Representation in a local community board is based on the

both are sufficient
hence D

The answer is correct but there is a little problem with solution:

For (1). As there are less than 25 members, there is less then 500,000 population;

For (2). Consider this statement to be as follows: If the population were three times as large, the community board would have had 58 members.

What would be the answer in this case?

Whats the problem in the solution given by kp1811

@Bunuel for your question for st2 the total comes as 246,000 apprx so again st2 is suff...

If statement (2) were: "If the population were three times as large, the community board would have had 58 members."

Then according the solution given in previous posts the answer would be:
25 members represent first 500,00;
Remaining 33 will represent 33*30,000=990,000.
Total 500,00+990,000=1,490,000. As this is 3 times the current population, so we have 1,490,000/3=~497,000<500,000, hence sufficient.

But this would be wrong. As 1,490,000 will be the lowest possible population for 58 members, the highest would be 1,490,000+29,999=1,519,999. Meaning that 25 members for 500,000 plus 990,000 for 33 remaining members plus 29,999 of population with no member at all. In the case of highest possible population for 58 members, current population would be 1,519,999/3=~506,666>500,000. We have two answers one less than 500,000 another more. Not sufficient.

In our original question range for 51 members would be from 1,280,000(500,00+26*30,000) to 1,309,999(500,00+26*30,000+29,999). But as 1,309,999 (highest possible population for 51 members) divided by 3 is also less than 500,000 this didn't affect the final answer.

Hope it's clear.

ohhh... i didnt thought of 29,999 thanks a lot bunuel...

can anyone please explain from where did 29,999 has come?

Hi SivaKumarP,

We are given that after the first 500,000 people, each board member represents an additional 30,000 people. So, there will be a maximum of 30,000 - 1 = 29,999 people who can be without a board member.

For example, if there are 25 board members, the lowest population will be 500,000 and the highest population for the same number of board members would be 500,000 + (30,000 - 1) = 529,999.

Hence in this question when we are given the number of board members, we would need to consider the range of the population to see if the total population is less than 500,000 or not.

Hope it's clear

Regards
Harsh

For every 30,000 people, there is 1 member in the board.
Now what if there are 30,000 +29,999 = 59,999 people ??
There will stillbe only 1 member in the board who represents these 59,999 people.

Had there been 30,000 + 30,000 = 60,000 people, only then can 2 members represent these 60,000 people in the board.

Also, had there been only 29,999 people, then "NO" member can represent these 29,999 people in the board, since 29,999 < 30,000.

Please take a look at Bunuel's question and his explanation to get a clear idea.

Hope this clears your doubt.

Thanks Harsh and AshishMathew, now able to understood it...

Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.