Data Sufficiency

BTGmoderatorDC wrote:Of the 60 animals on a certain farm, 2/3 are either pigs or cows. How many of the animals are cows?

(1) The farm has more than twice as many cows as pigs

(2) The farm has more than 12 pigs

OA C

Source: GMAT Prep

Given that of the 60 animals, 2/3 are either pigs or cows, we have cows + pigs = 2/3 of 60 = 40

Say the number of cows = c and the number of pigs = p

Thus, c + p = 40

We have to get the value of c.

Let's take each statement one by one.

(1) The farm has more than twice as many cows as pigs

c > 2p.

Can't get the unique value of c. insufficient.

(2) The farm has more than 12 pigs

p > 12. Can't get the unique value of c. insufficient.

(1) and (2)

From p > 12, we have the minimum value of p = 13 and from c > 2p, we have the minimum value of c = 2*13 + 1 = 27

Since c + w = 40 and the minimum value of p = 13 and the minimum value of c = 27 itself make 40, there is no possibility; thus, c = 27. Sufficient.

The correct answer: C

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:Of the 60 animals on a certain farm, 2/3 are either pigs or cows. How many of the animals are cows?

(1) The farm has more than twice as many cows as pigs

(2) The farm has more than 12 pigs

OA C

Source: GMAT Prep

Target question: How many of the animals are cows?

Given: Of the 60 animals in a certain farm, 2/3 are either pigs or cows
Let P = # of pigs
Let C = # of cows
2/3 of 60 = 40, so we can say that P + C = 40

Statement 1: The farm has MORE THAN twice as many cows as it has pigs.
In other words, 2P < C
If we know 2P < C and P + C = 40, do we have sufficient information to find the value of C?
No. Consider these 2 conflicting cases:
Case a: P = 1 and C = 39, in which case there are 39 cows
Case b: P = 2 and C = 38, in which case there are 38 cows
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: The farm has more than 12 pigs.
There's no way we can use this information to determine the number of cows.
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statements 1 and 2 combined
Statement 2 says that P > 12. So, let's examine some possibilities.
If P = 13, then C > 26 (from statement 1). So, C must equal 27 (since P + C = 40)
If P = 14, then C > 28 (from statement 1). In this case, P+C will be GREATER THAN 40, but we need P+C to EQUAL 40 (from the given information). So, P cannot equal 14.
In fact, for the same reasons, P cannot equal 15, 16, 17, etc. . .

So, the only case that's possible is for there to be 13 pigs and 27 cows
Since we can now answer the target question with certainty, the combined statements are SUFFICIENT

Answer = C

Cheers,
Brent