Sentence Correction

satishchandra wrote:According to the enrollment statistics published by U.S. medical schools, the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school.

a) the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school
b) as many female as male students are currently enrolled in medical school
c) the number of female students is as many as that of male students currently enrolled in medical school
d) as great as the number of female is the number of male students currently enrolled in medical school
e) female and male students are currently enrolled in equal numbers in medical school

Correct Ans: B

My question is what is wrong with Option C and Option E?

GmatKiss wrote:

satishchandra wrote:According to the enrollment statistics published by U.S. medical schools, the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school.

a) the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school
b) as many female as male students are currently enrolled in medical school
c) the number of female students is as many as that of male students currently enrolled in medical school
d) as great as the number of female is the number of male students currently enrolled in medical school
e) female and male students are currently enrolled in equal numbers in medical school

Correct Ans: B

My question is what is wrong with Option C and Option E?

First and foremost pls publish the OA only with spoiler!!

satishchandra wrote:According to the enrollment statistics published by U.S. medical schools, the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school.

a) the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school
b) as many female as male students are currently enrolled in medical school - correct idiomatic expression
c) the number of female students is as many as that of male students currently enrolled in medical school - "The number of" is a singular subject here. The usage would be correct had the sentence been "The number of female students from diverse backgrounds are as many as .... ". In this example, the emphasis is on "many female students", thus, making it a plural subject.
d) as great as the number of female is the number of male students currently enrolled in medical school
e) female and male students are currently enrolled in equal numbers in medical school - Well..I don't see any mistake in this one but I would still prefer B because of its conciseness.

Correct Ans: B

My question is what is wrong with Option C and Option E?

krishnakumar.ks wrote: "The number of" is a singular subject here.

The usage would be correct had the sentence been "The number of female students from diverse backgrounds are as many as .... ". In this example, the emphasis is on "many female students", thus, making it a plural subject.

GMATGuruNY wrote:
The first discusses a quick way to determine the OA

It would still be incorrect as 'are' does not agree with 'the number of'

satishchandra wrote:

krishnakumar.ks wrote: "The number of" is a singular subject here.

Agreed

The usage would be correct had the sentence been "The number of female students from diverse backgrounds are as many as .... ". In this example, the emphasis is on "many female students", thus, making it a plural subject.

I don't think so.
How can the usage of 'are' instead of 'is' resolve the issue in C?
It would still be incorrect as 'are' does not agree with 'the number of'
Correct me if i am wrong.

GMATGuruNY wrote:
The first discusses a quick way to determine the OA

Using the concept of modifiers, I could eliminate 'E'.
However, in option 'C' "cuttently enrolled" correctly modifies male medical students.
Is it wrong because 'the number of' is not mentioned before male medical students?
If so, Can't the placement of 'that'refer back to 'the number of'?
I am not too convinced on what grounds we can eliminate 'C'

GMATGuruNY wrote:
The ambiguity in C is whether currently enrolled modifies only the number of male students or BOTH the number of male students AND the number of female students.
A reader could make the following interpretations:
The number of female students currently enrolled = the number of male students currently enrolled.
The number of female students (over the past 10 years?) = the number of male students currently enrolled.
Since B avoids this ambiguity, eliminate C and choose B.

GMATGuruNY wrote:
The other issue is that we cannot say THE number is as many as.
THE number refers to an ACTUAL NUMBER (such as 2,5,10,etc.).
Incorrect: Five is AS MANY AS ten halves.
Correct: Five is EQUAL TO ten halves.

krishnakumar.ks wrote:
The number of female students from diverse backgrounds are as many as...

The subject here would become female students which is plural and hence the verb "are". Hope this helps or ignore my post and seek some expert help which might help us both

satishchandra wrote: I have as many coins as Doug has.

krishnakumar.ks wrote:
The number of female students from diverse backgrounds are as many as...

The subject here would become female students which is plural and hence the verb "are". Hope this helps or ignore my post and seek some expert help which might help us both
What is the subject in the sentence above?
Can 'female students just be subject instead of 'the number of female students?'