(1) INSUFFICIENT: This statement provides the difference between the number
of hot dogs consumed by the third-place finisher (let‟s call this t) and the number
of hot dogs consumed by the winner (let‟s call this w). We now know that w = t +
24, but this does not provide sufficient information to solve for w.
(2) INSUFFICIENT: The third-place finisher consumed one hot dog per 15
seconds. To simplify the units of measure in this problem, let‟s restate this rate as
4 hot dogs per minute. Statement (2) tells us that the winner consumed 8 hot dogs
per minute. This does not provide sufficient information to solve for w.
(1) AND (2) SUFFICIENT: The rate of consumption multiplied by elapsed time
equals the number of hot dogs consumed. This equation can be restated as time =
hot dogs/rate. Because the elapsed time is equal for both contestants, we can set
the hot dogs/rate for each contestant equal to one another:
w/8 = t/4
w = 2t
Substituting w – 24 for t yields
w = 2(w – 24)
w = 2w – 48
48 = w
ANS is C