[schoy]

Simple solution:

Probability that Bob takes one of the ends: 2 out of 5 seats (2/5)
Probability that Lisa takes the other end: 1 out of the remaining 4 seats (1/4)

2/5 x 1/4 = 2/20 = 1/10

QED

Edit: BTW, as you can tell by the calculation, OP is misreading the question. In order to sit next to only one other person, Bob and Lisa must necessarily sit at the ends.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by schoy

Simple solution:

Probability that Bob takes one of the ends: 2 out of 5 seats (2/5)
Probability that Lisa takes the other end: 1 out of the remaining 4 seats (1/4)

2/5 x 1/4 = 2/20 = 1/10

QED

Edit: BTW, as you can tell by the calculation, OP is misreading the question. In order to sit next to only one other person, Bob and Lisa must necessarily sit at the ends.

schoy, you are correct.

Bob and Lisa are both students, so both count in terms of 'sitting next to one student'.

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

schoy, you are correct.

Bob and Lisa are both students, so both count in terms of 'sitting next to one student'.

To the OP this is the same response you were given when you asked this over at clutchfans accept the answer

[radix]

[deleted: a bunch of stuff that was well reasoned, narrow minded, crap]

[dth656]

so---what did everyone get on the gmat then? (at least for me, the practice test scores seemed to vary widely)

[radix]

Originally Posted by dth656

so---what did everyone get on the gmat then? (at least for me, the practice test scores seemed to vary widely)

For my part, I never took it. I just like to solve problems.

[radix]

Disregard my previous post. Schoy's method works too. It occurred to me that there is still a semantical issue here. It depends largely on how you interpret the phrases "both sit next to", and more importantly "only one other student". If you take only one other student to mean one specific student then my way works. If you take it to mean one other student in the general sense then Schoy's works. Oddly the probabilities are the same regardless of interpretation. Sorry Schoy.

[wj4]

Hey Radix, I'm just curious...from your posts, it seems that you are quite a sharp knife, what's your occupation?

If I encounter this problem on the GMAT next Wednesday, I'll probably do my best to eliminate the choices I know aren't correct and make the best guess since you only have 1.75 min per question. Haha.

[radix]

Originally Posted by wj4

Hey Radix, I'm just curious...from your posts, it seems that you are quite a sharp knife, what's your occupation?

Thank you, I'm a Unix System Engineer by profession.

Originally Posted by wj4

If I encounter this problem on the GMAT next Wednesday, I'll probably do my best to eliminate the choices I know aren't correct and make the best guess since you only have 1.75 min per question. Haha.

Well, use Schoy's solution. Seriously, my solution made the assumption that only one other student from the group meant one specific person. His solution doesn't make that assumption, so Occam's Razor would suggest that his is the more correct solution.

His solution set:

BOxOL
LOxOB

where B=Bob, L=Lisa, O="Only one other student from the group"

I still have semantical issues with only one other person from the group actually being two people, but again Occam's Razor would suggest that his solution is more correct as it doesn't not make any assumptions.

My solution set would be:

xBOLx
xLOBx
LOBxx
BOLxx
xxLOB
xxBOL

in my case "only one other student from the group" means precisely that, in that it refers only to one specific person. Thus it is assumed that the only way for two people to sit next to only one other student from the group is to sit on either side of that one person. TBH, this is one of the most horribly worded word problems I've ever seen.

[wj4]

^I think Schoy's solution is how you're suppose to 'see it' in order to break it down in less than 2 minutes. My grudge with the GMAT is that some of the wordings REALLY throw me off. I spend a good portion trying to decipher what they're really trying to say. And when I look at the explanation for the answer, it's quite 'simple' as Schoy's solution. Of course it's only simple when you see how they did it.

[AW335TT]

Originally Posted by radix

Disregard my previous post. Schoy's method works too. It occurred to me that there is still a semantical issue here. It depends largely on how you interpret the phrases "both sit next to", and more importantly "only one other student". If you take only one other student to mean one specific student then my way works. If you take it to mean one other student in the general sense then Schoy's works. Oddly the probabilities are the same regardless of interpretation. Sorry Schoy.

This was what i was saying the whole time lol, that both bob and lisa sit next to one other person from the group.

[radix]

Originally Posted by AW335TT

This was what i was saying the whole time lol, that both bob and lisa sit next to one other person from the group.

Yep, you're right. Actually, we're both right. TBH, it didn't occur to me that "only one other student" could be two other students.

[fwmcb]

Ahh the GMAT... not so fond memories, but it was easier than the LSAT.

[dth656]

Originally Posted by fwmcb

Ahh the GMAT... not so fond memories, but it was easier than the LSAT.

thats because, in terms of academic rigor, b-school is a joke. you pay for an alumni network and on-campus recruiting.

on the plus side, if you hear someone complaining about how "tough" or "difficult" b-school was, you know that they are an absolute moron, so steer clear (esp if in a work situation)

[Freakazoid]

I gotta agree...the wording choices is crap

[fwmcb]

Originally Posted by dth656

thats because, in terms of academic rigor, b-school is a joke. you pay for an alumni network and on-campus recruiting.

on the plus side, if you hear someone complaining about how "tough" or "difficult" b-school was, you know that they are an absolute moron, so steer clear (esp if in a work situation)

Trust me I know, I'm doing a joint law degree and MBA.

[bolinp78]

Originally Posted by Freakazoid

I gotta agree...the wording choices is crap

Your grammar is crap!!!

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by bolinp78

Your grammar is crap!!!

hmm..yes yes it is... I blame the internet

[wj4]

Originally Posted by fwmcb

Trust me I know, I'm doing a joint law degree and MBA.

I don't think the GMAT comes close to being comparable to the LSAT. If anything, it's comparable to the GRE. Albeit I thought the GRE was easier when I took it last year. The pro of the GMAT is that it doesn't have a section where you need to learn words no one uses. The math sections, however, require more on the feet thinking than that of the GRE.

[fwmcb]

Originally Posted by wj4

I don't think the GMAT comes close to being comparable to the LSAT. If anything, it's comparable to the GRE. Albeit I thought the GRE was easier when I took it last year. The pro of the GMAT is that it doesn't have a section where you need to learn words no one uses. The math sections, however, require more on the feet thinking than that of the GRE.

All those tests are useless, once you get in, no one even thinks about them again! Plus they don't really test anything IMHO. Good luck OP!

[dth656]

Originally Posted by fwmcb

All those tests are useless, once you get in, no one even thinks about them again! Plus they don't really test anything IMHO. Good luck OP!

+1

although, i remember my friends in b-school who were going for ibanking would put their GMAT on their resumes. then again, one might consider ibanking to be pretty useless too, ha ha.

in the end, the GMAT score is just one facet of your application. it isnt weighed as heavily with respect to other factors (work experience, diversity of experience, etc) when compared to engineering grad school for example, where a lot hinges on GRE and GPA

[AW335TT]

Don't mean to thread jack but since this thread has sort of changed directions I'll just ask. Does anyone have any experience with the PCAT??? Im going to be taking it in like a year.