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consecutive integers

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consecutive integers

by djkvakin » Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:52 pm
If m, n, p, and q are distinct integers, are they consecutive?
(1) q-m=3

(2) m<n<q and m<p<q

OA is C. [spoiler]My answer is E because we don't have any limitation on the integers: even if we consider 1 and 2 together, all we know is that q is the largest, and m is the smallest. consider the list m n p q: 1 3 3 4. where am i wrong with this?[/spoiler]
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by papgust » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:02 pm
I guess you didn't read the question properly. The question says "m, n, p, and q are distinct integers".
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by schumi_gmat » Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:05 pm
djkvakin wrote:If m, n, p, and q are distinct integers, are they consecutive?
(1) q-m=3

(2) m<n<q and m<p<q

OA is C. [spoiler]My answer is E because we don't have any limitation on the integers: even if we consider 1 and 2 together, all we know is that q is the largest, and m is the smallest. consider the list m n p q: 1 3 3 4. where am i wrong with this?[/spoiler]
The answer is C.

It is mentioned that the numbers are distinct. so they cannot be same. hence the condition 1 3 3 4 is invalid.

B tells us the position of the numbers and A gives the range.

Hence C
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by scoowhoop » Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:00 pm
Given (1) and (2) couldn't the sequence still be either, mpnq or mnpq? I dont' see how C can be correct.
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by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:37 pm
scoowhoop wrote:Given (1) and (2) couldn't the sequence still be either, mpnq or mnpq? I dont' see how C can be correct.
The problem is more with the wording of the question, which can be interpreted different ways.

If you interpret it as "consecutive in that order", then the answer is E.

However, a more general interpretation of "consecutive" (i.e. we just need the 4 integers to be consecutive, in no particular order) would lead to C.

For example, how would you answer the question:

"Are 2,4,5 and 3 consecutive integers?"

Under the first interpretation they're not, but under the second interpretation they are.
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