BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Data Sufficiency - Probability

Expert replies
by beatgmatny1 » Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:14 pm
The following question is from GMAT PREP EXAM 2. I couldn't find an explanation in relates to this problem. Please assist.

A certain bag contains only red balls, blue balls, and green balls. what percent of all the balls in the bag are red?

1. The ratio of the number of red balls to the number of blue balls in the bag is 1:3
2. There are 2 green balls in the bag.

My analysis:

Since the question asks you to find the % of red balls in the bag, you need total number of balls and the balls that are red.

Statement 1 is not sufficient since it only provides a ratio. moreover, it doesn't provide any information on green balls.

Statement 2 is not sufficient since it doesn't provide any information on blue or red balls.

Combined: I thought this was sufficient since there are only 2 green balls in the bag and that means that the ratio is 1:3:2. which means there is 1 red ball 3 blue ball, and 2 green balls, a total of 6 balls. % red = 1/6 = .167 = 16.7%.

Please tell me where I went wrong with my analysis and provide explanation.

Correct Answer is E
Join the discussion
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by Patrick_GMATFix » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:10 pm
You've made the mistake of mixing a ratio number with a real number. When (1) gives ratio of red:blue = 1:3, you cannot take that to mean that there are 1 red and 3 blue. there may be 10 and 30, or infinitely many other possibilities.

When the statements are combined, we know that there are 2 green balls but we have no way to know how many red or blue. The numbers could be (red, blue, green) = (1, 3, 2) as you suggested, but they could also be (10, 30, 2). In both cases, the ratio red:blue = 1:3 and there are 2 green balls so both statements are respected. Since we end up with different % of red, we still don't have enough info. The answer is E.

In general, the safest way to work with ratio numbers is to express them as multiples of the same variable. red:blue=1:3 should be written as red=x, blue=3x.

-Patrick
GMATFix
  • Ask me about tutoring.
Join the discussion

by beatgmatny1 » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:27 pm
Thank you for your response. I get it now. I have to be careful with these kinds of questions in near future.
Join the discussion