Chris was in an electronic appliances store to buy an LED computer monitor. Chris's purchase criteria included screen size, which...

GMAT Data Sufficiency : (DS) Questions

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Data Sufficiency

DS - Money

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Chris was in an electronic appliances store to buy an LED computer monitor. Chris's purchase criteria included screen size, which must be at least 32 inches, and price—which must not exceed $400. A friend made two recommendations: Monitor A and Monitor B. Chris liked both monitors. Did Chris more likely buy Monitor A, Monitor B, or neither?

Monitor A's screen size was more than 32 inches—and it cost less than Monitor B.
Monitor B cost $390 and its screen size was less than that of Monitor A.

Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient but statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.

Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient but statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are not sufficient.

Solution

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Understanding the Question

Chris wants to buy an LED computer monitor with two specific requirements:

Screen size must be at least 32 inches
Price must not exceed $400


The question asks: Did Chris more likely buy Monitor A, Monitor B, or neither?

To answer this question with sufficiency, we need to determine which monitor(s) meet Chris's criteria. If only one meets the criteria, that's Chris's choice. If both meet the criteria, we'd need additional information since Chris liked both equally. If neither meets the criteria, Chris buys neither.

Key Insight
Since Chris liked both monitors equally, his decision depends entirely on which one(s) satisfy his hard constraints. If both qualify, the monitor with better specs would be preferred.

Analyzing Statement 1

Statement 1: Monitor A's screen size was more than 32 inches—and it cost less than Monitor B.

What Statement 1 Tells Us

Monitor A's screen size \(> 32\) inches ✓ (meets size requirement)
Monitor A's price \(< \text{Monitor B's price}\)


What We Still Don't Know

Monitor A's actual price (could be over $400)
Monitor B's actual price (could be over $400)
Monitor B's screen size (could be under 32 inches)


Without knowing if either monitor's price is within the $400 budget, we cannot determine Chris's choice. For example:

Monitor A could cost $500 and Monitor B could cost $600—both failing the price requirement despite Monitor A having the right screen size
Or Monitor A could cost $300 and Monitor B could cost $450—only Monitor A would qualify


Statement 1 is NOT sufficient.

This eliminates choices A and D.

Analyzing Statement 2

Now let's analyze Statement 2 independently, forgetting Statement 1 completely.

Statement 2: Monitor B cost $390 and its screen size was less than that of Monitor A.

What Statement 2 Provides

Monitor B's price \(= \$390\) ✓ (meets price requirement of \(\leq \$400\))
Monitor B's screen size \(< \text{Monitor A's screen size}\)


What We Still Don't Know

Monitor B's actual screen size (could be under 32 inches)
Monitor A's screen size (we only know it's larger than B's)
Monitor A's price (could be over $400)


The critical gap is Monitor B's screen size. If it's 30 inches, Monitor B fails Chris's requirements. If it's 35 inches, it qualifies. Additionally, we know nothing about whether Monitor A meets the price requirement.

Statement 2 is NOT sufficient.

This eliminates choice B.

Combining Statements

Combined Information
From both statements together:

Monitor A: screen size \(> 32\) inches, price \(< \$390\)
Monitor B: screen size \(< \text{Monitor A's}\), price \(= \$390\)


Since Monitor A costs less than $390, and $390 \(< \$400\), Monitor A definitely meets the price requirement. Combined with its screen size \(> 32\) inches, Monitor A meets both criteria.

For Monitor B, we know its price ($390) meets the requirement, but we still don't know if its screen size \(\geq 32\) inches.

Testing Different Scenarios

Let's examine what happens in each possible case:

Scenario 1: Monitor B's screen \(< 32\) inches

Monitor A: Meets both criteria ✓
Monitor B: Fails size requirement ✗
Chris would buy Monitor A


Scenario 2: Monitor B's screen \(\geq 32\) inches

Monitor A: Meets both criteria with larger screen AND lower price ✓
Monitor B: Meets both criteria ✓
Since Monitor A has both a larger screen and a lower price, it offers strictly better value
Chris would buy Monitor A


In either scenario, Chris buys Monitor A because it either:

Is the only monitor that meets both requirements, OR
Meets both requirements with superior specs (larger screen, lower price)


[STOP - Sufficient!]

The combined statements give us enough information to determine that Chris would buy Monitor A.

Answer: C

Answer Choices Explained

Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient but statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.

Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient but statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are not sufficient.

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markdown Understanding the Question Chris wants to buy an LED computer monitor with two specific requirements: Screen size must be at least 32 inches Price must not exceed $400 The question asks: Did Chris more likely buy Monitor A, Monitor B, or neither? To answer this question with sufficiency, we need to determine which monitor(s) meet Chris's criteria. If only one meets the criteria, that's Chris's choice. If both meet the criteria, we'd need additional information since Chris liked both equally. If neither meets the criteria, Chris buys neither. Key Insight Since Chris liked both monitors equally, his decision depends entirely on which one(s) satisfy his hard constraints. If both qualify, the monitor with better specs would be preferred. Analyzing Statement 1 Statement 1: Monitor A's screen size was more than 32 inches—and it cost less than Monitor B. What Statement 1 Tells Us Monitor A's screen size $> 32$ inches ✓ (meets size requirement) Monitor A's price $< \text{Monitor B's price}$ What We Still Don't Know Monitor A's actual price (could be over $400) Monitor B's actual price (could be over $400) Monitor B's screen size (could be under 32 inches) Without knowing if either monitor's price is within the $400 budget, we cannot determine Chris's choice. For example: Monitor A could cost $500 and Monitor B could cost $600—both failing the price requirement despite Monitor A having the right screen size Or Monitor A could cost $300 and Monitor B could cost $450—only Monitor A would qualify Statement 1 is NOT sufficient. This eliminates choices A and D. Analyzing Statement 2 Now let's analyze Statement 2 independently, forgetting Statement 1 completely. Statement 2: Monitor B cost $390 and its screen size was less than that of Monitor A. What Statement 2 Provides Monitor B's price $= \$390$ ✓ (meets price requirement of $\leq \$400$) Monitor B's screen size $< \text{Monitor A's screen size}$ What We Still Don't Know Monitor B's actual screen size (could be under 32 inches) Monitor A's screen size (we only know it's larger than B's) Monitor A's price (could be over $400) The critical gap is Monitor B's screen size. If it's 30 inches, Monitor B fails Chris's requirements. If it's 35 inches, it qualifies. Additionally, we know nothing about whether Monitor A meets the price requirement. Statement 2 is NOT sufficient. This eliminates choice B. Combining Statements Combined Information From both statements together: Monitor A: screen size $> 32$ inches, price $< \$390$ Monitor B: screen size $< \text{Monitor A's}$, price $= \$390$ Since Monitor A costs less than $390, and $390 $< \$400$, Monitor A definitely meets the price requirement. Combined with its screen size $> 32$ inches, Monitor A meets both criteria. For Monitor B, we know its price ($390) meets the requirement, but we still don't know if its screen size $\geq 32$ inches. Testing Different Scenarios Let's examine what happens in each possible case: Scenario 1: Monitor B's screen $< 32$ inches Monitor A: Meets both criteria ✓ Monitor B: Fails size requirement ✗ Chris would buy Monitor A Scenario 2: Monitor B's screen $\geq 32$ inches Monitor A: Meets both criteria with larger screen AND lower price ✓ Monitor B: Meets both criteria ✓ Since Monitor A has both a larger screen and a lower price, it offers strictly better value Chris would buy Monitor A In either scenario, Chris buys Monitor A because it either: Is the only monitor that meets both requirements, OR Meets both requirements with superior specs (larger screen, lower price) [STOP - Sufficient!] The combined statements give us enough information to determine that Chris would buy Monitor A. Answer: C