Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 05:40 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 05:40
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,812
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,870
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,812
Kudos: 810,966
 [11]
Kudos
Add Kudos
11
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,657
Own Kudos:
20,874
 [6]
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,657
Kudos: 20,874
 [6]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
alldaytestprep
Joined: 08 May 2018
Last visit: 24 Apr 2023
Posts: 98
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Affiliations: All Day Test Prep
Location: United States (IL)
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q167 V167
GPA: 3.58
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q167 V167
Posts: 98
Kudos: 108
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
PKN
Joined: 01 Oct 2017
Last visit: 11 Oct 2025
Posts: 809
Own Kudos:
1,637
 [2]
Given Kudos: 41
Status:Learning stage
WE:Supply Chain Management (Energy)
Posts: 809
Kudos: 1,637
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
190 students go to a school bake sale. 95 buy a chocolate chip cookie, 75 buy a peanut butter cookie, and at least 12 buy both. What is the least number of students who could have bought neither type of cookie?

A. 10
B. 24
C. 30
D. 32
E. 45

Explanation:-

Please refer the venn diagram affixed herewith.

n=190-(a+b+c), n is minimum when (a+b+c) is maximum.

We have range of c : \(12\leq{c}\leq{75}\)

when c=12, we have a=95-12=83 and b=75-12=63
so, a+b+c=83+63+12=158

when c=75, we have a=95-75=20 and b=75-75=0
so, a+b+c=20+0+75=95

Therefore, maximum value of a+b+c is158.

hence, minimum(n)=190-158=32.

The least number of students who could have bought neither type of cookie is 32.

Option: D
Attachments

set cookies.JPG
set cookies.JPG [ 26.59 KiB | Viewed 5743 times ]

User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,283
Own Kudos:
26,533
 [1]
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,283
Kudos: 26,533
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
190 students go to a school bake sale. 95 buy a chocolate chip cookie, 75 buy a peanut butter cookie, and at least 12 buy both. What is the least number of students who could have bought neither type of cookie?

A. 10
B. 24
C. 30
D. 32
E. 45


We can use the equation:

#total = #chocolate chip + #peanut butter - #both + #neither

#neither = #total - #chocolate chip - #peanut butter + #both

As we can see from the equation, keeping everything else constant, the number of students who purchase neither kind decreases as the number of students who purchase both kind decreases. Therefore, to minimize #neither, we should minimize #both:

190 = 95 + 75 - 12 + neither

190 = 158 + neither

32 = neither

Answer: D
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,047
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

We're told that 190 students go to a school bake sale. Of those students, 95 buy a chocolate chip cookie, 75 buy a peanut butter cookie, and AT LEAST 12 buy both. We're asked for the LEAST number of students who could have bought NEITHER type of cookie. This question is a variation on a standard Overlapping Sets question (although there is a 'twist'; AT LEAST 12 students bought both types of cookie), but we can still use the Overlapping Sets Formula:

Total = (1st group) + (2nd group) - (Both) + (Neither)

Based on the given information, the equation would look like this:

190 = (95) + (75) - (AT LEAST 12) + (Neither)
190 = 170 - (AT LEAST 12) + (Neither)
20 = (Neither) - (AT LEAST 12)

To minimize the "neither group", we have to make the "both" group as SMALL as possible. In this case, that would be exactly 12 people...

20 + 12 = Neither
32 = Neither

Final Answer:

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
fskilnik
Joined: 12 Oct 2010
Last visit: 03 Jan 2025
Posts: 883
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 57
Status:GMATH founder
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 883
Kudos: 1,882
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
190 students go to a school bake sale. 95 buy a chocolate chip cookie, 75 buy a peanut butter cookie, and at least 12 buy both. What is the least number of students who could have bought neither type of cookie?

A. 10
B. 24
C. 30
D. 32
E. 45


\(? = {\left( R \right)_{\min }}\)

\(R = 190 - \left( {95 + 75 - {\rm{both}}} \right) = 20 + {\rm{both}}\)

\({\rm{both}} \ge 12\,\,\,\left( {{\rm{given}}} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,? = 32\)


This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,973
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,973
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109811 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts