Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 03:48 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 03:48
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
calreg11
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Last visit: 07 Mar 2013
Posts: 84
Own Kudos:
1,116
 [42]
Given Kudos: 4
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GPA: 3.7
WE:Account Management (Consumer Packaged Goods)
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
37
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,193
 [12]
8
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
calreg11
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Last visit: 07 Mar 2013
Posts: 84
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GPA: 3.7
WE:Account Management (Consumer Packaged Goods)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
sei
Joined: 29 May 2011
Last visit: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
calreg11
I dont get why the answer is E and not C.
It is given to use that all guests had a house in either the hamptons or palm beach.
with that info we can use stmt 1 and say 1/2 the guest had a house in the hampton but not in pb and then with stmt 2 we have 1/3 of the guests had a house in PB but not in hamptons

Actually exactly the opposite of this is given: "NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach"

At a charity fundraiser, 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. If not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach, what is the ratio of the number of people who had a house in Palm Beach but not in the Hamptons to the number of people who had a house in the Hamptons but not in Palm Beach?

(1) One-half of the guests had a house in Palm Beach.
(2) Two-thirds of the guests had a house in the Hamptons

Look at the diagram below for (1)+(2):
Attachment:
Houses.png
We should find the ratio of yellow boxes, but with the info given it's not possible.

Answer: E.

Hope it helps.

Hi Bunuel, a small doubt.

Why isn't the value in first row and first column i.e House in Palm Beach and House in Hamptons equal to 180?
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,193
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sei
Hi Bunuel, a small doubt.

Why isn't the value in first row and first column i.e House in Palm Beach and House in Hamptons equal to 180?

Why should they? It's seems that you are not comfortable with a double set matrix, this might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE_aMa_W0o0
avatar
sei
Joined: 29 May 2011
Last visit: 17 Jul 2012
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
sei
Hi Bunuel, a small doubt.

Why isn't the value in first row and first column i.e House in Palm Beach and House in Hamptons equal to 180?

Why should they? It's seems that you are not comfortable with a double set matrix, this might help

Thank you very very much for the video link. :)

But I am still confused with regards to the answer given by you.

Please see attachment.

The language in the question - 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. Doesn't it seem to be the same as saying - there were 9 green trucks in the youtube example that you gave?
Attachments

cars.PNG
cars.PNG [ 89.27 KiB | Viewed 30257 times ]

User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
778,193
 [1]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,193
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sei
Bunuel
sei
Hi Bunuel, a small doubt.

Why isn't the value in first row and first column i.e House in Palm Beach and House in Hamptons equal to 180?

Why should they? It's seems that you are not comfortable with a double set matrix, this might help

Thank you very very much for the video link. :)

But I am still confused with regards to the answer given by you.

Please see attachment.

The language in the question - 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. Doesn't it seem to be the same as saying - there were 9 green trucks in the youtube example that you gave?

I filled the entire matrix above (there was a typo, which is now edited). Hope it's clear now.
avatar
minkathebest
Joined: 26 Jul 2012
Last visit: 30 May 2015
Posts: 53
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 53
Kudos: 28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello Bunuel,

How do we know the ratio of the two in yellow cells is not solvable by just looking at it? I actually tried solving and of course got stuck at it but I thought because there is one degree of x in the equation it might actually lead to a ratio. How did you know it was unsolvable algebraically by just looking at it? Thank you in advance.

Bunuel
calreg11
I dont get why the answer is E and not C.
It is given to use that all guests had a house in either the hamptons or palm beach.
with that info we can use stmt 1 and say 1/2 the guest had a house in the hampton but not in pb and then with stmt 2 we have 1/3 of the guests had a house in PB but not in hamptons

Actually exactly the opposite of this is given: "NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach"

At a charity fundraiser, 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. If not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach, what is the ratio of the number of people who had a house in Palm Beach but not in the Hamptons to the number of people who had a house in the Hamptons but not in Palm Beach?

(1) One-half of the guests had a house in Palm Beach.
(2) Two-thirds of the guests had a house in the Hamptons

Look at the diagram below for (1)+(2):
Attachment:
Houses.png
We should find the ratio of yellow boxes, but with the info given it's not possible.

Answer: E.

Hope it helps.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,193
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
minkathebest
Hello Bunuel,

How do we know the ratio of the two in yellow cells is not solvable by just looking at it? I actually tried solving and of course got stuck at it but I thought because there is one degree of x in the equation it might actually lead to a ratio. How did you know it was unsolvable algebraically by just looking at it? Thank you in advance.

