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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Set problem

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu May 05, 2016 4:20 am
Thanked: 3 times
by Joy Shaha » Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:18 am
Q. Of 30 applicants for a job , 14 at least 4 years' experience ;18 had degrees and 3 had less than 4 years' experience and don't have a degree. How many of the applicants had at least 4 years' experience and a degree ?
A.14;
B.13
C.9 ;
D.7 ;
E.5
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:27 am
There's a very thorough discussion (with several different approaches) of that question here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/job-applican ... 74450.html

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

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

by [email protected] » Wed Jan 11, 2017 10:39 am
Hi Joy Shaha,

There are a number of different ways to approach this question. Here's one that uses the Tic-Tac-Toe board.

The initial 3x3 grid contains the information given by the prompt.

The second 3x3 grid contains the first set of deductions (the sub-totals, in blue), followed by the sub-groups (in green).

Image

The answer to the question is in the upper-left corner: E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Last edited by [email protected] on Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 416
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:52 am
Thanked: 27 times

by regor60 » Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:09 am
[email protected] wrote:Hi Joy Shaha,

There are a number of different ways to approach this question. Here's one that uses the Tic-Tac-Toe board.

The initial 3x3 grid contains the information given by the prompt.

The second 3x3 grid contains the first set of deductions (the sub-totals, in blue), followed by the sub-groups (in green).

Image

The answer to the question is in the upper-left corner: A

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

The answer is in fact not A. It is E
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

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

by [email protected] » Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:12 am
Hi regor60,

Thanks for catching the typo. I've amended the post.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:18 am
I thought I'd point out that Rich's "Tic-Tac-Toe" approach goes by many names, including the Double Matrix Method. This technique can be used for most questions featuring a population in which each member has two characteristics associated with it.

Here, we have a population of applicants , and the two characteristics are:
- least 4 years of experience or not least 4 years of experience
- has degree or doesn't have a degree

This question type is VERY COMMON on the GMAT, so be sure to master the technique.

To learn more about the Double Matrix Method, watch this video: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... ems?id=919

Once you're familiar with this technique, you can attempt these additional practice questions:

Easy Problem Solving questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/finance-majo ... 67425.html

Medium Problem Solving questions
- https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/920
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/posted-speed ... 72374.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/motel-t271938.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/of-the-appli ... 70255.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/opening-nigh ... 64869.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/at-least-100 ... 74669.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/prblem-solving-t279424.html

Difficult Problem Solving questions
- https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/946
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ratio-problem-t268339.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/overlapping- ... 65223.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/fractions-t264254.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/overlapping- ... 64092.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-2

Easy Data Sufficiency questions
- https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... /video/943
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/for-what-per ... 70596.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/ds-quest-t187706.html

Medium Data Sufficiency questions
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sets-matrix-ds-t271914.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/each-of-peop ... 71375.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/a-manufacturer-t270331.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/in-costume-f ... 69355.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-1

Difficult Data Sufficiency questions
- https://youtu.be/dsCeqF9Kbk8
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/double-set-m ... 71423.html
- https://youtu.be/dOZ9KM1m5Hs
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/sets-t269449.html
- https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/05/ ... question-3

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pmFollowed by: 119 members
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu Jan 19, 2017 9:22 pm
You can also always turn to algebra:

Total = 30
4+ years = 14
Degrees = 18
Neither = 3

Total - Neither = (4+ Years) + (Degrees) - Both

30 - 3 = 14 + 18 - Both

Both = 5
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1462
Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:34 amFollowed by: 22 members
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 39 times

by Jeff@TargetTestPrep » Tue Jan 23, 2018 9:20 am
Joy Shaha wrote:Q. Of 30 applicants for a job , 14 at least 4 years' experience ;18 had degrees and 3 had less than 4 years' experience and don't have a degree. How many of the applicants had at least 4 years' experience and a degree ?
A.14;
B.13
C.9 ;
D.7 ;
E.5
We can use the equation:

Total = At least 4 years of experience + Degrees - Both + Neither

30 = 14 + 18 - B + 3

30 = 35 - B

B = 5

Answer: E

Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1