Q is a set of four distinct prime numbers...

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BTGmoderatorLU: Moderator; Posts: 2558; Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 1:50 pmFollowed by: 6 members

by BTGmoderatorLU » Sun Dec 31, 2017 5:42 am

Q is a set of four distinct prime numbers. If the sum of the integers in Q is even and the number x is a member of Q, then what is the least value that x can be?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 7

The OA is B.

I'm really confused with this PS question. Experts, any suggestion? Thanks in advance.

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Sun Dec 31, 2017 5:42 am

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Q is a set of four distinct prime numbers...

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun Dec 31, 2017 7:38 am

LUANDATO wrote:Q is a set of four distinct prime numbers. If the sum of the integers in Q is even and the number x is a member of Q, then what is the least value that x can be?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 7

We need to minimize the four distinct prime numbers.

We're told that the SUM of the four numbers is EVEN.
This means ALL FOUR prime numbers must be odd

ASIDE: We know this because there is only one even prime number (2). Since the four numbers are distinct, there can be, AT MOST, one 2. However, if there were one 2 (and three other odd primes), the sum of the four numbers would be ODD). So, we can conclude that the number 2 is NOT in the set of values.

So, the SMALLEST set of values is: {3, 5, 7, 11}

The number x is a member of Q, then what is the least value that x can be?
Answer: 3 (B)

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

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Scott@TargetTestPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 8157; Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 amFollowed by: 29 members; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 43 times

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Sun Aug 18, 2019 6:19 pm

BTGmoderatorLU wrote:Q is a set of four distinct prime numbers. If the sum of the integers in Q is even and the number x is a member of Q, then what is the least value that x can be?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 7

The OA is B.

I'm really confused with this PS question. Experts, any suggestion? Thanks in advance.

Since the sum of the integers is even, we must have 4 odd prime numbers. Thus, the least value of x is 3.

Answer: B

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

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