If \(x\) is a positive integer, what is \(x?\)
(1) \(x^2 + 7x - 18 = 0\)
(2) \(x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0\)
Answer: A
Source: Manhattan GMAT
If \(x\) is a positive integer, what is \(x?\)
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$$Statement\ 1\ =>\ x^{^2}+7x-18=0$$
$$\ x^{^2}-2x+9x-18=0$$
$$x\left(x-2\right)+9\left(x-2\right)=0$$
$$x+9=0\ or\ x-2=0$$
$$x=-9\ or\ x=2$$
Since x is a positive integer, x is not = -9 but definitely x = 2. Hence, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT
$$Statement\ 2\ =>x^2-7x+10=0$$
$$x^2-5x-2x+10$$
$$x\left(x-5\right)-2\left(x-5\right)$$
$$x-2=0\ or\ x-5=0$$
$$x=2\ or\ x=5$$
Both answers are positive integers so the information provided was not enough to arrive at a definite answer so statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Since only statement 1 is SUFFICIENT,
Answer = A
$$\ x^{^2}-2x+9x-18=0$$
$$x\left(x-2\right)+9\left(x-2\right)=0$$
$$x+9=0\ or\ x-2=0$$
$$x=-9\ or\ x=2$$
Since x is a positive integer, x is not = -9 but definitely x = 2. Hence, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT
$$Statement\ 2\ =>x^2-7x+10=0$$
$$x^2-5x-2x+10$$
$$x\left(x-5\right)-2\left(x-5\right)$$
$$x-2=0\ or\ x-5=0$$
$$x=2\ or\ x=5$$
Both answers are positive integers so the information provided was not enough to arrive at a definite answer so statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Since only statement 1 is SUFFICIENT,
Answer = A