Maria can either buy a basket that contains p pounds of apples for $16

This solution is absolutely true. Just to clarify on statement 1, the reason it's insufficient is that there are up to 20 pounds of apples, so there could be 0, 10, 15, 17 or 19 pounds of apples in the basket. Regardless, the basket costs 16.05$, but the price to get the same amount of apples per pound can be as low as 0$ or as high as 19 x 0.95 = 18.05$.

The only figure to be on the lookout for is when does the amount of apples purchased per pound hit 16.50$, which in this case is between 17 and 18 pounds. ( 16.15$ to 17.10$). If we know for sure which side of this line we lie on, then we have sufficient data. As an example, if the statement had read that the basket contains less than 15 pounds of apples, or if it indicated that the basket contains more than 20 pounds, then the answer would have been D.

Statement 2 as indicated gives a linear equation, so it will give one specific answer (the basket has 15 pounds of apples in it), and is therefore sufficient without requiring any math calculations.

Hope this helps!
-Ron
_________________

F.S 1 clearly Insufficient. We don't know the value of p to compare the costs.

F.S 2 gives us a relationship as (p+4)*0.95 = 18.05. Hence, p*0.95 can be calculated. No need to calculate. The question stem can be answered. Sufficient.

B.
_________________

P (pounds in baskets) and p are same here?

______________________
Yes.
_________________

I got this question wrong only because I thought "P" and "p" mean two different values. I think it is unfair that the question is worded this way. I don't think it is right that "P" and "p" is written this way to mean the same thing in the context of this question-no clarity at all.

I am thinking would it really matter.

Statement 2 says that it would cost maria a total of $18.05 to buy p+4 pounds of apples at $0.95 per pound.

So, p + 4 costs 18.05
=> p would cost 18.05 - 0.95*4 = $14.25

So, now we know:

P pounds of apples cost $16.50 (given in the question)
p pounds of apples cost $14.25 (derived from Statement 2).

So, we know that p pounds of apples cost less.

Hence, statement 2 is sufficient and it doesn't matter whether P and p are different.

I got this question wrong because i thought P and p were 2 different values...strange wording for a GMAT ques

Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________