DS-146

[babynavreet]

Hello!
Please explain the DS question no. 146 of the Official guide 2016:

Six shipments of machine parts were shipped from a factory on two trucks, with each shipment entirely on one of the trucks. Each shipment was labeled either S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6. The table shows the value of each shipment as a fraction of the total value of the six shipments. If the shipments on the first truck had a value greater than 1/2 of the total value of the six shipments, was S3 shipped on the first truck?

(1) S2 and S4 were shipped on the first truck.
(2) S1 and S6 were shipped on the second truck

[spoiler]OA B
[/spoiler]
Thanks

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

S1=1/4 S2=1/5 S3=1/6 S4=3/20 S5=2/15 S6=1/10

Six shipments of machine parts were shipped from a factory on two trucks, with each shipment entirely on one of the trucks. Each shipment was labeled either S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6. The table shows the value of each shipment as a fraction of the total value of the six shipments. If the shipments on the first truck had a value greater than 1/2 of the total value of the six shipments, was S3 shipped on the first truck?

(1) S2 and S4 were shipped on the first truck.
(2) S1 and S6 were shipped on the second truck
OA B

We might be able to solve this one faster by first converting the fractions to decimals.
S1=0.25
S2=0.2
S3=0.17 (approx)
S4=0.15
S5=0.13 (approx)
S6=0.1

Statement 1: S2 and S4 were shipped on the first truck.
First truck has 0.2 + 0.15 = 0.35
Since the first truck holds more than 0.5, S3 may or may not be on that truck. For example, consider these two possible cases:
case a: first truck holds S2, S3 and S4, and second truck holds S1, S5 and S6,
case b: first truck holds S1, S2, and S4, and second truck holds S3, S5 and S6,

Statement 2: S1 and S6 were shipped on the second truck
Second truck has 0.25 + 0.1 = 0.35
Since the first truck holds more than 0.5, the second truck must have less than 0.5
Since S3 = 0.17, S3 cannot be on the second truck, otherwise the second truck would have more than 0.5
Since S3 cannot be on the second truck, we can be certain that it's on the first truck, in which case statement 2 is sufficient and the answer is B

Cheers,
Brent

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Hi babynavreet,

For future reference, when posting questions you should physically post the question (instead of just posting where to find the question) - in that way, it will be easier for all of the Experts/Members here to provide explanations and insights into the prompt (without having to dig it up on their own). You'll also likely get a much greater response if you post your specific questions in the proper sub-Forums. Here's a link to the DS Forum:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/data-sufficiency-f7.html

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[babynavreet]

Thanks a lot Brent... That was helpful... Rich I will take care of that from the next time...

[Matt@VeritasPrep]

And a reminder for everybody: don't forget to let us know which guide you're talking about if you refer to the Q by #! (They do change over the years, albeit very slowly )