A biotechnology research facility classifies five experimental compounds—Candidate V, Cand… — GMAT

A biotechnology research facility classifies five experimental compounds—Candidate V, Candidate W, Candidate X, Candidate Y, and Candidate Z—for clinical trial priority according to a strict multi-attribute precedence rule.

Compounds are evaluated on three metrics:
- Toxicity Index (measured from $1.0$ to $5.0$ ; lower indicates safer compound)
- Receptor Affinity (measured from $1$ to $100$ ; higher indicates stronger binding)
- Bioavailability (measured as a percentage from $0\%$ to $100\%$ ; higher indicates better absorption)

Precedence Sorting Hierarchy:
1. Primary Criterion: Any compound with a Toxicity Index strictly less than $3.0$ takes absolute precedence over any compound with a Toxicity Index of $3.0$ or greater.
2. Secondary Criterion: Within the same toxicity category, compounds are sorted in descending order of Receptor Affinity.
3. Tertiary Criterion: If two compounds within the same toxicity category have identical Receptor Affinity scores, the compound with the higher Bioavailability is ranked higher.

Compound Metrics:

Compound	Toxicity Index	Receptor Affinity	Bioavailability
Candidate V	$2.4$	$85$	$75\%$
Candidate W	$2.8$	$90$	$60\%$
Candidate X	$3.2$	$95$	$80\%$
Candidate Y	$2.4$	$85$	$82\%$
Candidate Z	$3.5$	$90$	$95\%$

Based on the classification and sorting criteria above, arrange the candidates in order from highest priority (Rank 1) to lowest priority (Rank 5).

1Candidate W
2Candidate Y
3Candidate V
4Candidate X
5Candidate Z

Answer

The correct order from highest priority (Rank 1) to lowest priority (Rank 5) is Candidate W, Candidate Y, Candidate V, Candidate X, Candidate Z.

The sequence Candidate W → Candidate Y → Candidate V → Candidate X → Candidate Z correctly applies the three-tiered sorting logic. Primary tiering separates Candidates V, W, and Y (Toxicity < 3.0) from Candidates X and Z (Toxicity ≥ 3.0). Candidate W leads Tier 1 with the highest affinity (90). Candidate Y beats Candidate V for second place due to higher bioavailability (82% vs. 75%). In Tier 2, Candidate X leads Candidate Z due to higher affinity (95 vs. 90).

Step-by-Step Solution

Partition the compounds into primary classification tiers based on the Toxicity Index threshold (

3.0

Tier 1 (Toxicity < 3.0): Candidate V (

2.4

), Candidate W (

2.8

), Candidate Y (

2.4

). Tier 2 (Toxicity ≥ 3.0): Candidate X (

3.2

), Candidate Z (

3.5

). Tier 1 compounds take absolute precedence over Tier 2 compounds.

The primary criterion establishes strict category partitioning before evaluating secondary attributes.

Sort Tier 1 candidates (Candidate V, Candidate W, Candidate Y) using secondary and tertiary criteria.

Candidate W has Receptor Affinity

90

(highest in Tier 1), securing Rank 1. Candidate V and Candidate Y both have Receptor Affinity

85

. Comparing Bioavailability: Candidate Y (

82\%

) > Candidate V (

75\%

). Thus, Rank 2 is Candidate Y and Rank 3 is Candidate V.

Secondary sorting uses descending Receptor Affinity. Equal affinity scores trigger tertiary sorting by descending Bioavailability.

Sort Tier 2 candidates (Candidate X, Candidate Z) using secondary criteria.

Candidate X has Receptor Affinity

95

, while Candidate Z has Receptor Affinity

90

. Therefore, Candidate X gets Rank 4 and Candidate Z gets Rank 5.

Within Tier 2, higher Receptor Affinity determines higher rank position.

Key Concept

Categorical hierarchical sorting requires applying criteria in strict sequential order (primary tiering before secondary/tertiary attribute ranking), avoiding premature overall sorting across non-equivalent tiers.

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Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

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