UPSC Prelims 1998·GS1·science-and-technology·science and technology

There are 50 students admitted to a nursery class. Some students can speak only English and some can speak only Hindi. 10 students can speak both English and Hindi. If the number of students who can speak English is 21, then how many students can speak Hindi, how many can speak only Hindi and how many can speak only English?

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Last updated 8 Jul 2026, 4:39 pm IST
  1. A21, 11 and 29 respectively
  2. B28, 18 and 22 respectively
  3. C37, 27 and 13 respectively
  4. D39, 29 and 11 respectivelyCorrect

Explanation

To solve this problem, we use basic set theory or simple subtraction.

  1. Total students = 50.
  2. Students who speak English = 21. This includes those who speak only English and those who speak both.
  3. Students who speak both English and Hindi = 10.

To find those who speak only English: Subtract those who speak both from the total English speakers. 21 minus 10 = 11 students speak only English.

To find those who speak only Hindi: Subtract the total English speakers from the total number of students. 50 minus 21 = 29 students speak only Hindi.

To find the total number of Hindi speakers: Add those who speak only Hindi to those who speak both. 29 plus 10 = 39 students speak Hindi.

The results are: 39 speak Hindi, 29 speak only Hindi, and 11 speak only English. This matches option D.

science-and-technology: There are 50 students admitted to a nursery class. Some students can speak only English and some can speak only Hindi. 1
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