At a gathering, it was reported that 26 people took wine, 22 people took soda, and 17 people took both drinks. If each person could have taken one or more drinks regardless of what was reported, how many people altogether were at the gathering?
Thoughts? Step-by-step reasoning:
The number of people who took only wine is the difference between the number of people who took wine and those who took wine and soda which is 26 - 17 = 9 people. In the same manner, the number of people who took only soda is 22 - 17 = 5 people. Therefore the total number present is the sum of those who took wine only, those who took soda only and those who took both which is 9 + 5 + 17 = 31 people.
Thus, the answer is 31.