Question:medium

The length of a rectangle is increased by 60%. What should be the measure of the new width to maintain the same area?

Statement 1: Percent reduction in width is 37.5%.
Statement 2: Area of the rectangle is 450 sq.m.

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Check whether statement 1 gives NEW information, or is just algebra you could already derive from a 60% length increase.
Updated On: Jul 20, 2026
  • If the data in statement (1) alone is sufficient to answer the question, but the data in statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
  • If the data in statement (2) alone is sufficient to answer the question, but the data in statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
  • If the data in both the statements together are needed to answer the question.
  • If either statement (1) alone or statement (2) alone is sufficient to answer the question.
  • If the data in neither statement (1) nor statement (2) is sufficient to answer the question, and more data is needed.
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The Correct Option is

Solution and Explanation

Reframe it as a ratio problem. If length scales by a factor of 1.6, then to preserve area LW, width must scale by the reciprocal factor 1/1.6 = 0.625, i.e., width becomes 62.5% of its original value, a drop of 37.5%. Notice this 37.5% figure comes purely from the 60% increase mentioned in the question stem - it is baked into the problem before either statement is even read.

So when statement 1 hands us '37.5% reduction,' it is telling us nothing beyond what basic algebra already guarantees. It never anchors W to an actual number of metres, so by itself it cannot produce a concrete new-width value.

Statement 2 anchors the product LW = 450, but a product alone cannot separate two unknowns - we'd need either L or W individually (or their ratio) to get actual dimensions. Infinitely many rectangle shapes have area 450.

Putting the two together doesn't rescue the situation, since statement 1 contributes no independent equation - we are still stuck with just LW = 450 and no way to solve for W on its own. Hence neither statement, alone or combined, is enough - answer (e).
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