Specializations in a business school

XAT 2026 · Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation · Medium · Set Theory

In a business school, only three specializations are offered: marketing, finance and operations. A student can opt for either one, or two, or no specializations. In the current batch of 120120 students, 6060 are specializing in marketing, 5050 are specializing in finance and 3030 are specializing in operations. During the placement process, all students specializing either in marketing or in finance are shortlisted for consulting job interviews.

If 4545 students are not shortlisted for consulting job interviews, what is the MINIMUM possible number of students specializing in both marketing and finance?

  1. A.

    35

  2. B.

    50

  3. C.

    60

  4. D.

    45

  5. E.

    40

Answer

A

Explanation

Total students = 120120. Number of students not shortlisted = 4545. These students consist of those specializing only in operations (cc) and those with no specialization (hh). So c+h=45c + h = 45. Number of shortlisted students = 120−45=75120 - 45 = 75.

The shortlisted students are those in Marketing or Finance: ∣M∪F∣=∣M∣+∣F∣−∣M∩F∣=75|M \cup F| = |M| + |F| - |M \cap F| = 75 60+50−∣M∩F∣=75  ⟹  ∣M∩F∣=3560 + 50 - |M \cap F| = 75 \implies |M \cap F| = 35.

Thus, the number of students specializing in both marketing and finance is 3535.

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