GMAT Prep: 'n' & 'y' are positive integers

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 120
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:56 am
Location: India
Thanked: 7 times
GMAT Score:730

GMAT Prep: 'n' & 'y' are positive integers

by euro » Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:49 am
Image

OA is [spoiler](B)[/spoiler]

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 324
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:44 am
Location: London
Thanked: 70 times
Followed by:3 members

by kmittal82 » Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:01 am
450 = 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 5

450y = 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 5 x y = n^3

We need to find what should y be so that 450y becomes a number which can be expressed as n^3

if y = 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 , then 450 y = 2^3 * 3^3 * 5*3 = 30^3

thus, if we divide y by 2 x 2 x 3 x 5, we should get an integer.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 120
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:56 am
Location: India
Thanked: 7 times
GMAT Score:730

by euro » Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:33 am
what about the other two statements II and III ?

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 324
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:44 am
Location: London
Thanked: 70 times
Followed by:3 members

by kmittal82 » Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:52 am
Ok, lets try another way

450y = n^3

y = n * n * n / ( 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 5 )

Lets consider option 2

y / (3 x 3 x 2 x 5) = n * n * n / ( 2 x 3 x 3 x 5 x 5 x 3 x 3 x 2 x 5)

= n * n * n / ( 2^2 * 3^4 * 5^3)

This can never be an integer, since the numberator is a perfect cube.

ditto for option 3.