PS

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2014 2:01 am
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:1 members

PS

by prernamalhotra » Mon Jul 07, 2014 3:42 am
A researcher has determined that she requires a minimum of n responses to a survey for the results to be valid. If p% of the surveyed individuals fail to respond to the survey, how many individuals, in terms of n and p, must the researcher survey to produce twice the minimum required number of responses?

1) 200n / 100-p
2) 2n/100-p
3) 200n/p
4) 2n(100+p)/ 100
5) 2n+2np/100

Thank you,
Prerna
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 » Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:43 am
prernamalhotra wrote:A researcher has determined that she requires a minimum of n responses to a survey for the results to be valid. If p% of the surveyed individuals fail to respond to the survey, how many individuals, in terms of n and p, must the researcher survey to produce twice the minimum required number of responses?

1) 200n / 100-p
2) 2n/100-p
3) 200n/p
4) 2n(100+p)/ 100
5) 2n+2np/100
Strategy:
Plug in values, working from the END of the problem to the BEGINNING.

If n=10 responses are required, then twice the minimum = 20.
If p=50% of the individuals fail to respond, then 40 individuals must be surveyed to yield 20 responses.
The question stem asks for the number of individuals who must be surveyed: 40.
This is our target.

Now plug n=10 and p=50 into the answers to see which yields our target of 40.
Only A works:
200n/(100-p) = (200*10)/(100-50) = 2000/50 = 40.

The correct answer is A.

Algebraically:

Let the number interviewed = i.
Since p% don't respond, the number who don't respond = (p/100)i.
Thus, the number who DO respond = i - (p/100)i.
Since this result must be equal to 2n -- twice the minimum number of required responses -- we get:

i - (p/100)i = 2n

i(1 - p/100) = 2n

i*(100-p)/100 = 2n

i = 200n/(100-p).
[spoiler][/spoiler][spoiler][/spoiler]
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

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1100
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 11:34 pm
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 205 times
Followed by:24 members

by GMATinsight » Mon Jul 07, 2014 6:13 am
If x individuals must be surveyed.

p% of the surveyed individuals fail to respond

Which means, the number of individuals who did NOT fail to respond = x-[x*(p/100)]
The above must be equal to 2n, so:

x-[x*(p/100)]=2n

x(1-(p/100))=2n

x=(200n) / {100-p}.

Answer: A.

Of course one can also use plug-in method to solve this problem.
"GMATinsight"Bhoopendra Singh & Sushma Jha
Most Comprehensive and Affordable Video Course 2000+ CONCEPT Videos and Video Solutions
Whatsapp/Mobile: +91-9999687183 l [email protected]
Contact for One-on-One FREE ONLINE DEMO Class Call/e-mail
Most Efficient and affordable One-On-One Private tutoring fee - US$40-50 per hour

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 447
Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2013 7:25 am
Thanked: 25 times
Followed by:1 members

by Mathsbuddy » Mon Jul 07, 2014 6:15 am
S = number of successes
F = number of fails
T = number of trials
P% = P/100
(100 - P)/100 x T = n
Therefore T = 100n/(100-P)
If we double n, we get: T = 200n/(100-P)