OG If m and n are positive integers

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OG If m and n are positive integers

by AbeNeedsAnswers » Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:29 pm

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If m and n are positive integers, is (√m)^n an integer?

(1) (√m) is an integer
(2) (√n) is an integer

A

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by [email protected] » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:03 pm

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Hi All,

We're told that M and N are POSITIVE INTEGERS. We're asked if (√M)^N is an integer. This is a YES/NO question. We can solve it with a mix of Number Property rules and TESTing VALUES.

1) (√M) is an integer

Fact 1 tells us that M is a 'perfect square' (re: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, etc.). Since (√M) is a positive integer - and N is a positive integer - then we're raising a positive integer to a positive integer power. That will ALWAYS lead to a positive integer, so the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES.
Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT

2) (√N) is an integer

Fact 2 tells us that N is a 'perfect square' (re: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, etc.), but we do NOT know whether (√M) is an integer or not.
IF....
M=1 and N=1, then 1^1 = 1 and the answer to the question is YES.
M=2 and N=1, then √2^1 = √2 and the answer to the question is NO.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Final Answer: A

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