Quick Q about QR #59...wording assumption

Expert replies

Kansonne: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 21; Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:28 pm; Location: NJ

by Kansonne » Wed Dec 26, 2007 2:37 pm

Hello---

Here's the Q:

The perimeter of a rectangular garden is 360 ft. What is the length of the garden?

1. Length = 2 * width
2. The difference between the length and wide of the garden is 60 feet.

I picked A, but the answer is D - both are sufficient.

I didn't think that B was sufficient because it doesn't specify which one is bigger, the length or the width. The OA simply state (2) is sufficient because length-width is 60 ft.

My question is, are we to assume that the language "the difference between x and y is 5" to be x-y=5, and assume that y-x=5 is out of the picture?

Thanks!

Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency | Wed Dec 26, 2007 2:37 pm

camitava: Legendary Member; Posts: 645; Joined: Wed Sep 05, 2007 4:37 amFollowed by: 5 members; Location: India; Thanked: 34 times

by camitava » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:53 pm

According to the Qs : Kansonne refer my approach -

The perimeter of a rectangular garden is 360 ft. What is the length of the garden?

1. Length = 2 * width
2. The difference between the length and wide of the garden is 60 feet.

Let, length = l
width = w
By 1, l = 2* w
So from the argument, 2(l + w) = 360 and by 1, we can also calculate the value of l.
By 2, l - w = 60 and again with the argument, we can easily calculate the value of l.
So D is the best option to chose.

Correct me If I am wrong

Regards,

Amitava

preciousrain7: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 78; Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:16 pm; Location: NYC, NY; Thanked: 2 times

Re: Quick Q about QR #59...wording assumption

by preciousrain7 » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:58 pm

Kansonne wrote:Hello---

Here's the Q:

The perimeter of a rectangular garden is 360 ft. What is the length of the garden?

1. Length = 2 * width
2. The difference between the length and wide of the garden is 60 feet.

I picked A, but the answer is D - both are sufficient.

I didn't think that B was sufficient because it doesn't specify which one is bigger, the length or the width. The OA simply state (2) is sufficient because length-width is 60 ft.

My question is, are we to assume that the language "the difference between x and y is 5" to be x-y=5, and assume that y-x=5 is out of the picture?

Thanks!

I think in other cases they will specify which of the two (X or Y) is the longest side.

Kansonne: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 21; Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:28 pm; Location: NJ

by Kansonne » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:43 pm

Hi, preciousrain7---

Thx for answering my question. I'm hoping that you're right that currently the GMAT does specify which one is greater. I'm thinking that since this question is retired, maybe it was taken out of the live tests for this reason.

K

singh: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 2; Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:41 pm

data sufficiency

by singh » Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:19 pm

Hi There,

I saw the data sufficiency Q you have posted this is how I did it

A) since you got the A part you're on top of it...good. Moving on to B
B) says L=W+60 which means L-W=60. Since the perimeter is 2L+2W=360 we get 2 simultaneous equations. On solving the value of L=120. there fore W=60.

hence the data sufficiency answer is D.

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