Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 09:31 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 09:31
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
smartass666
Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Last visit: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
471
 [33]
Given Kudos: 11
Posts: 10
Kudos: 471
 [33]
Kudos
Add Kudos
33
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
EvaJager
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Last visit: 31 Aug 2016
Posts: 514
Own Kudos:
2,326
 [12]
Given Kudos: 43
WE:Science (Education)
Posts: 514
Kudos: 2,326
 [12]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
MacFauz
Joined: 02 Jul 2012
Last visit: 19 Mar 2022
Posts: 996
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 116
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42
GPA: 3.8
WE:Engineering (Energy)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
smartass666
Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Last visit: 02 Apr 2013
Posts: 10
Own Kudos:
471
 [1]
Given Kudos: 11
Posts: 10
Kudos: 471
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MacFauz
EvaJager
smartass666
Each of the variables X, Y, and Z can only be 0 or 1. The values of the three variables are independent of one another. The probability that Z is 1 is .25. The probability that X is 1 is less than the probability that Y is 1. The probability that XY + Z is at least 1 is .55.

The probability that X is 1 The probability that Y is 1
.35
.50
.60
.75
.80
.90

Answer : The probability that X is 1 : .50
The probability that Y is 1 : .80

\(P(XY+Z \geq1) = P(XY=1)+P(Z=1)-P(XYZ=1).\)
If \(P(X=1)=x, \,P(Y=1)=y,\) then \(0.25+xy-0.25xy=0.55\) from which \(xy=0.4.\)
If this is one of those table questions, where we have to choose one value for each from the given list, knowing that \(x<y\), we have \(x=0.5\) and \(y=0.8.\)

Can you please explain how you arrived at that equation?? Can it apply to an inequality ie (xy + z >= 1) ??

It is provided in the question stem...
User avatar
EvaJager
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Last visit: 31 Aug 2016
Posts: 514
Own Kudos:
2,326
 [3]
Given Kudos: 43
WE:Science (Education)
Posts: 514
Kudos: 2,326
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MacFauz
EvaJager
smartass666
Each of the variables X, Y, and Z can only be 0 or 1. The values of the three variables are independent of one another. The probability that Z is 1 is .25. The probability that X is 1 is less than the probability that Y is 1. The probability that XY + Z is at least 1 is .55.

The probability that X is 1 The probability that Y is 1
.35
.50
.60
.75
.80
.90

Answer : The probability that X is 1 : .50
The probability that Y is 1 : .80

\(P(XY+Z \geq1) = P(XY=1)+P(Z=1)-P(XYZ=1).\)
If \(P(X=1)=x, \,P(Y=1)=y,\) then \(0.25+xy-0.25xy=0.55\) from which \(xy=0.4.\)
If this is one of those table questions, where we have to choose one value for each from the given list, knowing that \(x<y\), we have \(x=0.5\) and \(y=0.8.\)

Can you please explain how you arrived at that equation?? Can it apply to an inequality ie (xy + z >= 1) ??

\(X,Y,Z\) can be either \(0\) or \(1\). Possible values of the expression \(XY+Z\) are \(0, 1\) and \(2.\)
The greatest value of \(XY+Z\) is \(2\), for \(X=Y=Z=1\), and it is equal to \(1\) when either \(XY=1\) or \(Z=1.\)
We have to compute the probability \(P(XY=1 \,\,or \,Z=1)\) for which we use the formula of the union: \(P(A\cup{B})=P(A)+P(B)-P(A\cap{B}).\)
avatar
sosohaihai
Joined: 28 Nov 2012
Last visit: 21 Aug 2013
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
2
 [2]
Posts: 1
Kudos: 2
 [2]
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi here's my attempt for the question:
"probability that XY + Z is at least 1 is .55" means that either XY or Z is 1 or both are 1

P(XY=0,Z=1)+P(XY=1,Z=0)+P(XY=1,Z=1)=0.55
P(XY=0,Z=0) = 1-0.55=0.45 =>(both XY and Z are 0)

we can find out P(XY=0)=0.45/0.75=0.6

so, 0.6 is the probability that XY are 0

The combination of X,Y are as follows:

X Y
0 0
0 1
1 0
1 1

For the first 3 cases the result of XY is 0, so P(X=1,Y=1) is 0.4

Just find from the table the combination that will fit into the equation P(X=1)P(Y=1)=0.4, and X<Y
User avatar
crimson_noise
Joined: 14 May 2024
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
6
 [1]
Given Kudos: 5
GMAT Focus 1: 615 Q80 V85 DI77
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 615 Q80 V85 DI77
Posts: 29
Kudos: 6
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Shouldn’t it be
P(XY+Z >= 1) = P(XY=1) + P(Z=1) + P(XYZ=1)
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,389
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: 105,389
Kudos: 778,287
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
crimson_noise
Shouldn’t it be
P(XY+Z >= 1) = P(XY=1) + P(Z=1) + P(XYZ=1)
No. That formula double-counts.

XY + Z ≥ 1 means XY = 1 (and Z can be any value) or Z = 1 (and XY can be any value).

So the correct expression is:
P(XY + Z ≥ 1) = P(XY = 1) + P(Z = 1) - P(XY = 1 and Z = 1).

Since X, Y, and Z are independent,
P(XY = 1 and Z = 1) = P(XY = 1) * P(Z = 1).

Substitute this:
P(XY + Z ≥ 1) = P(XY = 1) + P(Z = 1) - P(XY = 1) * P(Z = 1).

Now rearrange:
= P(Z = 1) + P(XY = 1)(1 - P(Z = 1)).

This shows that the probability equals the probability that Z = 1 plus, when Z = 0, the probability that XY = 1. That’s why the correct form is:

P(Z = 1) + (1 - P(Z = 1)) * P(XY = 1),

not the one with + P(XYZ = 1).
Moderators:
Math Expert
105389 posts
496 posts