Females/Males -- Must Try

[effective_factor]

According to the enrollment statistics published by U.S. medical schools, the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school.


(A)the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school


(B)as many female as male students are currently enrolled in medical school


(C)the number of female students is as many as that of male students currently enrolled in medical school


(D)as great as the number of female is the number of male students currently enrolled in medical school


(E)female and male students are currently enrolled in equal numbers in medical school

[12rk34]

'Equivalent' is not used for countable nouns. So 'A' is incorrect.
'The number of' and 'as many as' are redundant in 'C'.
'The number of female is the number of male' is awkward construction in 'D'.
'Equal numbers' is unidiomatic in 'E'.
'As many female as male students' is the correct phrase in 'B'.
Hence 'B'.

(EFFECTIVE, It seems you are doing some revision of SC questions. )

[ajay_deepak]

I am confused between B and E. Can you tell me why "equal numbers" is unidiomatic?

[12rk34]

I am confused between B and E. Can you tell me why "equal numbers" is unidiomatic?

'Equal' and 'euivalent' are not used for countable nouns in GMAT.

[finsisher]

yes its B, I was about to chose E but equal number hit me

[effective_factor]

'Equivalent' is not used for countable nouns. So 'A' is incorrect.
'The number of' and 'as many as' are redundant in 'C'.
'The number of female is the number of male' is awkward construction in 'D'.
'Equal numbers' is unidiomatic in 'E'.
'As many female as male students' is the correct phrase in 'B'.
Hence 'B'.

(EFFECTIVE, It seems you are doing some revision of SC questions. )

why is equal number unidiomatic

[12rk34]

why is equal number unidiomatic

I have not found any specific comments or grammar rule so far that indicates 'equal' is wrong for countable nouns. But it is certainly not correct on GMAT as far as I remember from Erin's explanation somewhere in the forum.

[sandy22]

My turn for this:

(A)the number of female medical students is equivalent to the number of male medical students currently enrolled in medical school
--> [currently enrolled] is just put after [male medical students], making easily confused males

only or not

(B)as many female as male students are currently enrolled in medical school


(C)the number of female students is as many as that of male students currently enrolled in medical school
--> same(a)

(D)as great as the number of female is the number of male students currently enrolled in medical school
--> same

(E)female and male students are currently enrolled in equal numbers in medical school

Btw (b,e), I think (b) more concise

[Ace-gmat]

imo b it is

[mitzi]

another vote for B.

equivalent or equal is used for non-countable noun(s).
the number of female/male student is a countable.

so using equivalent or equal is incorrect.