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ramlala
Bunuel

Tough and Tricky questions: Word Problems.



A total of 774 doctorates in mathematics were granted to United States citizens by American universities in the 1972-1973 school year, and W of these doctorates were granted to women. The total of such doctorates in the 1986-1987 school year was 362, and w of these were granted to women. If the number of doctorates in mathematics granted to female citizens of the United States by American universities decreased from the 1972-1973 school year to the 1986-1987 school year, was the decrease less than 10 percent?

(1) 1/10 < W/774 < 1/9
(2) W = w + 5


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Hi chetan2u Bunuel

Decrease in % does not mean \(\frac{W - w }{ 774} * 100\) ?

Can we not find it from Statement 2 ?


We know that the doctorates granted went down from 1972-1973 school year to the 1986-1987 school year.
In terms of variable, it went down from W to w.

We are asked about the decrease. => \(\frac{W-w}{W}*100\).

The numbers 774 and 362 are distractions which have no role in the question. So statement 2 is not sufficient.

(1) \(\frac{1}{10} < \frac{W}{774} < \frac{1}{9}\)

\(\frac{1}{10}=\frac{77.4}{774} < \frac{W}{774} < \frac{1}{9}=\frac{86}{774}\)

So W can be any value from 78 to 85, both inclusive.
Nothing about w.
Insufficient

(2) W = w + 5
W-w=5, but we require value of W in \(\frac{W-w}{W}*100\).

Is \(\frac{W-w}{W}*100<10.......\frac{5}{W}<\frac{1}{10}.......W>50\).

So using statement II, we will have answer yes if W>50, otherwise No.
But we do not know the exact value of W.
Insufficient


Combined
From statement II, the answer will be yes if W>50, and statement I gives range of W greater than 50.
So answer is always yes.
Sufficient

C
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I think this is non-standard.

Decrease in the number of doctorates in mathematics granted to female citizens means :
{((W/100)*774 -(w/100)*360)/774}*100

Why does the question exoect me to consider Decrease as {(W-w)/W}*100

For the second thing to be correct, it should be mentioned clearly as Decrease in %.
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