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N is a positive integer. What is the value of N?

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by Max@Math Revolution » Tue Aug 27, 2019 11:36 pm

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[GMAT math practice question]

N is a positive integer. What is the value of N?

1) N is divisible by 75
2) N has 75 positive factors, including 1 and N.
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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by Max@Math Revolution » Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:05 pm
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Since we have 1 variable (N) and 0 equations, D is most likely to be the answer. So, we should consider each condition on its own first.

Condition 1)
The possible values of N are 75, 150, .... Since condition 1) does not yield a unique solution, it is not sufficient.

Condition 2)
2^{74} and 2^4*3^4*5^2 have 75 factors. Since condition 2) does not yield a unique solution, it is not sufficient.

Conditions 1) & 2)
N = 3^{24}*5^2 and N=2^4*3^4*5^2 have 75 factors. Since both conditions together do not yield a unique solution, they are not sufficient.

Therefore, E is the answer.
Answer: E


If the original condition includes "1 variable", or "2 variables and 1 equation", or "3 variables and 2 equations" etc., one more equation is required to answer the question. If each of conditions 1) and 2) provide an additional equation, there is a 59% chance that D is the answer, a 38% chance that A or B is the answer, and a 3% chance that the answer is C or E. Thus, answer D (conditions 1) and 2), when applied separately, are sufficient to answer the question) is most likely, but there may be cases where the answer is A,B,C or E.
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