Admission test candidates probability

XAT 2026 · Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation · Hard · Probability

Three categories of candidates appear for an admission test: diligent (10%), lazy (30%) and confused (60%). A diligent candidate is 10 times more likely to clear the admission test compared to a lazy candidate.

If 40% of the candidates clearing the admission test are confused, what is the MAXIMUM possible value of the probability of a confused candidate clearing the test?

  1. A.

    13/37

  2. B.

    13/90

  3. C.

    2/3

  4. D.

    6/7

  5. E.

    37/100

Answer

B

Explanation

Let total candidates = 100100. Diligent (DD) = 1010, Lazy (LL) = 3030, Confused (CC) = 6060. Let probability of clearing for Lazy candidate = pp. Then probability for Diligent candidate = 10p10p. Let probability for Confused candidate = qq. Note that probabilities cannot exceed 11, so 10p≤1  ⟹  p≤1/1010p \le 1 \implies p \le 1/10, and q≤1q \le 1.

Number of clearing candidates: From DD: 10×10p=100p10 \times 10p = 100p. From LL: 30×p=30p30 \times p = 30p. From CC: 60×q=60q60 \times q = 60q.

It is given that 40% of all clearing candidates are confused: 60q=0.40×(100p+30p+60q)=0.40×(130p+60q)60q = 0.40 \times (100p + 30p + 60q) = 0.40 \times (130p + 60q) 60q=52p+24q  ⟹  36q=52p  ⟹  q=139p60q = 52p + 24q \implies 36q = 52p \implies q = \frac{13}{9} p.

Since p≤1/10p \le 1/10, the maximum possible value of qq is: qmax⁡=139×110=1390q_{\max} = \frac{13}{9} \times \frac{1}{10} = \frac{13}{90}.

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