Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solution.
Each employee of Company Z is an employee of either division X or division Y, but not both. If each division has some part time employees, is the ratio of the number of full-time employees to the number of part-time employees greater for division X than for Company Z?
(1) the ratio of the number of full time employees to the number of part-time employees is less for division Y than for Company Z
(2) More than half of the full-time employees of Company Z are employees of Division X, and more than half of the part-time employees of Company Z are employees of Division Y
This is a '2by2' question, most common type of question in GMAT math
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GCDS GMATBLACKBELT Each employee of Company Z (20151107).jpg [ 23.17 KiB | Viewed 42044 times ]
If we modify the question, we get a/c>(a+b)/(c+d)?, or a(c+d)>c(a+b)?, or ac+ad>ca+cb?, or ad>cb, ultimately.
There are 4 variables (a,b,c,d) but only 2 equations are given from the 2 conditions, so there is high chance (E) will be our answer.
Looking at the conditions,
From condition 1, b/d<(a+b)/(c+d), or b(c+d)<d(a+b, or bc+bd<da+bd, or bc<ad. This answers the question 'yes' and this is sufficient.
For condition 2, a>(a+b)/2, or a>b and d>(c+d)/2, or d>c. This also answers the question 'yes' and this is sufficient as well.
Condition 1 = condition 2. The answer becomes (D).
For cases where we need 3 more equation, such as original conditions with “3 variables”, or “4 variables and 1 equation”, or “5 variables and 2 equations”, we have 1 equation each in both 1) and 2). Therefore, there is 80% chance that E is the answer (especially about 90% of 2 by 2 questions where there are more than 3 variables), while C has 15% chance. These two are the majority. In case of common mistake type 3,4, the answer may be from A, B or D but there is only 5% chance. Since E is most likely to be the answer using 1) and 2) separately according to DS definition (It saves us time). Obviously there may be cases where the answer is A, B, C or D.