Should both the statements give the same value as answer

[Aman verma]

Can anyody advice me on this. Let us take an example :

Say: the Question stem says :- Is X > 7 ?

Statement 1: produces a value for X= 8 as an answer

Statement 2: produces a value for X= 11 as an answer

Will the staments be considered as contradicting each other ? Is it necessary that both the statements produce the same value for an answer. Although both the statements gives a value for X > 7 but they do not match.

Should the student consider it a calculation mistake ? Is it necessary in the GMAT that both the statements gives us the same value for the answer. Please post your comments and advice on this . Please mention whether it is necessary that both the statements produce the same value for an answer.

I am talking about a yes or no question like the above in which both the question gives the answer yes but the values produced is different as in above both gives the value of X greater than 7 but one is giving it as 8 and the other as 11.
Also when the answer given by both the statements is no should the value be the same, for example in the above question if Statement 1) gives a value 4 and statement 2) gives a value 3 is that Okay ?

[Osirus@VeritasPrep]

The statements will never contradict each other. If you get conflicting values, it lets you know that you did something wrong.

[thephoenix]

Can anyody advice me on this. Let us take an example :

Say: the Question stem says :- Is X > 7 ?

Statement 1: produces a value for X= 8 as an answer

Statement 2: produces a value for X= 11 as an answer

Will the staments be considered as contradicting each other ? Is it necessary that both the statements produce the same value for an answer. Although both the statements gives a value for X > 7 but they do not match.

Should the student consider it a calculation mistake ? Is it necessary in the GMAT that both the statements gives us the same value for the answer. Please post your comments and advice on this . Please mention whether it is necessary that both the statements produce the same value for an answer.

many a times i have seen experts or moderators quoting that
for a defenite ans in DS
bth the statements sud yield same values in GMAT
like if it is asked what is x than in the case where D is correct option u must get same value for x from bth the statements individually
for yes no type it may differ

[Ian Stewart]

Yes, on real GMAT questions, the two Statements can *never* produce conflicting answers. That is, on a real GMAT question, you will never find that Statement 1 tells you x=8, and Statement 2 tells you x=11. If you did find that, it's an indication you have made some kind of error. That said, some (lower quality) prep company materials do not observe this rule, so you may run into questions in books, or on forums, in which the Statements do produce conflicting answers. In general, if a prep company can't even get this simple aspect of DS structure right, I'd expect their materials would not be worth using.

[Aman verma]

Yes, on real GMAT questions, the two Statements can *never* produce conflicting answers. That is, on a real GMAT question, you will never find that Statement 1 tells you x=8, and Statement 2 tells you x=11. If you did find that, it's an indication you have made some kind of error. That said, some (lower quality) prep company materials do not observe this rule, so you may run into questions in books, or on forums, in which the Statements do produce conflicting answers. In general, if a prep company can't even get this simple aspect of DS structure right, I'd expect their materials would not be worth using.

Many thanks!! But is this true for all yes / no data sufficiency questions ? For example : If the question stem asks:
Is X an even number and suppose statement 1) produce a value of 2 for X and statement 2) produce a value of 4 for X
Is this correct; because in any case both statements gives an even number for X and the answer should be D.

[Ian Stewart]

Many thanks!! But is this true for all yes / no data sufficiency questions ? For example : If the question stem asks:
Is X an even number and suppose statement 1) produce a value of 2 for X and statement 2) produce a value of 4 for X
Is this correct; because in any case both statements gives an even number for X and the answer should be D.

Yes, on real GMAT questions at least; what I say may not be true of questions in some prep company materials. The real condition is this: the two statements in a real GMAT DS question must be 'logically consistent'. That means it *must* be possible for both statements to be true at the same time. It doesn't matter if the question is a yes/no question or a value question; if one statement tells you that x=2, the second statement can never tell you that x=4, or if one statement tells you x is an even integer, the other cannot tell you that x=5.

[sanju09]

unerringly

[sivaelectric]

Ian can you please respond to this

https://www.beatthegmat.com/percentages- ... tml#370301