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If there are 7 labradors, the probability of picking two labradors will be (7/9)(6/8) which is greater than 1/2, but if there are 6 (or fewer) labradors, the probability of picking two will be less than 1/2. So the question is really just asking if there are 6 or fewer labradors.

For Statement 1, the probability of picking one Lab and one non-Lab will be highest when we have lots of both. That's easy to see by imagining extremes: if we had 9 Labs and zero non-Labs, there'd be no chance we could pick one of each, whereas if we have roughly equal numbers of each, it will be fairly likely we get one of each. If we have 5 Labs and 4 non-Labs, or 4 Labs and 5 non-Labs, the probability of picking one of each is (5/9)(4/8) + (4/9)(5/8) which is greater than 1/2. If we have 6 of one, 3 of the other, the probability turns out to be (2)(6/9)(3/8) which is exactly 1/2. So Statement 1 tells us we have either 4 or 5 Labs, and is sufficient.

For Statement 2, if we had 7 Labs, the probability of picking 2 non-Labs would be (2/9)(1/8), which is less than 1/10. So we must have at least 3 non-Labs (and in fact we need to have at least 4, if you work out the probabilities), and thus at most 6 labradors (actually at most 5, if you do the math fully, but we don't need to), and Statement 2 is also sufficient, so the answer is D.

With these numbers, I'd never do this problem algebraically, but you can: for Statement 1, for example, if you imagine there are L Labradors, then there must be 9-L non-Labradors. The probability of picking one Lab and one non-Lab is then

(L/9)*[(9-L)/8] + [(9-L)/9]*(L/8) = (2)*(L)(9-L)/(9*8) = (L)(9-L)/36

We know this is greater than 1/2:

(L)(9-L)/36 > 1/2
(L)(9-L) > 18
L^2 -9L + 18 < 0
(L - 6)(L - 3) < 0

so one of these factors is negative, the other positive, and if that's true, L-6 must be negative (because it's smaller than L-3), so L-6 < 0 and L-3 > 0, and 3 < L < 6. One reason though to avoid the algebra in situations like this is that the quadratic we arrive at here is often not factorable without the quadratic formula (it's lucky coincidence, or elegant question design, that it is in this case), so you often end up just imagining numerical situations anyway.

Sir, in statement 1 , IF labrador can be 4 or 5 then if Labrador is 4 then p <1/2 well as if Labrador is 5 then p>1/2.
We seem to be getting both yes and No. Am I still missing something. Thank you.
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Sir, in statement 1 , IF labrador can be 4 or 5 then if Labrador is 4 then p <1/2 well as if Labrador is 5 then p>1/2.
We seem to be getting both yes and No. Am I still missing something. Thank you.

In this question, p is the probability of picking two labradors when you pick two dogs. If there are 5 labradors, the probability you pick two labs is (5/9)(4/8), and if there are 4 labradors, the probability you pick two labs is (4/9)(3/8). In both cases, p < 1/2.

The only way p can be greater than 1/2 here is if we have 7 or more labs. So if we can rule out the possibility that there are 7 or more labs, we can be sure the answer to the question "is p < 1/2?" is yes.
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what am i getting wrong??

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorx<4
firs choice NOT labrador
9


if x<4 than p<1/2

so the question becomes is x<4?

(1)
second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9

The probability of picking one labrador and one non-labrador is greater than 1/2:
K+J > 4
than x must be less than 4
because if K+J>4 than:
Z+x < 5
thus the highest value for x is 4 (thus p is less than 1/2)

(2)

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9


probability of Z is greater than 1/10
means that Z is at least 1
thus x might be 6 and Z is 2 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 6/9= 2/3 > 1/2
x might be 1 and Z is 8 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 1/9 < 1/2

Bunuel can you please check where am i doing wrong? thank you so much
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what am i getting wrong??

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorx<4
firs choice NOT labrador
9


if x<4 than p<1/2

so the question becomes is x<4?

(1)
second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9

The probability of picking one labrador and one non-labrador is greater than 1/2:
K+J > 4
than x must be less than 4
because if K+J>4 than:
Z+x < 5
thus the highest value for x is 4 (thus p is less than 1/2)

(2)

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9


probability of Z is greater than 1/10
means that Z is at least 1
thus x might be 6 and Z is 2 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 6/9= 2/3 > 1/2
x might be 1 and Z is 8 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 1/9 < 1/2

Bunuel can you please check where am i doing wrong? thank you so much

At a certain animal shelter, there are nine dogs available for adoption. If Susan chooses two dogs at random and p is the probability that Susan chooses two labradors, is p < 1/2 ?

