Question

From $50$ students taking examinations in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, $37$ passed Mathematics, $24$ Physics and $43$ Chemistry. At most $19$ passed Mathematics and Physics, at most $29$ passed Mathematics and Chemistry and at most $20$ passed Physics and Chemistry. The largest possible number that could have passed all three examinations is

• A. $11$
• B. $12$
• C. $13$
• D. $14$

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

$14$

Answer 2

Let $M$, $P$ and $C$ be the sets of students taking examinations in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry respectively. $\therefore n\left(M \cup P\cup C\right) = 50$, $n\left(M\right) = 37$, $n\left(P\right) = 24$, $n\left(C\right) = 43$, $n\left(M \cap P \right)\le 19$, $n \left(M \cap C\right)\le 29$, $n\left(P \cap C\right) \le20$. We have $n\left(M \cup P \cup C\right) = n\left(M\right) + n\left(P\right) + n\left(C\right) - n\left(M \cap P\right)$ $- n\left(M \cap C\right) - n\left(P \cap C\right) + n\left(M \cap P \cap C \right)$ $\Rightarrow 50 = 37 + 24 + 43 - n\left(M \cap P\right) - n\left(M \cap C\right) -$ $n\left(P \cap C\right) + n \left(M \cap P \cap C \right)$ $\Rightarrow n \left(M \cap P \cap C \right) = n\left(M \cap P\right) + n \left(M \cap C\right) + n \left(P \cap C \right)-54$ $\Rightarrow n\left(M \cap P \cap C\right) \le 19 + 29 + 20 - 54 = 14$ $\Rightarrow n \left(M \cap P \cap C \right)\le 14$.