Slicing Isolated Pools

Definition

Slicing Isolated Pools in plain English

Use Slicing Isolated Pools when you need only-A, only-B, or outside-all regions after the totals are known. Clues include only A, exclusively, neither, and outside. Carve the matrix or Venn into exclusive pools; solve the pool the stem names rather than the raw group total. Group totals mix exclusive and shared people, so isolating pools stops you from answering with the wrong layer. The stem almost always wants one exclusive slice, not the mixed total that first caught your eye. Micro-example: 40 in A, 25 in A cap B. Only-A = 40 - 25 = 15. If the stem asks how many are exclusively in A, that 15 is the answer, not the raw 40. Same idea for Neither: total minus the union of the named groups.

Practice Slicing Isolated Pools

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Related GMAT terms

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