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please show the best way to solve this problem


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What is the best way to solve problems like this:

 

If 75% of a class answered the first question on a certain test correctly, 55% answered the second question on the test correctly, and 20% answered neither of the questions correctly, what percent answered both correctly?

 

Please advise. . .

 

Thanks

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  • 2 weeks later...

We can solve this question using the Double Matrix Method. This technique can be used for most questions featuring a population in which each member has two characteristics associated with it.

Here, we have a population of students, and the two characteristics are:

- answering question #1 correctly or incorrectly

- answering question #2 correctly or incorrectly

Since the question asks us to find a PERCENT, let's say we have 100 students in TOTAL

So, we can set up our Matrix as follows:

http://www.www.urch.com/forums/attachments/gmat-problem-solving/6862-please-show-best-way-solve-problem-test.png

As we can see, 50 of the 100 students correctly answered BOTH questions.

 

To learn more about this technique, watch our free video:

 

Cheers,

Brent - GMAT Prep Now

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I tend to use the method to map it out. The first thing you fill out is the total for Q1 right, which we know is 75, then you can fill out the total for Q2 right which is 55.

You also can fill out the Q1 wrong and Q2 wrong as 20 and the total total is 100, so it will look like this:

 

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 500]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Q1 right[/TD]

[TD]Q1 wrong[/TD]

[TD]Total[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Q2 right[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]55[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Q2 wrong[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]20[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Total[/TD]

[TD]75[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]100[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

From there, you can figure out the total for Q2 wrong and Q1 wrong by subtracting the percentage right from the total

 

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 500]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Q1 right[/TD]

[TD]Q1 wrong[/TD]

[TD]Total[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Q2 right[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]55[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Q2 wrong[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]20[/TD]

[TD]45[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Total[/TD]

[TD]75[/TD]

[TD]25[/TD]

[TD]100[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

 

Then you can use the 20 wrong to figure out the rest by subtracting it from the totals and so forth

 

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 500]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Q1 right[/TD]

[TD]Q1 wrong[/TD]

[TD]Total[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Q2 right[/TD]

[TD]50[/TD]

[TD]5[/TD]

[TD]55[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Q2 wrong[/TD]

[TD]25[/TD]

[TD]20[/TD]

[TD]45[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Total[/TD]

[TD]75[/TD]

[TD]25[/TD]

[TD]100[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

 

 

so you know that 50% of people answered both correctly

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