Five years ago at Laboratory B, the ratio of doctorate to nondoctorate researchers was 2:3. If no researchers have resigned, what is the current ratio?

(1) In the last 5 years, twice as many doctorates were hired as nondoctorates.
(2) 50 doctorates were hired during the last 5 years.

Each statement alone is clearly insufficient to answer the question. When taken together we'll have that 50 doctorates and 25 nondoctorates we hired during the last 5 years. Now, if originally there were 2 doctorates and 3 nondoctorates, then the current ratio would be (2+50)/(3+25)=52/28 BUT if originally there were 4 doctorates and 6 nondoctorates, then the current ratio would be (4+50)/(6+25)=54/31. Not sufficient.

Answer: E.

Hope it's clear.
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Since we don't know the exact number of doctorate and nondoctorate researchers the answer couldn't be found.
The answer is E.

a sub 600 level question

From the question stem, we know the number of doctorate is 2x (x is a variable) and the number of nondoctorate is 3x.
We are asked to answer the ratio after the change.


(1)
If the number of new hired is y.
The ratio after the change is

2x + y / 3x + 2y = the ratio (r)
The ratio changes as x and y change.
Insufficient.

(2)
If the number of new hired is y,
The ratio after the change is

2x + 50 / 3x + ?
Clearly insufficient.

(1) + (2)

2x + 50 / 3x + 100 = the ratio (r) .
The ratio changes as x changes.
Insufficient.