Equality/Nonequality

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Equality/Nonequality

by sukh » Wed Jun 29, 2011 5:36 am
If the value of p is one of the numbers 2 and 3 then is pq not=6 ?
1. If p equals 2 , then q equals 3
2. If q equals 3 , then p equals 2

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by Gurpinder » Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:50 am
With all the "if's", its a tricky question.

IMO (E)

P = 2 or 3
pq not=6? You are looking for a definite YES/NO answer

(1) if p=2,q=3 but what if doesent = 2. If p=3, then whats q? If q=2, then pq=6, if q not=2, then pq not =6
insuff.

(2)
if q=3,p=2, again what if q not=3. then whats p?
insuff.


together:
again the "if's" lead to many possibilities.
if p=2,q=3
if q=3,p=2

what if p=3, whats q?
insuff.

hence IMO (E)

What is the source of this question?
"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
- Alfred A. Montapert, Philosopher.

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by sukh » Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:35 am
Actually Answer is ( C ) its from nova gmat data sufficiency book , explanation given was not clear

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by Gurpinder » Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:57 am
hmm.... not sure..... unclear question.

what if p=3, whats q?
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by Ian Stewart » Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:41 pm
sukh wrote:If the value of p is one of the numbers 2 and 3 then is pq not=6 ?
1. If p equals 2 , then q equals 3
2. If q equals 3 , then p equals 2
The question doesn't really make sense (the 'if' clauses in each statement are something you would never see on the GMAT), but regardless the answer certainly is not C.

From Statement 1, we know that if p=2, the answer to the question is 'no. But we don't know that p equals 2 at all; perhaps p=3 and q=50 the answer is 'yes'.

From Statement 2, we know that if q=3, the answer to the question is 'no'. But we don't know that q equals 3 at all; perhaps q=200 and p=3 and the answer is 'yes'.

Even combining the two Statements, it is possible that p=2 and q=3, or that p=3 and q=100, just to give two scenarios among many possibilities, so we can get a yes or no answer to the question and the answer is E.

If Statement 2 were changed to read "If p equals 3 , then q equals 2" then the two statements combined would become sufficient to give a 'no' answer here, but as written, the answer is certainly not C. Regardless, you'll never see a similar question on the GMAT so it isn't important to study this question.
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by Gurpinder » Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:39 pm
thought so...

Thanks Ian
"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
- Alfred A. Montapert, Philosopher.