If p and q are distinct integers, is 4 a factor of p - q?
(1) 4 is a factor of p.
(2) 4 is a factor of q.
The OA is the option C.
Why is each statement alone not sufficient?
Experts, may you help me here? Thanks.
If p and q are distinct integers,
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- ceilidh.erickson
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Try TESTING VALUES here:
Question: is 4 a factor of p - q?
(1) 4 is a factor of p.
Case #1:
p = 12
q = 5
p - q = 7 --> No, 4 is not a factor of p - q.
Case #2:
p = 12
q = 8
p - q = 4 --> Yes, 4 is a factor of p - q.
We got one "no" and one "yes," so this is insufficient.
Pro tip: when you're testing cases w/ 2 variables, it's often easiest to hold one value constant (as I did with p = 12) and vary the other (q = 7, q = 8).
(2) 4 is a factor of q.
Case #1:
p = 12
q = 8
p - q = 4 --> Yes, 4 is a factor of p - q.
(recycling a case we used before)
Case #2:
p = 11
q = 8
p - q = 3 --> No, 4 is NOT a factor of p - q.
We got one "no" and one "yes," so this is insufficient.
Together:
If both p and q are multiples of 4, then p - q must also be a multiple of 4. Sufficient.
The answer is C.
Question: is 4 a factor of p - q?
(1) 4 is a factor of p.
Case #1:
p = 12
q = 5
p - q = 7 --> No, 4 is not a factor of p - q.
Case #2:
p = 12
q = 8
p - q = 4 --> Yes, 4 is a factor of p - q.
We got one "no" and one "yes," so this is insufficient.
Pro tip: when you're testing cases w/ 2 variables, it's often easiest to hold one value constant (as I did with p = 12) and vary the other (q = 7, q = 8).
(2) 4 is a factor of q.
Case #1:
p = 12
q = 8
p - q = 4 --> Yes, 4 is a factor of p - q.
(recycling a case we used before)
Case #2:
p = 11
q = 8
p - q = 3 --> No, 4 is NOT a factor of p - q.
We got one "no" and one "yes," so this is insufficient.
Together:
If both p and q are multiples of 4, then p - q must also be a multiple of 4. Sufficient.
The answer is C.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education