nroy347 wrote:If p is a positive integer is P > 4 ?
(1)p^4 = 246
(2)(p^2 -1)(p-4) = 0
After I solved I got A but it was D...
This could never be a true GMAT question since statement 1 contradicts the given statement that p is an integer. There is no integer such that p^4 = 246
Aside: Statement 2 is great. Notice that the equation yields 3 different values of p (p= -1, 1, or 4). Since we're told that p is a positive integer, we can rule out p = -1, but we're still left with p = 1 or 4.
At this point, many students will think, "Well, since p can have 2 different values, statement 2 is not sufficient. However, notice that the question doesn't ask "What is the value of p?" It asks, "Is p > 4?" Since both possible values of p are less than 4, we can answer the target question with certainty (no, p is definitely not greater than 4), even though we don't actually know the value of p.
Cheers,
Brent
