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x is a factor of y

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by sanju09 » Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:00 am
If x is a factor of y, then which of the following may not represent a whole number?
(A) x y
(B) x/y
(C) y/x
(D) y x/x
(E) x y/y
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by Anurag@Gurome » Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:20 am
sanju09 wrote:If x is a factor of y, then which of the following may not represent a whole number?
If x is a factor of y then y = kx, where k is some integer.
Now let us check all the option one by one,
  • (A) xy --> Definitely a whole number
    (B) x/y = x/(kx) = 1/k --> Is not a whole number when k is some integer other than 1. Hence x/y may not be whole number and we got our answer.
    (C),(D), and (E) --> There is no need to check
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by zooki » Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:28 am
pick {3, 12} and (2, 8}

only B works.
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by Abhishek009 » Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:39 am
sanju09 wrote:If x is a factor of y, then which of the following may not represent a whole number?
(A) x y
(B) x/y
(C) y/x
(D) y x/x
(E) x y/y
Since x is a factor of y

X < Y...


Now try the options...

U will be stuck with option B , coz -

Numerator is smaller than denominator , so a fraction will come out..

Hence option B doesn't represents a whole number...



Else U can follow zooki's method ..
Abhishek
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by neelgandham » Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:51 am
If x is a factor of y, then which of the following may not represent a whole number?
Let x =2 , y =4

(A) x y = 8
(B) x/y = 1/2
(C) y/x = 2
(D) y x/x = 4
(E) x y/y = 2

So OA - B
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