More than 5 answer choices for DS ?

Question

All,

On DS questions -

1. Is it guaranteed that if the answer is D, i.e. both Statement (1) and (2) are each sufficient, both will result in the same answer. E.g. if Statement (1) gives x=5, (2) will not give x=6.

2. Is it possible that (1) alone is sufficient, and, additionally, given the facts of (1) and (2), one can get the answer. What is the correct answer in that case, A or C ?

3. I had 1 more but I am forgetting it, will reply when I remember... :-D

Any comments ?

Do I have too much time ? If not, why am I wasting it on thinking about such things ? May 5 is fast approaching.

Bunuel · Answer

1. On the GMAT, two data sufficiency statements always provide TRUE information and these statements never contradict each other or the stem (no matter whether answer is A, B, C, D, or E). So, your scenario is not possible since in this case statements would clearly contradict each other.

2. If statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient then the answer is A. You'd have answer C if BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

Hope it helps.

dabral · Answer

1) In my opinion it is one of the unwritten rules of GMAT test writers that if Statement 1 and 2 alone are sufficient, the value of the answer is the same for both statements. Technically, it doesn't have to, but I have seen this rule to be followed in over 1500 official data sufficiency problems that I have encountered.

Sometimes, when I am uncertain about a statement I will actually solve the problem and if the answer matches for both statements, then it gives me the confidence that I haven't made any mistakes in interpreting the question. Of course there is a time cost for doing this.

Dabral

Bunuel · Answer

It's not an unwritten rule, it's a rule. Again:

On the GMAT, two data sufficiency statements always provide TRUE information and these statements never contradict each other or the stem.

KarishmaB · Answer

First of all, you are not wasting time. It is extremely important to understand these points.

1. Imagine that the GMAT DS question stem is a puzzle. You cannot answer it with the data given in the stem. So you get a clue (stmnt 1). You try and solve it using stmnt 1. Say, it is not enough. You get another clue (stmnt 2). You try and solve it using 2 alone. If it is not enough, you try solving using both statements. There is only one answer to the puzzle. The 2 statements are just 2 clues to the puzzle so it will not happen that they give conflicting answers.

2. I don't remember the exact wording of DS answer options but they imply this:

A - Stmnt 1 alone is sufficient but stmnt 2 alone is not.
B - Stmnt 2 alone is sufficient but stmnt 1 alone is not.
C - You need both stmnts to answer the question.
D - Each stmnt alone is sufficient.
E - Both stmnts together are not sufficient.

If stmnt 1 alone is sufficient, obviously 1 and 2 together are also sufficient but look at the options. Option C is that you NEED both stmnts to solve it. If stmnt 1 alone is sufficient but stmnt 2 alone is not, answer has to be A.

glores1970 · Answer

Thanks, Karishma. It is important to note that choice C clearly states "...but neither statement alone is sufficient..." 
so that settles it.

i have just discovered your Quarter Wit series, it is phenomenal !
I wish i had found it before, not 4 days before the test.

More than 5 answer choices for DS ?

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