Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

 It is currently 26 Oct 2016, 00:48

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Senior Manager
Status: mba here i come!
Joined: 07 Aug 2011
Posts: 270
Followers: 42

Kudos [?]: 1018 [1] , given: 48

### Show Tags

27 Aug 2011, 12:22
1
KUDOS
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
those who play single instrument = 20
those who don't play a single instrument (play 2 or 3) = 35-20 = 15

those who play 2 instruments = 15-3 = 12 (3 play all three instruments)
_________________

press +1 Kudos to appreciate posts

Intern
Joined: 29 Aug 2011
Posts: 24
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 10 [0], given: 3

### Show Tags

06 Sep 2011, 12:43
I worked on this using Venn Diagram. Got the answer 6 in one shot. The answer is how many play 2 instruments so we need to count the people who also play 3 instruments ( given already 3).
Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Posts: 6971
Location: Pune, India
Followers: 2031

Kudos [?]: 12764 [0], given: 221

### Show Tags

06 Sep 2011, 21:57
MBAhereIcome wrote:
those who play single instrument = 20
those who don't play a single instrument (play 2 or 3) = 35-20 = 15

those who play 2 instruments = 15-3 = 12 (3 play all three instruments)

The 35 that you counted: 10 + 11 + 14 double counts the number of people who play only 2 instruments and triple counts the number of people who play all 3 instruments. The circle of 10 of piano includes the red and the green region. The circle of 11 of Guitar includes the red and green region too. Similarly, the circle of 14 of violin includes the red and the green region too. So each red region is counted twice and the green region is counted 3 times.

Attachment:

Ques2.jpg [ 14.89 KiB | Viewed 4673 times ]

So 35 - 20 = 15
15 - 3 = 12 (Subtract once the triple counted green region. Now everything is double counted)
12/2 = 6 = Total number of people who play 2 or 3 instruments.
_________________

