chetan86 wrote:
A certain number of marbles are to be removed from a box containing only solid-colored red, yellow, and blue marbles. How many more yellow marbles than red marbles are in the box before any are removed?
(1) To guarantee that a red marble is removed, the smallest number of marbles that must be removed from the box is 14.
(2) To guarantee that a yellow marble is removed, the smallest number of marbles that must be removed from the box is 8.
\(? = Y - R\,\,\,\,\,\left( {{\text{yellow,}}\,{\text{red and}}\,\,{\text{blue}}\,\,{\text{marbles}}\,\,{\text{only}}} \right)\)
\(\left( 1 \right)\,\,Y + B = 13\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{\\
\,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {Y,R,B} \right) = \left( {12,1,1} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,? = 11 \hfill \cr \\
\,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {Y,R,B} \right) = \left( {12,2,1} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,? = 10 \hfill \cr} \right.\)
\(\left( 2 \right)\,\,R + B = 7\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{\\
\,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {Y,R,B} \right) = \left( {12,6,1} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,? = 6 \hfill \cr \\
\,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {Y,R,B} \right) = \left( {13,6,1} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,? = 7 \hfill \cr} \right.\)
\(\left( {1 + 2} \right)\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{\\
\,Y + B = 13 \hfill \cr \\
\,R + B = 7 \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{\left( - \right)} \,\,\,\,\,\,? = Y - R = 13 - 7\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,{\rm{SUFF}}.\)
We follow the notations and rationale taught in the
GMATH method.
Regards,
Fabio.
_________________
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator (Math for the GMAT)