Well, as you can see in the matrix all boxes are filled and we still have x in both of them which do not cancel when we make the ratio.
avatar
leaderz
Joined: 17 Jan 2012
Last visit: 26 May 2013
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 53
Posts: 5
Kudos: 29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Bunuel!

the question can be solved better though venn diagram.

and answer would be "E" because neither total is given nor only Hampton houses or only palm beach houses are given.
User avatar
Mbawarrior01
Joined: 12 Oct 2012
Last visit: 23 Jan 2018
Posts: 92
Own Kudos:
366
 [1]
Given Kudos: 198
WE:General Management (Other)
Posts: 92
Kudos: 366
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
calreg11
I dont get why the answer is E and not C.
It is given to use that all guests had a house in either the hamptons or palm beach.
with that info we can use stmt 1 and say 1/2 the guest had a house in the hampton but not in pb and then with stmt 2 we have 1/3 of the guests had a house in PB but not in hamptons

Actually exactly the opposite of this is given: "NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach"

At a charity fundraiser, 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. If not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach, what is the ratio of the number of people who had a house in Palm Beach but not in the Hamptons to the number of people who had a house in the Hamptons but not in Palm Beach?

(1) One-half of the guests had a house in Palm Beach.
(2) Two-thirds of the guests had a house in the Hamptons

Look at the diagram below for (1)+(2):
Attachment:
Houses.png
We should find the ratio of yellow boxes, but with the info given it's not possible.

Answer: E.

Hope it helps.


Bunuel you nail the question in the easiest way possible. I had already visited all the forums possible, was about to give up on my doubt till i found your explanation. You are the Best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
avatar
logophobic
Joined: 03 Sep 2014
Last visit: 09 Sep 2014
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 5
Kudos: 14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I thought the answer was C...

The overlap of 2/3and 1/2 is 1/6 and we are given this is 180. From here you can figure out Hamptons & Palm Beach (540 & 720) and then take the ratio of Hamptons w/o 180 (360/540) and Palm Beach w/o 180 (540/720). The answer would then be (360/540)/(540/720). From what I understand, you don't need the number of people who don't have houses in either because the prompt doesn't ask for this info in the answer...
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
778,193
 [4]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,193
 [4]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
logophobic
I thought the answer was C...

The overlap of 2/3and 1/2 is 1/6 and we are given this is 180. From here you can figure out Hamptons & Palm Beach (540 & 720) and then take the ratio of Hamptons w/o 180 (360/540) and Palm Beach w/o 180 (540/720). The answer would then be (360/540)/(540/720). From what I understand, you don't need the number of people who don't have houses in either because the prompt doesn't ask for this info in the answer...

1/2 of the guests had a house in Palm Beach and 2/3 of the guests had a house in the Hamptons does not means that 1/6 of them had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach because the stem explicitly mentions that not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach.

So, we have {Total} = {Palm Beach} + {Hamptons} - {Both} + {Neither} --> {Total} = {Total}*1/2 + {Total}*2/3 - 180 + {Neither}.

You assumed (incorrectly) that we had: {Total} = {Palm Beach} + {Hamptons} - {Both} --> {Total} = {Total}*1/2 + {Total}*2/3 - 180, which you can solve for {Total}.

Hope it's clear.
avatar
wikdwik
Joined: 08 Mar 2014
Last visit: 19 Jun 2022
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 3
Concentration: Finance, General Management
GPA: 3.12
Posts: 5
Kudos: 3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
calreg11
I dont get why the answer is E and not C.
It is given to use that all guests had a house in either the hamptons or palm beach.
with that info we can use stmt 1 and say 1/2 the guest had a house in the hampton but not in pb and then with stmt 2 we have 1/3 of the guests had a house in PB but not in hamptons

Actually exactly the opposite of this is given: "NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach"

At a charity fundraiser, 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. If not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach, what is the ratio of the number of people who had a house in Palm Beach but not in the Hamptons to the number of people who had a house in the Hamptons but not in Palm Beach?

(1) One-half of the guests had a house in Palm Beach.
(2) Two-thirds of the guests had a house in the Hamptons

Look at the diagram below for (1)+(2):
Attachment:
Houses.png
We should find the ratio of yellow boxes, but with the info given it's not possible.

Answer: E.

Hope it helps.

Hi Bunnel,

Can't we straight away use the statement ("NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach") as the Neither component

equation becomes :

Palm beach + Hampton - Both = Total - Neither
x/2 + 2/3x - 180 = x - Neither

Since Neither is not know so C is also not sufficient. Hence E is answer.

(Let me know if I am wrong.)

Regards,
Ritwik.
avatar
tinnyshenoy
Joined: 17 Aug 2015
Last visit: 02 Nov 2016
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
calreg11
I dont get why the answer is E and not C.
It is given to use that all guests had a house in either the hamptons or palm beach.
with that info we can use stmt 1 and say 1/2 the guest had a house in the hampton but not in pb and then with stmt 2 we have 1/3 of the guests had a house in PB but not in hamptons

Actually exactly the opposite of this is given: "NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach"

At a charity fundraiser, 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. If not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach, what is the ratio of the number of people who had a house in Palm Beach but not in the Hamptons to the number of people who had a house in the Hamptons but not in Palm Beach?

(1) One-half of the guests had a house in Palm Beach.
(2) Two-thirds of the guests had a house in the Hamptons

Look at the diagram below for (1)+(2):
Attachment:
Houses.png
We should find the ratio of yellow boxes, but with the info given it's not possible.

Answer: E.

Hope it helps.

Since the question is asking for a ratio of 2 columns, why cant we assume a value to X and find the ratio?
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,193
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
tinnyshenoy
Bunuel
calreg11
I dont get why the answer is E and not C.
It is given to use that all guests had a house in either the hamptons or palm beach.
with that info we can use stmt 1 and say 1/2 the guest had a house in the hampton but not in pb and then with stmt 2 we have 1/3 of the guests had a house in PB but not in hamptons

Actually exactly the opposite of this is given: "NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach"

At a charity fundraiser, 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. If not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach, what is the ratio of the number of people who had a house in Palm Beach but not in the Hamptons to the number of people who had a house in the Hamptons but not in Palm Beach?

(1) One-half of the guests had a house in Palm Beach.
(2) Two-thirds of the guests had a house in the Hamptons

Look at the diagram below for (1)+(2):
Attachment:
Houses.png
We should find the ratio of yellow boxes, but with the info given it's not possible.

Answer: E.

Hope it helps.

Since the question is asking for a ratio of 2 columns, why cant we assume a value to X and find the ratio?

Because for different values of x, the ratio will be different.
avatar
tinnyshenoy
Joined: 17 Aug 2015
Last visit: 02 Nov 2016
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
tinnyshenoy
Bunuel


Actually exactly the opposite of this is given: "NOT everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach"

At a charity fundraiser, 180 of the guests had a house both in the Hamptons and in Palm Beach. If not everyone at the fundraiser had a house in either the Hamptons or Palm Beach, what is the ratio of the number of people who had a house in Palm Beach but not in the Hamptons to the number of people who had a house in the Hamptons but not in Palm Beach?

(1) One-half of the guests had a house in Palm Beach.
(2) Two-thirds of the guests had a house in the Hamptons

Look at the diagram below for (1)+(2):
Attachment:
Houses.png
We should find the ratio of yellow boxes, but with the info given it's not possible.

Answer: E.

Hope it helps.

Since the question is asking for a ratio of 2 columns, why cant we assume a value to X and find the ratio?

Because for different values of x, the ratio will be different.

But in this question - in-a-certain-building-1-5-of-the-offices-have-both-a-window-141254.html - which also asks for the ratio of the same 2 columns , we assumed a value of x. Why not here?

Thanks for your reply.
avatar
prajwalgote
Joined: 05 Apr 2020
Last visit: 23 Jul 2021
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi,

The question only asks for the ratio. Then we can surely get a ratio without further solving for it.

Confused ......why not "C"...

Thanks
Prajwal
User avatar
randomavoidplease
Joined: 02 Mar 2020
Last visit: 13 Feb 2021
Posts: 79
Own Kudos:
24
 [1]
Given Kudos: 24
Posts: 79
Kudos: 24
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
prajwalgote
Hi,

The question only asks for the ratio. Then we can surely get a ratio without further solving for it.

Confused ......why not "C"...

Thanks
Prajwal

I too made that mistake, when I read the prompt and glanced over the statements, Because no of total of house guests is not given, nor any other specific information about the guests except for total number of guests who have a house in BOTH. And I thought to myself, the answer has to be "E".

But thought lets solve, I believe the trickry was in the solving of things. Because variables aligned I started thinking hold on it can be solved but needed both statements. As it turns out my first instinct was right and I picked C which was wrong.

I don't know if it helps or not, or maybe I was completely wrong. Do let me know though, if my instinct was correct or not.

Thanks
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,582
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,582
Kudos: 1,079
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
Moderators:
Math Expert
105379 posts
496 posts