a^44 < b ^11

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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

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by liferocks » Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:40 am
gmatmachoman wrote:Is a^44 < b ^11, given that a = 2 and b is an integer?

A. b is even
B. b is greater than 16
we can rewrite the question as is 2^44 <b^11 or 16^11<b^11
since b is an integer and the power is positive it brings down the question is b>16

option 1 -->does not provide any specific ans whether b>16-->insuff
option 2-->clearly states that b is greater than 16 hence sufficient
and should be B

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by sanju09 » Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:11 am
gmatmachoman wrote:Is a^44 < b ^11, given that a = 2 and b is an integer?

A. b is even
B. b is greater than 16
(1) reduces the question to

Is 2^44 < (an even integer)^11?

or


Is 16^11 < (an even integer)^11?

Now, this unknown even integer could be less than, equal to, or greater than 16, hence insufficient.

(2) reduces the question to

Is 2^44 < (an even integer greater than 16)^11?

or


Is 16^11 < (an even integer greater than 16)^11?

...and we'd happily say, Yep

[spoiler]B[/spoiler]
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