One-third, one-quarter, one-fifth and one-seventh of the human population of Island X, which has fewer than 5000 human inhabitants, are all whole numbers & their sum is exactly the population of island Y. What is the population of Island Y?
(A) 4200
(B) 4279
(C) 4581
(D) 4800
(E) None of these
Since LCM of 3,4,5,7 is 420, the population of X is a multiple of 420. As max population is less than 5000, the range of population is 420 to 4620.
Checking the options we see that A and D can't be the answer because 4800 is beyond the range and 4200 is already 100% of population of X which if is a population of X then population of Y has to be less than 4200{1-(1/3+1/4+1/5+1/7)}, and here we don't have any such choice available. Or we can say that factor for population of X is greater than factor for population of Y(the two can't be same) and this is because of {1-(1/3+1/4+1/5+1/7)}. Hope I'm able to communicate my thoughts.
E is already eliminated.
Among B and C, if C is the answer then 39 (4620-4581) must be equal to the left out{1-(1/3+1/4+1/5+1/7) = 31/420 of some value} part of 4620. But this is not possible since 39 is not a multiple of 31.
Now, we have our answer in B after POE but let's check.
4620 - 4279 = 341 and this is a multiple of 31(31*11 = 341)
Hence population of X was 4620 and population of Y is 4279.
Answer B.