Containers A and B each contain 8 gold coins, 12 silver coins, and not

3newton wrote


Yes. I remain confused. I got the correct answer through no fault of my own. I guessed.

A thorough discussion of "each" and "both" belongs in SC, so I'll keep it as short as I can. One hat I wear is editor of English prose.

"Each" refers to every one of any number, when considered individually or separately. "Both" refers to two, taken together. "Each," almost always, is a singular subject (hence singular verb). "Both" is a plural subject. The prompt's plural verb "contain" implies both. ????

"Each" should be used to emphasize the individuality of separate conditions. "The company gave both women $100,000." Unclear. Corrected: "The company gave each woman $100,000." (The women did not split the $100,000.)

Clarity would be simple to achieve. "Jars A and B both contain ..." Or "Jars A and B contain, respectively, 8 gold and 12 silver coins."

I still can't figure out how, in 3newton 's response, A has 0 silver coins of 8 total but B has 12 silver coins of 20 total. Doesn't A also have 20 coins?

If A = 8 total and B = 12 total, I think the equation is (1/3 * 0/8) + (1/3 * 12/12) + (1/3 * 4/5) = 3/5

kumarparitosh123 , I think you are correct.

If A and B both have 8 gold and 12 silver coins, I agree that the equation is (1/3 * 12/20) + (1/3 * 12/20) + (1/3 * 4/5) = 2/3

That said, if words were clear and OA were different, the content would be interesting. 3newton , are you sure the OA is correct?

chetan2u , I disagree respectfully. I don't think there's anything clear about it. Both answers D and E are defensible.

Also, I do notice an error in phrasing 'each contain' -- since I read container A and B; it skipped my attention. (this is not advisable anyway in GMAT exam where every word is important) . Now it would complicate matters because it means A and B total would be 16 gold and 24 silver coins --> I think this question needs to be re-phrased

Hey 3newton,
Can you please tell why you have multiplied 0/3. Rest of he things are clear.
Tanks in advance.

Sent from my Lenovo TAB S8-50LC using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Rather I would have gone for 1/3(12/20+12/20+4/5).
Thus would have led to 2/3.
Ans E.

Please correct my understanding of needed.

Sent from my Lenovo TAB S8-50LC using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

The line "Containers A and B each contain 8 gold coins, 12 silver coins, and nothing else" is quite misleading here.
What it actually wants to say is that Container A contains 8 Gold coins and nothing else, and Container B contains 12 Silver coins and nothing else.

Seems to be a poor quality question..

Hi...
the way Q is written, answer is clearly E.....

Q means BOTH A and B contain 8G and 12S. container C contains 1G and 4S..

Now how have you interpreted it as 0 silver in A is wrong...

Any of three can be choosen, so choosing each means probability of 1/3..

total \(\frac{1}{3}*\frac{12}{20}*2+\frac{1}{3}*\frac{4}{5} = \frac{2}{3}\)

E

Hi,

Disagreement is always good, and with respect is even better .
So I may agree with what you have written but not with D as answer in any way, neither mathematically or grammatically..

an error of contain/contains is perfectly fine in the forum, may not be in actuals. but there too it would mean the same.

say if I take what you say --

so A has 8 gold coins , B has 12 silver BUT WHO has " nothing else"
so this solution does not stand grammatically too..
E is the only possible answer.

"A has 8 gold coins, B has 12 silver coins, and [in each there is] nothing else."

That's correct, grammatically.

I did a more 'one at a time' probability and added them up:
--> prob of container: 1/3 (choosing one out of 3 containers A,B,C)
--> prob of silver per container --> if either A and B --> then 1/12
--> if either C --> then 1/4
Prob of all silver --> 1/4 + 1/16 = 1/3
--> Prob of silver and container =1/3 + 1/3 -->2/3 (E)