How many days did Raju take to complete his assignment? I. Mohit correctly remembers that Raju took more than 3 days and less than 9 days. II. Mina correctly remembers that Raju took more than 7 days and less than 11 days.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Both statements together are sufficient, but NEITHER alone is sufficient.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The statements give open intervals for an integer day-count. We must see if their overlap isolates a single integer value. We adopt the Recovery-First policy to repair phrasing (“more than x less than y”) to the standard interpretation: x < days < y.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • I: 3 < days < 9 ⇒ possible integer days = {4,5,6,7,8}.
  • II: 7 < days < 11 ⇒ possible integer days = {8,9,10}.


Concept / Approach:
Intersect the two integer sets; if the intersection is a singleton, the exact value is determined only when both statements are used together.



Step-by-Step Solution:

1) From I alone: Multiple candidates {4,5,6,7,8}; not sufficient.2) From II alone: Multiple candidates {8,9,10}; not sufficient.3) Intersection: {4,5,6,7,8} ∩ {8,9,10} = {8}. Unique solution: 8 days. Hence only together are they sufficient.


Verification / Alternative check:
Check end-point inclusivity: The wording “more than”/“less than” excludes endpoints; 8 remains the sole common integer.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • A/B/C: Neither statement alone yields a single value; “either alone” is false.
  • D: Together they do yield a unique value.


Common Pitfalls:
Treating “at least/at most” instead of strict inequalities; including endpoints improperly; missing that the domain is integers (days).



Final Answer:
Both statements together are sufficient, but NEITHER alone is sufficient.

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