Last year, 36 houses in a certain development had roof repairs and 48

Number of houses that had roof repairs = 36
Some of these could have been repainted as well (while the others only had roof repairs)

Number of houses that had roof repairs but were not repainted (i.e. only had roof repairs) = 20

Thus, number of houses that had roof repairs and were also repainted
= (Number of houses that had roof repairs) - (Number of houses that had roof repairs but were not repainted)
= 36 - 20 = 16

Number of houses that were repainted = 48
Some of these could have had roof repairs as well (while the others had only been repainted)

Thus, number of houses that were repainted but did not have roof repairs
= (Number of houses that were repainted) - (Number of houses that had roof repairs and were also repainted)
= 48 - 16
= 32

Answer E

We can create the equation:

36 - both = 20

both = 16

Thus, the number of houses that were repainted only was 48 - 16 = 32.

Answer: E

Answer E

I solved this using a double matrix method.

Might help anyone who's trying to solve it by the same approach.

Here's how i did it. Hope this helps

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.