If v and w are different integers, does v=0?

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If v and w are different integers, does v=0?

by M7MBA » Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:13 am

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If v and w are different integers, does v=0?

(1) vw = v^2
(2) w = 2

[spoiler]OA=A[/spoiler]

Source: GMAT Prep

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by swerve » Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:46 am

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Since \(vw = v^2\) and \(v, w\) are different integers \(v\) has to be \(0\).

Therefore, __A__

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M7MBA wrote:
Mon Apr 22, 2019 6:13 am
If v and w are different integers, does v=0?

(1) vw = v^2
(2) w = 2

[spoiler]OA=A[/spoiler]

Source: GMAT Prep
Given: v and w are different integers

Target question: Does v = 0?

Statement 1: vw = v²
Subtract v² from both sides of the equation: vw - v² = 0
Factor: v(w - v) = 0
So, EITHER v = 0 OR w - v = 0
Important: If w - v = 0, then that means w = v, and the question tells us that v and w are different integers.
This means w - v cannot equal 0, which means v = 0
So, the answer to the target question is YES, v = 0
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: w = 2
Since statement to provides no information about v, we can’t answer the target question with certainty
Statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer: A

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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