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Real numbers vs integers

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by gmatmillenium » Fri May 14, 2010 5:50 am
if x,y,z are said to be real numbers and xyz=21 is given, can we assume the #s to be 1,3 and 7?.....as real numbers, they can also be 3.5, 2, 3

some one please clarify
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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by tpr-becky » Fri May 14, 2010 8:01 am
real numbers are any number that is not imaginary. so any decimal, fraction, integer whole number is a real number. The GMAT only deals with real numbers. but in your above question even with integers it is also possible for x, y and z to equal 1, 1, and 21 so you would need a definition of distinct positive integers to ensure you know the values of 1,3 and 7 but then you still woudn't know which variable was which number.
Becky
Master GMAT Instructor
The Princeton Review
Irvine, CA
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by gmatmillenium » Fri May 14, 2010 11:50 pm
tpr-becky wrote:real numbers are any number that is not imaginary. so any decimal, fraction, integer whole number is a real number. The GMAT only deals with real numbers. but in your above question even with integers it is also possible for x, y and z to equal 1, 1, and 21 so you would need a definition of distinct positive integers to ensure you know the values of 1,3 and 7 but then you still woudn't know which variable was which number.
Becky....yes if the #s are integers, they can be either 1,1,21 or 1,3,7...however if they are only given as real #s (without specifying integers), cant they also be 2,3.5 and 3?
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by tpr-becky » Sat May 15, 2010 7:22 am
yes, they can be that and any other combination of real numbers
Becky
Master GMAT Instructor
The Princeton Review
Irvine, CA
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