Anthony and Michael sit on the six member board of directors for company X. If the board is to be split up into 2

[BTGmoderatorDC]

Anthony and Michael sit on the six member board of directors for company X. If the board is to be split up into 2 three-person subcommittees, what percent of all the possible subcommittees that include Michael also include Anthony?

(A) 20%
(B) 30%
(C) 40%
(D) 50%
(E) 60%


OA C

Source: Manhattan Prep

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

Anthony and Michael sit on the six member board of directors for company X. If the board is to be split up into 2 three-person subcommittees, what percent of all the possible subcommittees that include Michael also include Anthony?

(A) 20%
(B) 30%
(C) 40%
(D) 50%
(E) 60%


OA C

Source: Manhattan Prep

We can think of this as a probability question: What is the probability that Anthony and Michael are on the same subcommittee?

Now, assume that we're creating subcommittees.
We want to place 6 people in the following spaces:
_ _ _ | _ _ _

First, we place Michael in one subcommittee; it makes no difference which one:
M _ _ | _ _ _

When we go to place Anthony, we see that there are 5 spaces remaining.
2 spaces are on the same subcommittee as Michael.
So the probability that they are on the same subcommittee is 2/5 = 40%

Answer: C