The attendees at a certain convention purchased a total of 15,000 books. How many of these attendees were female?
1. There was a total of 4, 000 attendees at the convention.
2. The male attendees purchased an average (arithmetic mean) of 3 books each, and the females purchased an average of 5 books each.
I would appreciate it if someone could walk me through this problem. Thanks.
Convention Attendees
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- anshumishra
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x -> mentonebeeze wrote:The attendees at a certain convention purchased a total of 15,000 books. How many of these attendees were female?
1. There was a total of 4, 000 attendees at the convention.
2. The male attendees purchased an average (arithmetic mean) of 3 books each, and the females purchased an average of 5 books each.
I would appreciate it if someone could walk me through this problem. Thanks.
y-> women
Total books sold = 15000
y = ?
Statement 1 :
x+y = 4000
Insufficient
Statement 2:
3x+5y = 15000 -> Insufficient
Combining 1 and 2 :
Two independent equations in x and y, hence sufficient.
C
Thanks
Anshu
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Anshu
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- brian91480
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I don't understand why this is unsolvable. Help me to understand. What is wrong with this logic:
x + y = 4,000
3x + 5y = 15,000
Multiply the first equation by (-3) and you get: -3x - 3y = -12,000
Now combine the equations:
-3x - 3y = -12,000
3x + 5y = 15,000
2y = 3,000
y = 1,500
Women in attendance: 1,500..... Men in attendance: 2,500
Check the solution with information in the original question:
4,000 total attendees, 15,000 books were sold, women each bought 5 books on average, men bought 3 books on average:
1,500 women x 5 books per woman = 7,500 books sold
2,500 men x 3 books per man = 7,500 books sold
Total attendees: 4,000...... total books sold: 15,000
The equation seems solved..... where am I going wrong?
Thx,
Brian
x + y = 4,000
3x + 5y = 15,000
Multiply the first equation by (-3) and you get: -3x - 3y = -12,000
Now combine the equations:
-3x - 3y = -12,000
3x + 5y = 15,000
2y = 3,000
y = 1,500
Women in attendance: 1,500..... Men in attendance: 2,500
Check the solution with information in the original question:
4,000 total attendees, 15,000 books were sold, women each bought 5 books on average, men bought 3 books on average:
1,500 women x 5 books per woman = 7,500 books sold
2,500 men x 3 books per man = 7,500 books sold
Total attendees: 4,000...... total books sold: 15,000
The equation seems solved..... where am I going wrong?
Thx,
Brian
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Where are you seeing that it is unsolvable? I agree that it should be C, though I used a different method to get there.
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Hi brian91480,
Every DS question has at least 1 solution. The information in the two Facts that follow the prompt can help you to narrow down the possibilities. If there's just 1 answer, then a given Fact is SUFFICIENT. If there's more than 1 (meaning "different") answers, then a given Fact is INSUFFICIENT.
Here, both Fact 1 and Fact 2, when dealt with individually, would lead to multiple answers. Thus, they're both INSUFFICIENT.
Combining Facts, as you've seen/solved, produces just 1 answer. So, the Facts are COMBINED SUFFICIENT.
Final Answer: C
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Every DS question has at least 1 solution. The information in the two Facts that follow the prompt can help you to narrow down the possibilities. If there's just 1 answer, then a given Fact is SUFFICIENT. If there's more than 1 (meaning "different") answers, then a given Fact is INSUFFICIENT.
Here, both Fact 1 and Fact 2, when dealt with individually, would lead to multiple answers. Thus, they're both INSUFFICIENT.
Combining Facts, as you've seen/solved, produces just 1 answer. So, the Facts are COMBINED SUFFICIENT.
Final Answer: C
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich