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Bunuel
There are 20 books in a bookcase. If one book is selected at random, what is the probability that the book is either a hardback or a novel?

(1) 8 books in the bookcase are novel books and 10 books are hardbacks.
(2) 3 books in the bookcase are hardback novels


When a question asks the probability of an either-or event, then we have a simple formula -

P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A and B)

1. From statement 1 we can derive P(A) and P(B), but we can't derive P(A & B) as we don't know the number of novel books with a hardback. So it's insufficient.

2. From statement 2 we can't derive P(A) and P(B), but we know the P(A & B). So it's insufficient.

When we combine both statements, we can have P(A or B).
So, C is the answer.
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Bunuel
There are 20 books in a bookcase. If one book is selected at random, what is the probability that the book is either a hardback or a novel?

(1) 8 books in the bookcase are novel books and 10 books are hardbacks.
(2) 3 books in the bookcase are hardback novels

We need to answer the question:

P(hardback or novel) = ?

Probability = Favorable/Total = #(hardback or novel)/20 = ?

Statement One Alone:

=> 8 books in the bookcase are novel books and 10 books are hardbacks.

#(hardback or novel) = #(hardback) + #(novel) - #(hardback and novel) = 10 + 8 - #(hardback and novel)

We don’t know the exact value of #(hardback and novel). Statement one is not sufficient. Eliminate answer choices A and D.

Statement Two Alone:

=> 3 books in the bookcase are hardback novels.

#(hardback or novel) = #(hardback) + #(novel) – 3

We don’t know the exact value of #(hardback) + #(novel). Statement two is not sufficient. Eliminate answer choice B.

Statements One And Two Together:

#(hardback or novel) = 10 + 8 – 3 = 15

Probability = 15/20 = 3/4

The two statements together are sufficient.

Answer: C
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sir value of neither hardcover nor novel is not known,
so IMO E is the answer. please correct me?
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The question stem never said that it has only two types of books in the bookcase. Shouldn't the answer be E?
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