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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes a 01 Jun 2020, 06:41
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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes and 20 pears. What is the minimum number of fruits that should be picked from the basket to ensure that at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears are picked?

A. 20
B. 18
C. 17
D. 12
E. 11
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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes a 01 Jun 2020, 06:53
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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes and 20 pears. What is the minimum number of fruits that should be picked from the basket to ensure that at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears are picked?

A. 20
B. 18
C. 17
D. 12
E. 11
Show more

Maximum Total fruits picked to give UNDESIRED outcome = (5-1)+(7-1)+(8-1) = 17



If we pick any 1 fruit then one of the conditions of "at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears" will be met

so Minimum fruits to be picked to ensure the DESIRED Outcome = 17+1 = 18



Answer: Option B
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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes a 06 Jun 2020, 21:22
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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes and 20 pears. What is the minimum number of fruits that should be picked from the basket to ensure that at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears are picked?

A. 20
B. 18
C. 17
D. 12
E. 11

Maximum Total fruits picked to give UNDESIRED outcome = (5-1)+(7-1)+(8-1) = 17



If we pick any 1 fruit then one of the conditions of "at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears" will be met

so Minimum fruits to be picked to ensure the DESIRED Outcome = 17+1 = 18



Answer: Option B
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Hi GMATinsight, though I get the logic behind your explanation, I am kinda not totally understanding here. Is there any alternative orthodox approach here ?
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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes a 06 Jun 2020, 22:56
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The worst case will be when we pick up 4 guavas and 6 mangoes and 7 pears. After picking up 17 fruits still no condition is met therefore we have to now pick up any one fruit so that any condition is met. Hence minimum 18 fruits need to be pick up to ensure any one condition is met.

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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes a 07 Jun 2020, 02:03
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Gokul20
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Bunuel
A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes and 20 pears. What is the minimum number of fruits that should be picked from the basket to ensure that at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears are picked?

A. 20
B. 18
C. 17
D. 12
E. 11

Maximum Total fruits picked to give UNDESIRED outcome = (5-1)+(7-1)+(8-1) = 17



If we pick any 1 fruit then one of the conditions of "at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears" will be met

so Minimum fruits to be picked to ensure the DESIRED Outcome = 17+1 = 18



Answer: Option B
Hi GMATinsight, though I get the logic behind your explanation, I am kinda not totally understanding here. Is there any alternative orthodox approach here ?
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Gokul20

This is totally an orthodox approach. Let me explain.

We would like to imagine a situation where we have picked the maximum fruits yet we have not been able to meet the conditiongiven in question

Question mentioned the required condition as at least 5 guavas or at least 7 mangoes or at least 8 pears are picked?

Therefore, we pick 4 guavas, 6 mangoes and 7 pears so that not even one condition is met

But if any one fruit is picked next, it will be one of three types and therefore one of the three conditions will be met and thats how we reach to required condition. :)

I hope it help!
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A basket contains only three kinds of fruits – 20 guavas, 20 mangoes a 07 Jan 2025, 10:52
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