Karishma
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor
My Blog

Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Intern Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 24 Followers: 1 Kudos [?]: 10 [0], given: 3 Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink] ### Show Tags 05 Feb 2012, 02:18 slingfox wrote: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play violin, 3 play all the instruments, 20 play only one instrument. How many play 2 instruments? A. 3 B. 6 C. 9 D. 12 E. 15 Total folks = 10 + 11 + 14 = 35 20 Play only one instrument. So no of people playing two or more instruments = 35 - 20 = 15. From the venn diagrams we know that 15 represents the intersection part between Piano, Guitar and Violin. In the venn diagram, people having all the three capabilities are counted thrice. Hence people playing exactly two instruments = 15 - 3 (3) = 6 Hence B. Direct formulas may not be applicable all the time. Focus on which area is being counted and how many times. Manager Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 74 Followers: 2 Kudos [?]: 19 [0], given: 2 Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink] ### Show Tags 05 Feb 2012, 02:47 The way I did it was add up all the instruments together, so 10 + 11 +14 = 35. I knew 3 people played all 3, so I subtract 3 from each of the instruments, so 7+8+11 = 26. I know this is the amount of instruments played by a person who plays 1 or 2 instruments. Since the amount of people that play 1 instrument is 20, you subtract all the single instrument from the total. 26-20=6, so 6 instrument. We know that people in this group play 2 instruments, so there is 3 people playing 6 instruments. 3 people who plays exactly 2 instruments + 3 people who plays exactly 3 = 6 people who play 2 or more instruments. Manager Status: MBA Aspirant Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 178 Location: India Concentration: Finance, International Business WE: Information Technology (Investment Banking) Followers: 3 Kudos [?]: 72 [0], given: 1 Re: Overlapping Sets Problem [#permalink] ### Show Tags 05 Feb 2012, 03:19 VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: MBAhereIcome wrote: those who play single instrument = 20 those who don't play a single instrument (play 2 or 3) = 35-20 = 15 those who play 2 instruments = 15-3 = 12 (3 play all three instruments) The 35 that you counted: 10 + 11 + 14 double counts the number of people who play only 2 instruments and triple counts the number of people who play all 3 instruments. The circle of 10 of piano includes the red and the green region. The circle of 11 of Guitar includes the red and green region too. Similarly, the circle of 14 of violin includes the red and the green region too. So each red region is counted twice and the green region is counted 3 times. Attachment: Ques2.jpg So 35 - 20 = 15 15 - 3 = 12 (Subtract once the triple counted green region. Now everything is double counted) 12/2 = 6 = Total number of people who play 2 or 3 instruments. Hi, Dont you think the answer should be A i.e. 3 since the question asks for how many people who play 2 instruments and not atleast 2 instruments. Math Expert Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 35296 Followers: 6644 Kudos [?]: 85696 [2] , given: 10252 Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink] ### Show Tags 05 Feb 2012, 03:47 2 This post received KUDOS Expert's post slingfox wrote: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play violin, 3 play all the instruments, 20 play only one instrument. How many play 2 instruments? A. 3 B. 6 C. 9 D. 12 E. 15 To elaborate more. Look at the diagram below: Attachment: Union_3sets.gif [ 11.63 KiB | Viewed 4553 times ] To solve this question one should fundamentally understand two things: 1. What does the question ask: "How many play 2 instruments?" So, we should find the sum of the sectors 1, 2, 3, and 4. Notice that those who play two instruments include also those who play all three instruments, (sector 4); 2. What happens when we sum all three groups, 10 piano players, 11 guitar players and 14 violin players? When we add these three groups, we'll get 10+11+14=35 but some sections are counting more than once in this number: sections 1, 2, and 3 are counted twice and section 4 thrice. Now, if we subtract those who play only one instrument (inner white sections on the diagram), we'll get 35-20=15, so twice sections 1, 2, and 3 plus thrice section 4 equals to 15. Since, 15 counts section 4, those who play all the instruments, thrice then of 15-3=12 counts these section twice. So, now 12 counts all sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 twice. We need to count them once thus divide this number by 2 --> 12/2=6 play 2 instruments. Answer: B. Detailed analysis of this concept is here: formulae-for-3-overlapping-sets-69014.html#p729340 subhajeet wrote: Hi, Dont you think the answer should be A i.e. 3 since the question asks for how many people who play 2 instruments and not atleast 2 instruments. No, if it were the case question would ask: "how many play EXACTLY 2 instruments?" How many play 2 instruments, means how many play at least 2 instruments, hence this group includes also those who play all 3 instruments. Refer to the link above for more on this issue. Hope it helps. _________________ Manager Status: MBA Aspirant Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 178 Location: India Concentration: Finance, International Business WE: Information Technology (Investment Banking) Followers: 3 Kudos [?]: 72 [0], given: 1 Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink] ### Show Tags 06 Feb 2012, 02:20 Bunuel wrote: slingfox wrote: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play violin, 3 play all the instruments, 20 play only one instrument. How many play 2 instruments? A. 3 B. 6 C. 9 D. 12 E. 15 To elaborate more. Look at the diagram below: Attachment: Union_3sets.gif To solve this question one should fundamentally understand two things: 1. What does the question ask: "How many play 2 instruments?" So, we should find the sum of the sectors 1, 2, 3, and 4. Notice that those who play two instruments include also those who play all three instruments, (sector 4); 2. What happens when we sum all three groups, 10 piano players, 11 guitar players and 14 violin players? When we add these three groups, we'll get 10+11+14=35 but some sections are counting more than once in this number: sections 1, 2, and 3 are counted twice and section 4 thrice. Now, if we subtract those who play only one instrument (inner white sections on the diagram), we'll get 35-20=15, so twice sections 1, 2, and 3 plus