a/b

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 489
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 11:10 am
Thanked: 28 times
Followed by:5 members

a/b

by gmatblood » Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:49 am
If a and b are positive integers such that a/b= 2.86, which of the following must be a divisor of a?

10

13

18

26

50
Source: — Problem Solving |

Legendary Member
Posts: 966
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 8:06 am
Thanked: 230 times
Followed by:21 members

by shankar.ashwin » Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:56 am
a/b = 2.86 = 286/100

100a = 286b

(5*5*2*2) a = (2 * 11 * 13) b

therefore, 'a' should be 11 (or) 13. B IMO

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3835
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pm
Location: Milpitas, CA
Thanked: 1854 times
Followed by:523 members
GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:58 am
gmatblood wrote:If a and b are positive integers such that a/b= 2.86, which of the following must be a divisor of a?
a/b = 2.86 = 286/100 = 143/50

Hence, 50a = 143b
As 50 and 143 doesn't have any common factor, 143 must be a factor of a.

Now, 143 = 11*13
Hence, 11 and 13 must be factors of a.

The correct answer is B.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/