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Bunuel
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Hi..

I could not find an option to insert an image so I have attached it.
Consider these 3 circles to be one of Russian, Ukranian and Hebrew each.

We have, R+U+H=9
The shaded part in red should be 3*2=6
This leaves us with 9-6=3
3 could not be the green part as each student studies atleast 1 language. Because if that were the case, then we have only 4 students.
So, the answer should be 0. No one studies all the 3 languages.
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Is it correct to then conclude the following:

2 students studying only R
1 student studying only U
0 students studying only H

1 student studying both R+H
1 student studying both R+U
1 student studying both U+H

0 students studying all three

2+1+0+1+1+1=6

Is this correct?

Is there a formulaic approach using the overlapping sets formulas to see this?
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Is it correct to then conclude the following:

2 students studying only R
1 student studying only U
0 students studying only H

1 student studying both R+H
1 student studying both R+U
1 student studying both U+H

0 students studying all three

2+1+0+1+1+1=6

Is this correct?

Is there a formulaic approach using the overlapping sets formulas to see this?

I hope it helps
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High quality question Bunnell. There is a formula for OL sets, however, the formula is very easy to make a mistake on (and GMAC knows this). For this reason, I don't recommend memorizing the formula. Instead draw a Venn diagram. Place a dot on every section that is included in A. Then place a dot on every section included in B and then every section included in C. If there was no overlap every section should have one dot. What we see is that the 2 OL sections have on extra dot, and the 3 OL section has extra dots. From here we would know that the 2 OL sections should be subtracted out once, and that the 3 OL section should be subtracted out twice. From here it is easy to obtain the correct formula A + B + C - (2 OL's) - 2*(3 OL) = Tot. So 4 + 3 + 2 - 3 - 2*(3 OL) = 6 and -2*(3 OL) = 0, so 3 OL = 0 and OA is A
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Bunuel
6 students in a group study different languages as specified:

Russian: 4

Ukrainian: 3

Hebrew: 2

Each student studies at least 1 language. If it is also known that exactly 3 students study exactly 2 languages, how many students are studying all three languages?


A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. 4

An alternative approach--This one might prove useful to anyone considering taking the in-home version of the exam, the one without a physical noteboard to write on. I, for one, would not want to be drawing digital Venn diagrams or even scribbling out digital algebraic expressions with multiple variables. Consider a mental keep-away method instead, aiming to preserve the slot in question within the context of the given information. If exactly 3 students study exactly 2 languages, then both Hebrew slots cannot be filled in this manner, since that would exhaust the 2 and leave no one able to fill another slot in Hebrew. It makes sense to try to fit these three students into the category with the most students, Russian. Consider:

Student 1: Russian + Ukrainian
Student 2: Russian + Ukrainian
Student 3: Russian + Hebrew (since we cannot take up the third Ukrainian slot)

That is 6 slots filled. With 3 students to go, we have just 3 more slots in which to put them. Game over. If any one of these students could take 3 classes, it would mean the other 2 students would have nothing left to take, since the overall enrollment stands at 9.

The question is easily solved in a minute or less using nothing more than simple logic.

- Andrew
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Bunuel pls tell the split for venn diagram. Why cant the 2 students of hubrew be a part of exact 2? Only Hebrewcan be 0 so why is that wrong
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Stanindaw
Bunuel pls tell the split for venn diagram. Why cant the 2 students of hubrew be a part of exact 2? Only Hebrewcan be 0 so why is that wrong

Check the diagram below:


    Given:
      Total = 6;
      Russian = 4;
      Ukrainian = 3;
      Hebrew = 2.

    Each student studies at least 1 language.
      None = 0

    Exactly 3 students study exactly 2 languages:
      D + E + F = 3.

    Question:
      G = ?


    Total = Russian + Ukrainian + Hebrew + None - (Exactly 2) - 2(Exactly 3);
    Total = Russian + Ukrainian + Hebrew + None - (D + E + F) - 2(Exactly 3);
    6 = 4 + 3 + 2 + 0 - 3 - 2*G;
    6 = 4 + 3 + 2 + 0 - 3 - 2*G;
    G = 0.

P.S. The formula above is explained in details here: ADVANCED OVERLAPPING SETS PROBLEMS.


Does this make sense? Does the above answer your query ?

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I have edited the question and the solution by adding more details to enhance its clarity. I hope it is now easier to understand.
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I like the solution - it’s helpful.
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