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A certain jar contains only "b" black marbles
Harish Dorai
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A certain jar contains only "b" black marbles, "w" white marbles and "r" red marbles. If one marble is to be chosen at random from the jar, is the probability that the marble chosen is red greater than the probability that the marble chosen will be white?

1) r/(b+w) > w/(b+r)

2) b - w > r
Re: GMATPrep - Practice Test 2 - Problem #7
givemeanid
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Harish Dorai wrote:
A certain jar contains only "b" black marbles, "w" white marbles and "r" red marbles. If one marble is to be chosen at random from the jar, is the probability that the marble chosen is red greater than the probability that the marble chosen will be white?

1) r/(b+w) > w/(b+r)

2) b - w > r


The question asks whether r/(b+w+r) > w/(b+w+r) or in other words is r > w?

1. r(b+r) > w(b+w)
br + r^2 > bw + w^2
br - bw > w^2 - r^2
b(r-w) > (w-r)(w+r)
r-w > (w-r)(w+r)/b ----> We know b is positive. So, we can divide both sides without changing the inequality
r-w > k(w-r) ----> Where k > 0 as b,r and w are all positive
This is true only when r > w.
If r < w, left side is -ve and right side is +ve and the inequality doesn't hold.
SUFFICIENT.

2. b - w > r
b > w + r
This doesn't tell us anything about relationship between w and r.
INSUFFICIENT.

Answer is A.
A different way
Anadi
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Suppose total is T , T=r+b+w

r/(b+w) > w/(b+r)

r/(b+w+r-r) > w/(b+w+r-w)

r/(t-r) > w/(t-w)

Since t>r and t>w, we can cross multiply.

rt-rw > wt-rw

rt > wt

Since t > 0

r > w

So 1 is sufficient.

2 is obviously not sufficient.
Harish Dorai
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You guys are brilliant! The explanation makes perfect sense and the answer is (A).
givemeanid
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Anadi, I like your solution. Good thinking.
Stacey Koprince
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You guys are all doing a great job here - you don't even need me! :)
A certain jar contains only "b" black marbles
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