A private contractor completed three projects

Question

A private contractor completed three projects (Projects A–C) last month. For each of those three projects, she completed the following four steps in order, and upon the completion of the last step, the project was complete.

Step 1.  Determined how much she would charge for the project
 Step 2.  Scheduled a time to perform the work
 Step 3.  Performed the work
 Step 4.  Billed the client

Step 1 of Project B was completed after Step 2 of Project A. Step 1 of Project C was completed after Step 3 of Project B. Project B was the last one of the three projects completed.

From among the options below, select for  First  the step that was completed before all of the other steps mentioned, and select for  Last  the step that was completed after all the other steps mentioned. Make only two selections, one in each column.

SatvikVedala · Accepted Answer

Hi Ankur

Let me tell you my approach

The statements in the question
1. Four Steps (1 to 4)
2. She (A private contractor) completed the following four steps  in order 
3. Step 1 of  Project B  was completed after Step 2 of  Project A 
4. Step 1 of  Project C  was completed after Step 3 of  Project B 
5.  Project B  was the last one of the three projects completed
can be deciphered as below

A 1 - A2
-------B1 - B2 - B3
-------------------C1 - C2 - C3 - C4
-----------------------------------------B4
From the above we can say that
the step that was completed before all of the other steps:  Step 2 of Project A (from given options) 
the step that was completed after all the other steps mentioned:  Step 4 of Project B (Evident from above)

Hope this is clear
Please give it a kudos.

Thanks
Satvik

AnkurGMAT20 · Answer

chetan2u  can you share the solution for this one?

AnkurGMAT20 · Answer

SatvikVedala thanks for sharing the solution, it's very helpful. I have seen a couple other questions based on this same logic, and your approach will be helpful for me tackle them or any other future questions.

Thanks again!

Thanks again!

sunshineeee · Answer

(1)  Step 1 of Project B was  completed after Step 2 of Project A.

So, 1st is step 2 of Project A

(2)   Project B was the last one  of the three projects completed.

So, final project is Project B. And, last step in Project B is Step 4.

So, Step 4 Project B

Step 1 of Project B was completed after Step 2 of Project A. Step 1 of Project C was completed after Step 3 of Project B. Project B was the last one of the three projects completed.

muskang2000 · Answer

I somehow took 8min+ on this - re-reading it assuming this has to be complex, and then I saw the difficulty level of this question and I got the solution in that very minute. Not sure why.

A private contractor completed three projects

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

First	Last
		Step 1 of Project B
		Step 2 of Project A
		Step 3 of Project A
		Step 4 of Project B
		Step 4 of Project C

GMAT Two-part Analysis (TPA) Questions

A private contractor completed three projects

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards