For a new project, an organization is creating a three-member team from among its employees. Selection of members for the...

GMAT Data Sufficiency : (DS) Questions

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Data Sufficiency

DS-Verbal Reasoning

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For a new project, an organization is creating a three-member team from among its employees. Selection of members for the team conforms to exactly two rules: no selected member can be working on more than one other project at the time of selection, and at least one of the selected members must have an MBA degree. The organization has selected Paula and Quincy for the team. Neither of these will be replaced before the third member is selected. The organization is about to make the third selection. If the organization adheres to the selection rules for committee membership, is it possible that Rubin will be selected for the team?

Quincy has an MBA degree, and Rubin is currently working on only one other project.
Rubin is one of only two employees in the organization who have an MBA degree.

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

Let's clarify what we're being asked: Is it possible that Rubin will be selected for the team?

This is a yes/no question. For sufficiency, we need enough information to definitively answer either "Yes, it's possible" or "No, it's not possible."

Given Information

Creating a 3-member team with two selection rules:

No selected member can work on more than one other project
At least one selected member must have an MBA degree

Paula and Quincy are already selected (and won't be replaced)
We need to know if Rubin can be the third member


What Makes Selection Possible
For Rubin to be selected, both rules must be satisfied:

The MBA requirement must be met (by Paula, Quincy, or Rubin)
Rubin must not be working on more than one other project


If either rule would be violated, the answer is "No, not possible." If both rules can be satisfied, the answer is "Yes, possible."

Analyzing Statement 1

Statement 1 tells us: Quincy has an MBA degree, and Rubin is currently working on only one other project.

Let's check both selection rules:

MBA requirement: ✓ Quincy has an MBA, so this rule is already satisfied by the existing team
Project limit for Rubin: ✓ Rubin is working on only one other project (not more than one), so he meets this requirement


Since both selection rules would be satisfied if Rubin joins the team, we can definitively answer: "Yes, it is possible that Rubin will be selected."

[STOP - Sufficient!] Statement 1 gives us a definitive "Yes" answer.

Statement 1 is SUFFICIENT.

This eliminates choices B, C, and E.

Analyzing Statement 2

Important: We now forget Statement A completely and analyze Statement 2 by itself.

Statement 2 tells us: Rubin is one of only two employees in the organization who have an MBA degree.

This tells us:

Exactly two people in the entire organization have MBAs
Rubin is one of them
We don't know who the other MBA holder is


What we still don't know:

Whether Paula or Quincy has the other MBA
How many projects Rubin is currently working on


Let's consider the possible scenarios:

Scenario 1: The other MBA holder is Paula or Quincy

MBA requirement: ✓ Already satisfied by the existing team
Rubin's project limit: ? We don't know if he's working on more than one project
Result: Cannot determine if selection is possible


Scenario 2: The other MBA holder is someone else (not Paula or Quincy)

MBA requirement: Rubin MUST be selected (he's the only available MBA)
Rubin's project limit: ? Still don't know if he meets this requirement
Result: Cannot determine if selection is possible


In both scenarios, we lack crucial information about Rubin's current project count. Since we can't determine whether Rubin meets the project limit rule, we cannot definitively answer whether his selection is possible.

Statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT.

This eliminates choices B and D.

The Answer: A

Since Statement 1 alone provides all the information needed to answer "Yes, it's possible," but Statement 2 alone leaves us unable to determine the answer, the answer is A.

Answer Choice A: "Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but Statement 2 alone is not sufficient."

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 Let's clarify what we're being asked: Is it possible that Rubin will be selected for the team? This is a yes/no question. For sufficiency, we need enough information to definitively answer either "Yes, it's possible" or "No, it's not possible." Given Information Creating a 3-member team with two selection rules: No selected member can work on more than one other project At least one selected member must have an MBA degree Paula and Quincy are already selected (and won't be replaced) We need to know if Rubin can be the third member What Makes Selection Possible For Rubin to be selected, both rules must be satisfied: The MBA requirement must be met (by Paula, Quincy, or Rubin) Rubin must not be working on more than one other project If either rule would be violated, the answer is "No, not possible." If both rules can be satisfied, the answer is "Yes, possible." Analyzing Statement 1 Statement 1 tells us: Quincy has an MBA degree, and Rubin is currently working on only one other project. Let's check both selection rules: MBA requirement: ✓ Quincy has an MBA, so this rule is already satisfied by the existing team Project limit for Rubin: ✓ Rubin is working on only one other project (not more than one), so he meets this requirement Since both selection rules would be satisfied if Rubin joins the team, we can definitively answer: "Yes, it is possible that Rubin will be selected." [STOP - Sufficient!] Statement 1 gives us a definitive "Yes" answer. Statement 1 is SUFFICIENT. This eliminates choices B, C, and E. Analyzing Statement 2 Important: We now forget Statement A completely and analyze Statement 2 by itself. Statement 2 tells us: Rubin is one of only two employees in the organization who have an MBA degree. This tells us: Exactly two people in the entire organization have MBAs Rubin is one of them We don't know who the other MBA holder is What we still don't know: Whether Paula or Quincy has the other MBA How many projects Rubin is currently working on Let's consider the possible scenarios: Scenario 1: The other MBA holder is Paula or Quincy MBA requirement: ✓ Already satisfied by the existing team Rubin's project limit: ? We don't know if he's working on more than one project Result: Cannot determine if selection is possible Scenario 2: The other MBA holder is someone else (not Paula or Quincy) MBA requirement: Rubin MUST be selected (he's the only available MBA) Rubin's project limit: ? Still don't know if he meets this requirement Result: Cannot determine if selection is possible In both scenarios, we lack crucial information about Rubin's current project count. Since we can't determine whether Rubin meets the project limit rule, we cannot definitively answer whether his selection is possible. Statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT. This eliminates choices B and D. The Answer: A Since Statement 1 alone provides all the information needed to answer "Yes, it's possible," but Statement 2 alone leaves us unable to determine the answer, the answer is A. Answer Choice A: "Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but Statement 2 alone is not sufficient."