thrice section 4 equals to 15. Since, 15 counts section 4, those who play all the instruments, thrice then of 15-3=12 counts these section twice. So, now 12 counts all sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 twice. We need to count them once thus divide this number by 2 --> 12/2=6 play 2 instruments. Answer: B. Detailed analysis of this concept is here: formulae-for-3-overlapping-sets-69014.html#p729340 subhajeet wrote: Hi, Dont you think the answer should be A i.e. 3 since the question asks for how many people who play 2 instruments and not atleast 2 instruments. No, if it were the case question would ask: "how many play EXACTLY 2 instruments?" How many play 2 instruments, means how many play at least 2 instruments, hence this group includes also those who play all 3 instruments. Refer to the link above for more on this issue. Hope it helps. Bunnel: Thanks for the explanation. But it becomes a bit confusing here. Looks like i have to extra vigilent for these type of statements. Director Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 504 Schools: Harvard, Columbia, Stern, Booth, LSB, Followers: 17 Kudos [?]: 649 [1] , given: 241 Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar [#permalink] ### Show Tags 22 Aug 2012, 09:49 1 This post received KUDOS Question wordings are very poor or at least very ambiguous. "How many play 2 instruments?" can be inferred in 2 ways (both of which are right) which creates unnecessary confusion 1) Play Exactly 2 instruments 2) Play at least 2 instruments _________________ If you like my Question/Explanation or the contribution, Kindly appreciate by pressing KUDOS. Kudos always maximizes GMATCLUB worth -Game Theory If you have any question regarding my post, kindly pm me or else I won't be able to reply Current Student Status: Everyone is a leader. Just stop listening to others. Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Posts: 993 Location: India GPA: 3.51 WE: Information Technology (Computer Software) Followers: 163 Kudos [?]: 1368 [0], given: 226 Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink] ### Show Tags 15 Aug 2013, 14:58 Yes its language is not correct someone should edit it "how many play at least two instrument" or Change the OA to - A. I also got 3 when i saw 26% correct answers i thought its a tough problem but later i discovered this issue, which everyone else has also reported. _________________ Piyush K ----------------------- Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time. ― Thomas A. Edison Don't forget to press--> Kudos My Articles: 1. WOULD: when to use? | 2. All GMATPrep RCs (New) Tip: Before exam a week earlier don't forget to exhaust all gmatprep problems specially for "sentence correction". Senior Manager Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 335 Followers: 3 Kudos [?]: 294 [1] , given: 102 Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink] ### Show Tags 15 Aug 2013, 15:18 1 This post received KUDOS slingfox wrote: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play violin, 3 play all the instruments, 20 play only one instrument. How many play 2 instruments? A. 3 B. 6 C. 9 D. 12 E. 15 guitar = 11 piano = 10 violin = 14 1 or 2 instruments player = 10-3 +11-3 +14-3 = 35-9 = 26 1 instruments player = 20 so 2 instruments player = 26-20 = 6 =B _________________ Asif vai..... Manager Joined: 21 Aug 2012 Posts: 150 Followers: 2 Kudos [?]: 57 [0], given: 41 Re: Overlapping Sets Problem [#permalink] ### Show Tags 15 Aug 2013, 20:05 VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: MBAhereIcome wrote: those who play single instrument = 20 those who don't play a single instrument (play 2 or 3) = 35-20 = 15 those who play 2 instruments = 15-3 = 12 (3 play all three instruments) The 35 that you counted: 10 + 11 + 14 double counts the number of people who play only 2 instruments and triple counts the number of people who play all 3 instruments. The circle of 10 of piano includes the red and the green region. The circle of 11 of Guitar includes the red and green region too. Similarly, the circle of 14 of violin includes the red and the green region too. So each red region is counted twice and the green region is counted 3 times. Attachment: Ques2.jpg So 35 - 20 = 15 15 - 3 = 12 (Subtract once the triple counted green region. Now everything is double counted) 12/2 = 6 = Total number of people who play 2 or 3 instruments. The question only states that how many play 2 instruments. Nowhere it is mentioned that it asks for only 2 instruments or atleast 2 instruments??? _________________ MODULUS Concept ---> http://gmatclub.com/forum/inequalities-158054.html#p1257636 HEXAGON Theory ---> http://gmatclub.com/forum/hexagon-theory-tips-to-solve-any-heaxgon-question-158189.html#p1258308 Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 6971 Location: Pune, India Followers: 2031 Kudos [?]: 12764 [0], given: 221 Re: Overlapping Sets Problem [#permalink] ### Show Tags 15 Aug 2013, 22:26 jaituteja wrote: VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: MBAhereIcome wrote: those who play single instrument = 20 those who don't play a single instrument (play 2 or 3) = 35-20 = 15 those who play 2 instruments = 15-3 = 12 (3 play all three instruments) The 35 that you counted: 10 + 11 + 14 double counts the number of people who play only 2 instruments and triple counts the number of people who play all 3 instruments. The circle of 10 of piano includes the red and the green region. The circle of 11 of Guitar includes the red and green region too. Similarly, the circle of 14 of violin includes the red and the green region too. So each red region is counted twice and the green region is counted 3 times. Attachment: Ques2.jpg So 35 - 20 = 15 15 - 3 = 12 (Subtract once the triple counted green region. Now everything is double counted) 12/2 = 6 = Total number of people who play 2 or 3 instruments. The question only states that how many play 2 instruments. Nowhere it is mentioned that it asks for only 2 instruments or atleast 2 instruments??? I understand the confusion. But the language of sets is very mathematical and literal. Say, if I ask you, whether you play an instrument and you have to answer in yes or no, you will say yes even if you play 2/3/4 instruments. Similarly, if I ask you whether you play two instruments, you will answer yes even if you play 3/4 instruments. No of people who play two instruments includes number of people who play more than 2 too since these people certainly do play 2 instruments (and they play some more). If 'at least' or 'only' is mentioned, we will consider it accordingly. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

Veritas Prep Reviews

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 35296
Followers: 6644

Kudos [?]: 85696 [0], given: 10252

Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink]

### Show Tags

16 Aug 2013, 01:57
PiyushK wrote:
Yes its language is not correct someone should edit it "how many play at least two instrument" or Change the OA to - A.

I also got 3

when i saw 26% correct answers i thought its a tough problem but later i discovered this issue, which everyone else has also reported.

The correct answer is B, not A.
_________________
Manager
Status: Persevering
Joined: 15 May 2013
Posts: 225
Location: India
GMAT Date: 08-02-2013
GPA: 3.7
WE: Consulting (Consulting)
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 82 [0], given: 34

Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Aug 2013, 06:09
PiyushK wrote:
Yes its language is not correct someone should edit it "how many play at least two instrument" or Change the OA to - A.

I also got 3

when i saw 26% correct answers i thought its a tough problem but later i discovered this issue, which everyone else has also reported.

The question never said exactly 2 instrument; had it done so your answer would have been correct, but the question said people who play two instrument which might include 3 people. hence the solution is exactly 2 once and all three once; 3+3=6
_________________

--It's one thing to get defeated, but another to accept it.

Intern
Joined: 09 Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 6 [0], given: 0

Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink]

### Show Tags

18 Aug 2013, 11:36
slingfox wrote:
Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play violin, 3 play all the instruments, 20 play only one instrument. How many play 2 instruments?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 9
D. 12
E. 15

play only piano 10-3=7
Play only guitar 11-3=8
Play only violin 14-3=11
so, 20=7+8+11-2overlapping set
2overlapping set=26-20=6
so, the best answer is (B)
Posted by Abdul Mannan Mian
Manager
Joined: 29 Aug 2013
Posts: 78
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 590 Q41 V29
GMAT 2: 540 Q44 V20
GPA: 3.5
WE: Programming (Computer Software)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 54 [0], given: 24

Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink]

### Show Tags

14 Sep 2013, 03:09
saxenaashi wrote:
slingfox wrote:
Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play violin, 3 play all the instruments, 20 play only one instrument. How many play 2 instruments?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 9
D. 12
E. 15

Total folks = 10 + 11 + 14 = 35
20 Play only one instrument. So no of people playing two or more instruments = 35 - 20 = 15.
From the venn diagrams we know that 15 represents the intersection part between Piano, Guitar and Violin. In the venn diagram, people having all the three capabilities are counted thrice. Hence people playing exactly two instruments = 15 - 3 (3) = 6

Hence B.

Direct formulas may not be applicable all the time. Focus on which area is being counted and how many times.

Here "6" that you have got is counted twice i.e. 2(Exactly two) = 6 Therefore 3 will be exactly two..

Hence if question asks 2 instruments then it will be Exactly 2 + All = 3 + 3 = 6 people..
Intern
Joined: 15 Sep 2013
Posts: 5
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 55

Re: Tough Overlapping Set Problem- Veritas [#permalink]

### Show Tags

20 Dec 2013, 09:15
35 TOTPeople - 20 individual instr - 3 ABC = 12 remain for 2 instr / 2 instr = ANS:6 people play 2
Intern
Joined: 10 Dec 2013
Posts: 20
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Schools: ISB '16 (S)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.9
WE: Consulting (Consulting)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 7 [0], given: 7

Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink]

### Show Tags

05 Feb 2014, 11:24
Hi,

I just used a very simple approach hope that might help some people who are trying to avoid cramming up the formula

People playing all three instruments = 3

Now subtract this from each group to remove the common part for all 3

Piano(Two or one) = 7
Guitar(Two or one) = 8
Violin(Two or one) = 11

Now if we sum all of the above we will get the number of people who play either two or one instrument
Sum(Two or one) = 26

Question tells us that there are 20 people who play exactly 1 instrument hence

26-20 = 6 = People playing two instruments

Hit Kudos if you found this helpful. Cheers and good luck
Intern
Joined: 14 Jan 2011
Posts: 7
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 2

Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play [#permalink]

### Show Tags

24 Sep 2014, 08:36
Poorly written question,

if the question was how many people play at least 2 instruments than the answer would be 6

If the question was, as is implied by the majority of the answers, how many people played solely 2 instruments the answer would be 3.
Re: Of a group of people, 10 play piano, 11 play guitar, 14 play   [#permalink] 24 Sep 2014, 08:36

Go to page   Previous    1   2   3    Next  [ 45 posts ]

Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
1 There are 10 players in a chess group, and each player plays each of t 2 12 Sep 2015, 12:03
1 In a group of 800 people, 1/5 play at least one instrument.. 3 05 Aug 2012, 08:00
11 A group of 8 friends want to play doubles tennis. How many 6 14 Dec 2010, 16:32
8 A group of 8 friends want to play doubles tennis. How many 9 14 Nov 2010, 04:18
71 A group of 8 friends want to play doubles tennis. How many 32 10 Nov 2007, 21:43
Display posts from previous: Sort by