MGMAT 3 - Hard Probability

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 2:34 am

MGMAT 3 - Hard Probability

by fsutanto » Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:11 am
In a room filled with 7 people, 4 people have exactly 1 sibling in the room and 3 people have exactly 2 siblings in the room. If two individuals are selected from the room at random, what is the probability that those two individuals are NOT siblings?
(a) 5/21
(b) 3/7
(c) 4/7
(d) 5/7
(e) 16/21


OA: [spoiler](e)[/spoiler]

Can anyone help explain the logic behind this? I can't even deduce the question stem or what the question is asking about. Thanks!
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sat Oct 02, 2010 2:21 am
fsutanto wrote:In a room filled with 7 people, 4 people have exactly 1 sibling in the room and 3 people have exactly 2 siblings in the room. If two individuals are selected from the room at random, what is the probability that those two individuals are NOT siblings?
(a) 5/21
(b) 3/7
(c) 4/7
(d) 5/7
(e) 16/21


OA: [spoiler](e)[/spoiler]

Can anyone help explain the logic behind this? I can't even deduce the question stem or what the question is asking about. Thanks!
Let's say that the 7 people are ABCDEFG.

4 people have exactly 1 sibling:
Let's say that A and B are siblings and that C and D are siblings.
This means:
A has 1 sibling (B).
B has 1 sibling (A).
C has 1 sibling (D).
D has 1 sibling (C).

3 people have exactly 2 siblings
:
Let's say that E, F and G are all siblings of each other.
This means:
E has 2 siblings (F and G).
F has 2 siblings (E and G).
G has 2 siblings (E and F).

Total number of sibling pairs = 5: AB, CD, EF, EG, FG.
Total number of pairs that can be formed from 7 people: 7C2 = 21.
P(sibling pair) = 5/21
P(not sibling pair) = 1 - 5/21 = 16/21.

The correct answer is E.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3