If a + b + c = 12, What is the value of b ? (1)a + b = 8 (2) b + c = 6​ GMAT Data Sufficiency

Question: If a + b + c = 12, what is the value of b ?

  1. a + b = 8
  2. b + c = 6
  1. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.        
  2. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.        
  3. BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.        
  4. EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.        
  5. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are not sufficient.

Correct Answer: C

Solution ans Explanation:
Approach Solution 1:

This question can be solved only with 1 approach

The case requires us to find the value of b, if a + b + c = 12. Accordingly, the given two statements are to be evaluated to find the value of b and state whether they are sufficient in relevance to the given case.

The first statement is a + b = 8
There are two cases that can be evaluated for a + b to get the result as 8. This includes-
Case 1- a = 2, b = 6
Case 2- a = 3, b = 5
Since the value of b found is not unique enough, the first statement cannot be considered as sufficient

The second statement is b + c = 6
There are two cases for this statement as well which would help in getting the resultant value as 6.
Case 1- c = 1, b = 5
Case 2- c = 0, b = 6
Even in this information, no unique value for b could be found hence, this statement also cannot be considered sufficient.

By combining both the given statements that are given, implying-
a + b = 8 |b + c = 6| a + b + c = 12

It can be found that the values are- a = 6, b = 2 and c = 4
Thus, a unique value of b could be arrived at which states that combinations of both statements are important and not individually.

“If a + b + c = 12, what is the value of b ? (1)a + b = 8 (2) b + c = 6​”- is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. This question has been taken from the book "GMAT Official Guide 2021". GMAT Quant section consists of a total of 31 questions. GMAT Data Sufficiency questions consist of a problem statement followed by two factual statements. GMAT data sufficiency comprises 15 questions which are two-fifths of the total 31 GMAT quant questions.

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