knight247 wrote:What fraction part of the total surface area of cube C is red?
(1) Each of 3 faces of C is exactly 1/2 red.
(2) Each of 3 faces of C is entirely white.

(1) Each of 3 faces of C is exactly 1/2 red but nothing has been said about the other 3 faces, some fraction of the other 3 faces may be red, about which we are not sure; NOT sufficient.

(2) Each of 3 faces of C is entirely white but again nothing has been said about the other 3 faces; NOT sufficient.

Combining (1) and (2), we clearly know that 1/2 of 3 faces is red while the other 3 faces are entirely white, so fractional part of the total surface area of cube C, which is red = 1.5/6 = 1/4; SUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is C.

knight247 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:46 am

What fraction part of the total surface area of cube C is red?
(1) Each of 3 faces of C is exactly 1/2 red.
(2) Each of 3 faces of C is entirely white.

Target question: What fractional part of the total surface area of cube C is red

Statement 1: Each of 3 faces of C is exactly 1/2 red
Since we have no information about the other three faces, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Consider these two counterexamples showing all six faces of the cube:

In the top example, the fraction of the total surface area that is red = (0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5 + 1)/6 = 2.5/6
In the bottom example, the fraction of the total surface area that is red = (0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5)/6 = 1.5/6
Since we can’t answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: Each of 3 faces of C is entirely white
Since we have no information about the other three faces, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Consider these two counterexamples showing all six faces of the cube:

In the top example, the fraction of the total surface area that is red = (0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5)/6 = 1.5/6
In the bottom example, the fraction of the total surface area that is red = 0/6
Since we can’t answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statements 1 and 2 combined
When we combine both statements, we know exactly what the six faces look like:

So, the fraction of the total surface area that is red = (0.5 + 0.5 + 0.5)/6 = 1.5/6
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, the combined statements are SUFFICIENT

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent