from Q stem we get
A+L+T=36

FROM S1)
T=2L--------->L=T/2
T=1/3A------>A=3T

i.e
3T+T/2+T=36
9T/2=36
T=8

HENCE SUFF.

S2)
A=(L+T)/2------------>L+T=2A
NOT SUFF

For statement 2, Isn't it T+L= A/2?
I always end up equating wrong.

thephoenix wrote:from Q stem we get
A+L+T=36

FROM S1)
T=2L--------->L=T/2
T=1/3A------>A=3T

i.e
3T+T/2+T=36
9T/2=36
T=8

HENCE SUFF.

S2)
A=(L+T)/2------------>L+T=2A
NOT SUFF

Just to extend the discussion above. usually one needs 3 equations to solve 3 unknowns, but GMAT can throw a curve ball!
Imagine if the question had said - How much does A have?

Now, stmt 1 and stmt 2 can both answer the question separately! Even though in Stmt 2, there are 2 equations and 3 unknowns! But L and T can be substituted with A thus we can get a value of A from the two equations. See below:

A+L+T = 36 ------- 1
A = (L+T)/2 ------- 2
3A = 36 or A = 12 (substituting for L+T in equation 1 from equation 2)

Hope this gave an added dimension to an already solved question. When I was preparing for the test, I would look at such questions and think to myself how could it be made trickier or tougher (say 500+ question to a 700+ question) and I would come up with these ideas. The good part about such an exercise is that it keeps one agile, you are most probably not going to get the above question in the actual exam. You might get a variant. With this kind of brain storming you have actually created your own variant! Thus, your chances of solving "non-seen" questions increases.

Cheers