Assuming there are x labradors, the question translates to whether x/9 * (x - 1)/8 < 1/2, which is equivalent to asking if x < 7. If there are fewer than 7 labradors, the probability of picking two labradors will be less than 1/2. If there are more than 6 labradors (7, 8, or 9), the probability of picking two labradors will be more than 1/2.

(1) The probability of picking one labrador and one non-labrador is greater than 1/2.

This can be expressed as x/9 * (9 - x)/8 * 2 > 1/2.

This condition is true only if x is 4 or 5. Therefore, the answer to whether x < 7 is YES. Sufficient.

(2) The probability that neither dog selected is a labrador is greater than 1/10.

This can be expressed as (9 - x)/9 * (8 - x)/8 > 1/10.

This condition is true only if x is 5 or less (or more than 11, which is not applicable since we only have 9 dogs). Therefore, the answer to whether x < 7 is YES. Sufficient.

Answer: D.
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Why do we multiply with 2 in determining if statement 1 is sufficient? W.r.t x/9* (9-x)/8 * 2
Bunuel
pierjoejoe
what am i getting wrong??

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorx<4
firs choice NOT labrador
9


if x<4 than p<1/2

so the question becomes is x<4?

(1)
second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9

The probability of picking one labrador and one non-labrador is greater than 1/2:
K+J > 4
than x must be less than 4
because if K+J>4 than:
Z+x < 5
thus the highest value for x is 4 (thus p is less than 1/2)

(2)

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9


probability of Z is greater than 1/10
means that Z is at least 1
thus x might be 6 and Z is 2 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 6/9= 2/3 > 1/2
x might be 1 and Z is 8 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 1/9 < 1/2

Bunuel can you please check where am i doing wrong? thank you so much

At a certain animal shelter, there are nine dogs available for adoption. If Susan chooses two dogs at random and p is the probability that Susan chooses two labradors, is p < 1/2 ?

Assuming there are x labradors, the question translates to whether x/9 * (x - 1)/8 < 1/2, which is equivalent to asking if x < 7. If there are fewer than 7 labradors, the probability of picking two labradors will be less than 1/2. If there are more than 6 labradors (7, 8, or 9), the probability of picking two labradors will be more than 1/2.

(1) The probability of picking one labrador and one non-labrador is greater than 1/2.

This can be expressed as x/9 * (9 - x)/8 * 2 > 1/2.

This condition is true only if x is 4 or 5. Therefore, the answer to whether x < 7 is YES. Sufficient.

(2) The probability that neither dog selected is a labrador is greater than 1/10.

This can be expressed as (9 - x)/9 * (8 - x)/8 > 1/10.

This condition is true only if x is 5 or less (or more than 11, which is not applicable since we only have 9 dogs). Therefore, the answer to whether x < 7 is YES. Sufficient.

Answer: D.
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Why do we multiply with 2 in determining if statement 2 is sufficent. W.r.t x/9* (9-x)/8 * 2
Bunuel
pierjoejoe
what am i getting wrong??

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorx<4
firs choice NOT labrador
9


if x<4 than p<1/2

so the question becomes is x<4?

(1)
second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9

The probability of picking one labrador and one non-labrador is greater than 1/2:
K+J > 4
than x must be less than 4
because if K+J>4 than:
Z+x < 5
thus the highest value for x is 4 (thus p is less than 1/2)

(2)

second choice labradorsecond choice NOT labrador
first choice labradorxK
firs choice NOT labradorJZ
9


probability of Z is greater than 1/10
means that Z is at least 1
thus x might be 6 and Z is 2 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 6/9= 2/3 > 1/2
x might be 1 and Z is 8 --> probability of picking 2 labrador (p) is 1/9 < 1/2

Bunuel can you please check where am i doing wrong? thank you so much

At a certain animal shelter, there are nine dogs available for adoption. If Susan chooses two dogs at random and p is the probability that Susan chooses two labradors, is p < 1/2 ?

Assuming there are x labradors, the question translates to whether x/9 * (x - 1)/8 < 1/2, which is equivalent to asking if x < 7. If there are fewer than 7 labradors, the probability of picking two labradors will be less than 1/2. If there are more than 6 labradors (7, 8, or 9), the probability of picking two labradors will be more than 1/2.

(1) The probability of picking one labrador and one non-labrador is greater than 1/2.

This can be expressed as x/9 * (9 - x)/8 * 2 > 1/2.

This condition is true only if x is 4 or 5. Therefore, the answer to whether x < 7 is YES. Sufficient.

(2) The probability that neither dog selected is a labrador is greater than 1/10.

This can be expressed as (9 - x)/9 * (8 - x)/8 > 1/10.

