The symbol \(\small{\Omega}\) represents one of the follow

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun Dec 01, 2019 6:40 am
BTGmoderatorLU wrote:Source: Magoosh

The symbol \(\small{\Omega}\) represents one of the following operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. What is the value of \(1\, \small{\Omega} \, 1\)?

1) \(2\, \small{\Omega} \, 2 = 4\)
2) \(0\, \small{\Omega} \, 1 = 0\)

The OA is B
Target question: What is the value of 1 Ω 1?

Given: Ω represents one of the following operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication or division.

Statement 1: 2 Ω 2 = 4
2 - 2 = 0, so Ω CANNOT represent subtraction.
2 ÷ 2 = 1, so Ω CANNOT represent division.
2 + 2 = 4, so Ω COULD represent addition. In this case, the answer to the target question is 1 Ω 1 = 1 + 1 = 2
2 x 2 = 4, so Ω COULD represent multiplication. In this case, the answer to the target question is 1 Ω 1 = 1 x 1 = 1
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: 0 Ω 1 = 0
0 - 1 = -1, so Ω CANNOT represent subtraction.
0 ÷ 1 = 0, so Ω COULD represent division. In this case, the answer to the target question is 1 Ω 1 = 1 ÷ 1 = 1
0 + 1 = 1, so Ω CANNOT represent addition.
0 x 1 = 0, so Ω COULD represent multiplication. In this case, the answer to the target question is 1 Ω 1 = 1 x 1 = 1

IMPORTANT: from statement 2, we can conclude that Ω represents EITHER division OR multiplication. Because Ω could represent two different operations, some students will incorrectly conclude that statement 2 is not sufficient.
However, the target question is NOT asking "What operation does Ω represent?" The target question is asking What is the value of 1 Ω 1?

In BOTH of the above cases (for statement 2), 1 Ω 1 = 1.
Since we get only one answer to the target question, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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