GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE DS

Solution:

We are given that in each game of a certain tournament, a contestant either loses 3 points or gains 2 points.

We can let the number of 2-point gains = x and the number of 3-point losses = y. We are also given that Pat started with 100 points at the beginning of the tournament. Thus, we can express his final score as F = 100 + 2x – 3y. We need to determine how many games Pat played in the tournament, or x + y.

Statement One Alone:

At the end of the tournament, Pat had 104 points.

Using the information from statement one, we can substitute 104 for F:

104 = 100 + 2x – 3y

4 = 2x – 3y

We do not know the value of either x or y. Statement one alone is not sufficient to answer the question. We can eliminate answer choices A and D.

Statement Two Alone:

Pat played fewer than 10 games.

Using the information in statement two, we know that x + y < 10; however, that is not enough information to determine a value of x + y. Statement two alone is not sufficient to answer the question. We can eliminate answer choice B.

Statements One and Two Together:

From statements one and two, we know that 2x – 3y = 4 and that x + y < 10; however, that is not enough information to determine a value of x + y. For instance, x = 2 and y = 0, or x = 5 and y = 2, both of which satisfy 2x – 3y = 4 and x + y < 10.

Answer: E

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the head GMAT instructor for Target Test Prep. Jeff has more than fourteen years of experience in the business of helping students with low GMAT scores hurdle the seemingly impossible and achieve the scores they need to get into the top 20 business school programs in the world, including HBS, Stanford, Wharton, and Columbia. Jeff has cultivated many successful business school graduates through his GMAT instruction, and will be a pivotal resource for many more to follow.