This condition is true only if x is 5 or less (or more than 11, which is not applicable since we only have 9 dogs). Therefore, the answer to whether x < 7 is YES. Sufficient.

Answer: D.

Why do we multiply by 2 in Statement (1)?

Because the pair (labrador, non-labrador) can occur in two ways:

First a labrador, then a non-labrador

First a non-labrador, then a labrador

So the probability of getting one labrador and one non-labrador is x/9 * (9 - x)/8 + (9 - x)/9 * x/8, which simplifies to 2 * x/9 * (9 - x)/8.

That’s why we multiply by 2 — to account for both possible orders.
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I had a doubt regarding this question. The way two labradors will be chosen will be n/9 x (n-1)/8 x 2! I feel They didn't multiply with 2! in the solution. I did so because there can be two ways or arranging them as they can be different labradors
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I had a doubt regarding this question. The way two labradors will be chosen will be n/9 x (n-1)/8 x 2! I feel They didn't multiply with 2! in the solution. I did so because there can be two ways or arranging them as they can be different labradors
Bunuel
No, we should not multiply by 2! here. The expression n/9 * (n - 1)/8 already accounts for the two draws in order: first a labrador, then another labrador. A factor of 2! would be needed only if you were counting one specific pair of labradors separately in both orders, but here we are finding the probability that both chosen dogs are labradors, regardless of which two they are.
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How can I identify when not to add the arrangement factorial? I have seen questions that sometimes they are required and sometimes they are not.
Bunuel

No, we should not multiply by 2! here. The expression n/9 * (n - 1)/8 already accounts for the two draws in order: first a labrador, then another labrador. A factor of 2! would be needed only if you were counting one specific pair of labradors separately in both orders, but here we are finding the probability that both chosen dogs are labradors, regardless of which two they are.
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How can I identify when not to add the arrangement factorial? I have seen questions that sometimes they are required and sometimes they are not.

You multiply by 2! only if you are distinguishing two specific labradors, say L1 and L2, because then L1 then L2 and L2 then L1 are two different ordered cases. Here, we are not tracking specific dogs at all: the first pick can be any labrador, and the second pick can be any remaining labrador, so n/9 * (n - 1)/8 already covers the whole event “both are labradors.”
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How can we know its two different labradors? Here in this question we had to get two pink shoes, despite being pink both were different, so applied the same logic for the dog problem
Bunuel

You multiply by 2! only if you are distinguishing two specific labradors, say L1 and L2, because then L1 then L2 and L2 then L1 are two different ordered cases. Here, we are not tracking specific dogs at all: the first pick can be any labrador, and the second pick can be any remaining labrador, so n/9 * (n - 1)/8 already covers the whole event “both are labradors.”
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How can we know its two different labradors? Here in this question we had to get two pink shoes, despite being pink both were different, so applied the same logic for the dog problem

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You are missing the point. Of course the two chosen dogs are two different labradors, but we do not care which specific labradors they are; we just want any labrador first and any remaining labrador second, so n/9 * (n - 1)/8 already covers it.

That other question is discussed here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/harry-has-6- ... 06498.html

Maybe worth checking probability chapter here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/ultimate-gma ... 44512.html
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So in case the question said two different labradors then would the probability have been n/9 x (n-1)/8 x 2! ?
Bunuel


You are missing the point. Of course the two chosen dogs are two different labradors, but we do not care which specific labradors they are; we just want any labrador first and any remaining labrador second, so n/9 * (n - 1)/8 already covers it.

That other question is discussed here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/harry-has-6- ... 06498.html

Maybe worth checking probability chapter here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/ultimate-gma ... 44512.html
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Hello, maybe I can add something before Bunuel gives his expert take.

The question says labradors. If you pick one labrador, you are not picking the same labrador again.
And when you pick two labradors multiplying by 2! is not needed, you already include the choices available.

In the case of one labrador and one non-labrador you do that because:

Lab = 5 or 4, Non-Lab = 5 or 4.

You see here that we have two entirely different choice of NUMBER of each set of dogs. So u add the probability of having 5 Labs or 4 labs with 5 Non-Labs or 4 Non-Labs for statement 1.

When you take only Labs, lets say 5 labs, then will you say, lets add the probability of 4 labs as well? No right.
When you have 5 labs and you pick two, you only have 5*4 total possibilites if you consider the order.
But when u have 5 labs and 4 non-labs which is the case for statement 1, you also need to consider 4 labs and 5 non-labs so u multiply by 2!.

Hope it helps.
Peterparker2
So in case the question said two different labradors then would the probability have been n/9 x (n-1)/8 x 2! ?

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Sorry I didn't get it
Bunuel GMATNinja Can you help me out?
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