Elena, Marco, and Sofia each had one folder to copy to an external

Question

Elena, Marco, and Sofia each had one folder to copy to an external drive that was nearly full. From the sizes of the three folders, they knew that before any space was cleared, Sofia’s folder and exactly one of the other two folders could be copied to the drive, while the remaining folder would have to wait. Which folder could be copied along with Sofia’s folder before any space was cleared?

(1) Marco’s folder was smaller than Elena’s folder.
 (2) After Sofia’s folder was copied, the remaining free space would be less than the size of Elena’s folder.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

GMAT Club Official Solution:

Elena, Marco, and Sofia each had one folder to copy to an external drive that was nearly full. From the sizes of the three folders, they knew that before any space was cleared, Sofia’s folder and exactly one of the other two folders could be copied to the drive, while the remaining folder would have to wait. Which folder could be copied along with Sofia’s folder before any space was cleared?

Only one of these two possibilities can work:

Sofia + Elena
Sofia + Marco

We need to determine which one.

(1) Marco’s folder was smaller than Elena’s folder.

Suppose Sofia’s folder could be copied with Elena’s folder. Then Sofia’s folder could also be copied with Marco’s folder, because Marco’s folder is smaller. But the stem says only one of those two pairings is possible. So Sofia’s folder cannot be copied with Elena’s folder. Therefore, Sofia’s folder must be copied with Marco’s folder. Sufficient.

(2) After Sofia’s folder was copied, the remaining free space would be less than the size of Elena’s folder.

That means Elena’s folder could not be copied after Sofia’s folder. Since one of the two folders can be copied with Sofia’s folder, it must be Marco’s folder. Sufficient.

Answer: D.

Adit_ · Answer

Statement 1:
This explicitly states that Marco<Elena and since we know one of them is for sure going to copy to the drive before waiting for clearing, Marco is the one to join with Sofia.
SUFFICIENT.

Statement 2:
Again it indirectly says Marco is going to join with Sofia as Elena doesn't have enough space remaining after Sofia copies her folder.
SUFFICIENT.

Answer:  Option D

thisisakr · Answer

Statement 1: it makes it very clear that marco folder is smaller so obviously that would be copied considering we are using smaller files due to space constraints. ——  sufficient

Statement 2: This says the space left is less than Elena so again Marco becomes obvious answer ——  sufficient

D

dp1234 · Answer

IMO  B.

Statement 1: M<E . But questions says either M or either E could fit in the drive. So either M or E can fit.  Not sufficient .
Statement 2: After copying S to drive, free space on drive is less than E. So E can't be copied. But questions says one can be copied - so its M.  Sufficient.

Adit_ · Answer

Statement 1 is sufficient IMO.
Think of it like this:

There are 3 people.
One person is already in (Sofia in this case).
ONLY one more WILL join for sur but you dont know who.
The statement says Marco<Elena.
Think the reverse way, can Elena actually join our list?

Let's assume Elena does get in.
Sofia and Elena is in our list now. 
If Elena is in then how did Marco not make it? It is logically not possible that Marco with lesser space couldn't get in but Elena with more space got in.
This contradicts with the statement we are provided with, this Marco indeed joins with Sofia and Elena is out.

truplayer256 · Answer

This is not necessarily true regarding statement 1 being sufficient. What if the amount of remaining space was X and Elena had E amount of space where E < X, and X - E < M, then Marco will not make it. On the other hand, what if X - M < E, then Elena won't make it.

Adit_ · Answer

If you notice you actually took two different cases to make your point.

If X-E<M then Marcos won't make it but Elena also will NOT make it then.
Is that possible? No.
Because the stem says that one of them WILL make it.
So your case actually contradicts the stem itself.

BongBideshini · Answer

1. Marco’s folder was smaller than Elena’s folder.

Therefore, only the smaller folder (Marco's) can be the one that fits.
 Sufficient.

2. After Sofia’s folder was copied, the remaining free space would be less than the size of Elena’s folder.

This statement directly tells us Sofia + Elena  cannot  fit. So, it has to be Marco.
 Sufficient.

Correct Answer: D

NidhiYad · Answer

I think the answer should be B because:

Statement 1: M<E,
 Say the total space is 20Mb S occupied 10 Mb. 10 MB remaining. M is 9Mb and E is 10 Mb. In this case exactly one of M and E can occupy the space the other has to wait, but which one? we cannot say, because any one can. Insufficient!

Statement 2: Total - S <E
 So in this case we know that E can for sure not fit. Question stem says S and exactly 1 other can, so we know it must be M. Sufficient!

Adit_ · Answer

You actually contradicted with the stem while stating it yourself. Exactly one of them CAN occupy the space meaning only either one of them can, each case you take. You can't take a case where you can have either one of them get in the queue as the stem states exactly one of them only can enter the space.
I understand how you probably interpreted it like, one of them enters and the other waits, which is what your case ideally does, except for the fact that it contradicts "exactly one" of them getting in.

Hope it helps!

BPranav7 · Answer

Bunuel  ; 
Is my reasoning correct?

Question is asking which of the 2 possibilities  COULD BE TRUE  before deleting any files?
1. Sofia + Marco(S+M)
2. Sofia + Elena(S+E)
And Key Point is : Either (1) or either (2) only one combination is possible.     Both can't be possible    
Which folder could be copied along with Sofia’s folder before any space was cleared?

(1) Marco’s folder was smaller than Elena’s folder.
M's file is small than E's =>S+E or S+M both Could be Possible,
but Since already given that only one is possible => We Rule out the possibility of S+E 
=> Sufficient

(2) After Sofia’s folder was copied, the remaining free space would be less than the size of Elena’s folder.
Space Remaining < E's Size=> S+E not possible 
But since already given that only one is possible & S+E is out=> S+M is possible
=> Sufficient

Elena, Marco, and Sofia each had one folder to copy to an external

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Elena, Marco, and Sofia each had one folder to copy to an external

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