If x and y are positive integers, is x a multiple of y?

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If x and y are positive integers, is x a multiple of y?

(1) 2x is a multiple of y.
(2) 2(y^2) + y = 2x

Official answer = B

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by GMATGuruNY » Sun Mar 26, 2017 6:58 am
ziyuenlau wrote:If x and y are positive integers, is x a multiple of y?

(1) 2x is a multiple of y.
(2) 2(y^2) + y = 2x
Statement 1:
Case 1: x=1, 2x=2 and y=1, with the result that 2x is divisible by y
In this case, x is a multiple of y.
Case 2: x=1, 2x=2 and y=2, with the result that 2x is divisible by y
In this case, x is NOT a multiple of y.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2:
RULE:
If x and k are positive integers, then x and kx+1 are COPRIMES: they share no factors other than 1.

2y² + y = 2x
y(2y+1) = 2x
(y/2)(2y+1) = x.

x is the product of two factors:
y/2 and 2y+1.

Since x must be an integer, the factor on the left -- y/2 -- implies that y is EVEN.
In accordance with the rule above, y and 2y+1 are coprimes: they SHARE NO FACTORS other than 1.
Since y is greater than y/2, y cannot divide into y/2.
Since y shares no factors with 2y+1, and y cannot divide into y/2, y cannot divide into (y/2)(2y+1).
Thus:
y cannot divide evenly into x, implying that x is not multiple of y.
SUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is B.
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by Jay@ManhattanReview » Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:41 am
ziyuenlau wrote:If x and y are positive integers, is x a multiple of y?

(1) 2x is a multiple of y.
(2) 2(y^2) + y = 2x

Official answer = B
Hi ziyuenlau,

We have to see whether x a multiple of y.

Let's take each statement one by one.

S1: 2x is a multiple of y

=> 2x = yk; where k is a postive integer

=> x = (yk)/2

If k=2, x = y, the answer is YES.

However, if k=1, x = y/2, the answer is No. Not sufficient.

S2: 2(y^2) + y = 2x

Let us assume that x is a multiple of y.

Thus, x = yk

=> 2y^2 + y = 2yk

=> 2y + 1 = 2k

We see that RHS (2K) is even, while LHS (2y + 1) is odd, which is not possible, thus out hypothesis that x is a multiple of y is incorrect. Sifficient.

The correct answer: B

Hope this helps!

Relevant book: Manhattan Review GMAT Data Sufficiency Guide

-Jay
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