subhashghosh wrote:
This question has a discrepancy:
As per (2) we can have 0.36(M+F) = Comedy;
=> 0.36M + 0.36F = Comedy
but as per (1) we have 0.26F = Comedy.
So the overlapping number is obscure, and again, this makes the answer E.
I don't think we can conclude that there is a discrepancy here.
The Comedy in your first equation (colored red above) refers to Total number of people preferring Comedy
Whereas, Comedy in your second equation (colored blue above) refers to total number of females preferring Comedy.
So, both statements can be true.
For example, if there were 1000 males and 200 females, then 1st equation just says that 36% of 1200 prefer comedy and that comes to a total of 432 people - which is the same total if 36% of males as well as 36% of females preferred Comedy, but that's not the only combination that can give us 432, as we see below.
The second equation says that 26% of 200 females prefer comedy and that comes to a total of 52 females.
So, number of males preferring comedy is 432 - 52 = 380, and hence percentage of males preferring comedy is 38%. So, for this male female breakup, total 26% can prefer comedy if 38% males and 26% females prefer comedy.
Of course, the answer still is E.