A group of Republicans and Democrats was surveyed and each

The question stated 20% of the Republicans who liked apple pie also liked eclairs, not 16% as you did. I think the question has a wrong number because the way you did is right.

Suppose 100 republicans are there in total. 80% like apple pie. Thus 80 republicans include all those who like ONLY apple pie & those who like BOTH apple pie and eclairs. Now, 20% of those who like apple pie, like eclairs also. Thus, out of 80 people, 16 like both. You can see that 16 is 20% of 80. Maybe the confusion is from the fact that 80 people already include the people who like both and that number is again manifested as a percentage.

My approach was as follows:
0.16 R = 0.55 D (initial method same as yours where R= Republicans and D=Democrats)
\(\frac{4R}{25}\) = \(\frac{11D}{10}\)
R can be = 25*11 and D = 25*4
which means R= 275 and D= 100
Alas the answer comes out to be 375 and none of the options match
could u harp on the fault in my approach??

0.16 R = 0.55 D

or 16/100 R = 55/100 D

or 4/25 R = 11/20 D

Further, when you take R = 25*11, you get D as 80 . This adds upto 275+80 = 355. As yo can see that this is 710/2 , thus you can choose R = 25*11*2. This will give D as 160. The sum is 550+160 = 710.

Thanks.

Thanx....Silly mistake YET AGAIN

I gave up half way through till 100Y (55/16 + 1) :assumed I was going the wrong way and lost it....damn it pays to complete our thought process!

Just to check quickly, though sum does not mention, are we not taking into considerations people who liked neither?

80% R --> like a
55% D --> like e
20% R --> like a + e
80% x 20% R = 55% D --> No. of R like a + e = No. of D like e
=> R = 55/16 D
However, R + D should be one of the above answers => R + D = 71/16 D = B (the answers) B must divisible by 15/4, D is an integer and positive
--> Answer is E

As per given data 16% of the republican comes into category of both who likes eclairs and apple pie, this number is equal to 55% of democrats who likes eclairs.
Following diagram is explanatory.

Although saying that the total number of Democrats and Republicans must be divisible by 71 is not incorrect, the total number of Democrats and Republicans must be actually divisible by 355. This is because saying total number of Republicans will be divisible by 55 doesn't ensure that the Republicans who like apple pies and eclairs is an integer. Similarly, saying that the total number of Democrats will be divisible by 16 doesn't ensure that the Democrats who like eclairs is an integer. Since Republicans who like both products is 16% (80%* 20%) of total Republicans, this implies that the number of Republicans must also be a multiple of 25, for the Republicans who like both products to be an integer. Since number of Republicans is divisible by both 25 and 55, the total number of Republicans must be divisible by 275 (LCM of 25 and 55). Since Democrats who like eclairs is 55% of total Democrats, this implies that the number of Democrats must also be a multiple of 20, for the Democrats who like eclairs to be an integer. Since number of Democrats is divisible by both 16 and 20, the total number of Democrats must be divisible by 80 (LCM of 16 and 20). Summing up 275 and 80 yields 355. I just wanted to point this out because this can make a difference if the multiple choices were different.

I'm slightly confused. The question says of those 80 Republicans who like Apple Pies, 16 also like eclairs. But what about the 20 who like Eclairs, are there any who like Apple Pies? That could be a possibility right?

Hi Dina98,

This question is very different from most overlapping questions you will probably encounter on the GMAT. This question will require either 2 separate venn diagrams or 2 separate matrices, one for Democrats and one for Republicans. Since the question is asking for one possible value for the number of democrats and number of republicans, you shouldn't pick your own numbers. You can let the number of Republicans be R and the number of Democrats be D. This question is actually testing divisibility because the number of democrats and republicans must each be integers.

What do you mean by the 20 who like Eclairs?

(80/100 * 20/100)R = (55/100)D

We can use this information to find the ratio of Democrats to Republicans:
D/R = 16/55
So D:R = 16:55
Dems are 16/71 and Republicans are 55/71 of the total population. From this we know the total population must be an integer so the answer must be a multiple of 71. 710 fits the bill pretty cleanly.

Could you explain 0.20 X 0.80 --> what formula is this?
Would really be helpful

Thank you!

Let the number of Democratic be x
Let the number of republican be y



0.55x = 0.16y
\(\frac{x}{y} = \frac{0.16}{0.55}\)

\(\frac{x}{y} = \frac{16}{55}\)

Easiest way to see this is just add the fractions: 16+55 = 71
Which matches the answer option E, if number of democratic are 16x10 = 160 and number of republicans are 55 x 10 = 550
Total: 710

Veritas Prep OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Start by setting up an equation. Call the number of Republicans r and the number of Democrats d. 80% of r like apple pie, or .8r. 20% of these also like éclairs, so .2(.8r) = .16r, so 16% of the Republicans like both desserts. If 55% of Democrats like éclairs, that’s .55d, and if the two subgroups are the same size, .16r = .55d. Now we just need potential values for x and y that make the equation true. Remember that you can always use the opposite coefficient to make such an equation true, so .16(.55) = .55(.16), but in this case r can’t be .55 and d can’t be .16, since we can’t have fractional people. But if we multiply each of these numbers by some power of ten, we can leave the equation essentially unchanged – we’re just multiplying each side by 10 – while finding an integer solution for x and y. .16(55) = .55(16) seems like it might work, but we’re still stuck with decimal solutions (each side then has 8.8 people). If we go up one more power of ten the equation works: .16(550) = .55(160), so r can equal 550, d can equal 160, and r + d can equal 550 + 160
Correct Answer: (E)

Although the question is in the guise of an overlapping sets problem, I believe they want you to overwork and get stressed (as I did) attempting to put together some sort of Venn.

“80 percent of Republicans liked apple pie.”

Like apple = .8R

“20 percent of the republicans who liked apple pie also liked eclairs.”

Like both = (.2) (.8)R = .16R

“55 percent of the Democrats liked eclairs.”

Like eclairs = .55D

And we are told that these two amounts of people are equal. Furthermore, because we are dealing with people, we have an Integer Constraint in a Ratio problem.

.16R = .55D

R/55 = D/16 ———> converted to Ratio form

Republicans to Democrats to Total People = R : D : (R + D) = 55x : 16x : (71x)

Again, because we have an integer constraint, the total people must be a multiple of 71 so that x is an integer

Only E 710 works

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