GMATPrep box "m" question.

shovan85 wrote:IMO A

|m|=3m when m is odd => |9| = 27 (as 9 is odd)

and

|m| = 1/2 m when m is even => |6| = 3 (as 6 is even)

|9| x |6| = 27*3 = 81

phoenixhazard wrote:

shovan85 wrote:IMO A

|m|=3m when m is odd => |9| = 27 (as 9 is odd)

and

|m| = 1/2 m when m is even => |6| = 3 (as 6 is even)

|9| x |6| = 27*3 = 81

The answer is |27|.

If you put 81 into the odd formula then u get 81/3 which is 27. I just can't understand why you put it as |m| and not plug in 81 to the regular m in the odd formula!
81 = 3m versus |m| = 3(81)

shovan85 wrote:

phoenixhazard wrote:

shovan85 wrote:IMO A

|m|=3m when m is odd => |9| = 27 (as 9 is odd)

and

|m| = 1/2 m when m is even => |6| = 3 (as 6 is even)

|9| x |6| = 27*3 = 81

The answer is |27|.

If you put 81 into the odd formula then u get 81/3 which is 27. I just can't understand why you put it as |m| and not plug in 81 to the regular m in the odd formula!
81 = 3m versus |m| = 3(81)

Yes I missed that ... the options have Boxes also. Great Question I was wondering how can someone miss such an easy question.
Thanks a Lot

shovan85 wrote:IMO A

|m|=3m when m is odd => |9| = 27 (as 9 is odd)

and

|m| = 1/2 m when m is even => |6| = 3 (as 6 is even)

|9| x |6| = 27*3 = 81

phoenixhazard wrote:bump

Seems to me that when you get 81 that is that m = 81. So you would use |m| = 3m which i feel wouldn't you plug in to m? why do u plugin to |m| instead?

phoenixhazard wrote:|m| = an m boxed around, |#| a box around an integer

For all positive integers m, |m|=3m when m is odd and |m| = 1/2 m when m is even. Which of the following is equivalent to |9| x |6|?
a) |81|
b) |54|
c) |36|
d) |27|
e) |18|


I can't figure this problem out at all! Help?