contains an equal number of black and gray socks.

Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
Both statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER one ALONE is sufficient.
EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

MGMAT ( 600-700)

Help : - what option do you guys generally guess in DS questions when there is abs no clue ?

The minimum number of socks in the drawer is 9, when 3 socks of each color are there. So long, only 3 matched pairs can be removed. Not sure, really.

(1) The 2 odd socks generate only two possibilities, one is same color and the other is otherwise. This could make the number of possible removals to be 4 or 5, respectively. Insufficient

(2) This is howling about some bring in right till the end. Insufficient

Taken together, now it's known that the drawer contains 11 socks with the following possible distributions:

3 Black, 5 Blue, 3 Gray OR 4 Black, 3 Blue, 4 Gray

4 matched pairs OR 5 matched pairs

Still insufficient

[spoiler]E[/spoiler]

Ian's tips are really worth a note. No wild guesses on GMAT. Never rely on flukes on GMAT. Just let the best part of brain be at work even in the difficulties during the test. Never panic on test, rather be steady and focused on the enchanted road of this test. Every best