Power Word : GMAT sampler

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Word Problem: The Price is Height
If Sidney is taller than Roger, Roger is taller than Vernon, and Billy is taller than both Roger and Felix, then which of the following statements must be true?



(A) Felix is taller than Roger

(B) Sidney is taller than Billy

(C) Roger is shorter than Felix.

(D) Sidney is taller than Felix

(E) Billy is taller than Vernon









The Correct Answer to the Question above is:
(E)

This problem is simply a matter of keeping the information straight. The easiest way to do this is to make a scratchwork chart, putting one person's initial over another when the first person is known to be taller. The trick is to make sure you don't imply a relationship in heights when none is stated; so draw your chart very carefully. From the information given, your chart should show Sidney above Roger, Vernon below Roger (and Sidney), and Billy above Roger and Felix. Put Billy next to Sidney since we don't know which one's taller, and put Felix off to the side, since we don't know how Felix's height relates to anyone but Billy.

Now look at the answer choices. As we just said, we only know Felix's height in relation to Billy, so (A) and (C) are out. (B) isn't necessarily true either: Both Sidney and Billy are taller than Roger, but we don't know which is taller than the other. That kills (D), too: Though Sidney and Billy are taller than Roger, we can't conclude that Sidney is also taller than Felix simply because Billy is. (E) is left by process of elimination. Just to check, Billy is taller than Roger and Roger is taller than Vernon, so Billy does indeed have to be taller than Vernon.

Blogged on 6:36 PM by Upay

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