Is the tallest child in Class A taller than the tallest child in Class B?
(1) The range of the heights of the children in Class A is greater than the range of the heights of the children in Class B.
(2) The shortest child in Class A is shorter than the shortest child in Class B.

Answer Choices

Correct answer marked below

Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient

Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient

BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient

EACH statement ALONE is sufficient

Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient

Correct

See the full step-by-step explanation

You can see the correct answer above. Sign in for free to unlock the complete worked solution.

Track your performance and improve

Get detailed analytics, unlock full explanations, and move up difficulty tiers as you practice.

Start for free Sign in

Explanation

Unlock the full explanation

Create a free account to reveal the correct answer, see the step-by-step explanation, and start tracking your GMAT progress.

Create free account Sign in

Comments

KyleSep 2

Classic range trap. Range tells you nothing about the actual max unless you know the minimum, and statement 2 only gives you the min. Together you still can't pin down the max. I'd go E.

SoumyaSep 16

Yeah, I initially picked C because it felt like having both ends should help. Took me a while to see the ranges don't lock in the actual max.

AamirkApr 14

Wait, can someone explain why C doesn't work? If A's range is bigger AND A's shortest is shorter, doesn't that push A's tallest up?

KartikApr 23

No, because the range is just max minus min. A bigger range with a lower min could still have a lower max. Try some numbers.

KyathariApr 21

Right, plug in values. B could have min 150 max 180 (range 30), A could have min 140 max 175 (range 35). A's range is bigger and min shorter, but A's tallest is still shorter.

AniketSep 25

Solid 600-level question. Not hard math but the trap is real under time pressure.

HiteshOct 1

Got E, but only after testing numbers. Anyone have a faster way to see this without plugging in?

Carolinajust now

Just remember range = max − min. Two unknowns per class, and the statements don't connect max to max. That's enough to eliminate C fast.

What this question tests

What it tests

Your fluency with the order of operations, fractions, decimals, and basic number sense — the foundation every quant question leans on.

Common trap

Applying the order of operations out of sequence or rounding intermediate values before the final step.

Is the tallest child in Class A taller than the tallest child in Class B?(1) The range of the heights of the children in Class A is greater than the range of the heights of the children in Class B.(2) The shortest child in Class A is shorter than the shortest child in Class B.