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Can prime numbers be negative numbers as well?

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Can prime numbers be negative numbers as well?

by gmatrant » Tue Jan 01, 2013 4:45 am
If x and y are prime numbers, what is the value of x+y ?
(1) x−y is a prime integer.

(2) y<x<6

In the above problem, can x and y be negative? Can prime numbers be negative numbers as well?
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by sana.noor » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:00 am
Negative number can not be a prime number...Is the answer "E"?
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by Anurag@Gurome » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:13 am
gmatrant wrote:Can prime numbers be negative numbers as well?
No. Prime numbers are by definition natural numbers, i.e. positive integers.
gmatrant wrote:If x and y are prime numbers, what is the value of x+y ?
(1) x−y is a prime integer.
(2) y<x<6
Consider the following two examples,
  • x = 5 and y = 3 ---> (x - y) = 2 is prime integer ---> (x + y) = 8
    x = 5 and y = 2 ---> (x - y) = 3 is prime integer ---> (x + y) = 7
Both of the above examples satisfy both the statements but (x + y) has different values in both cases. Hence, both statements together is also not sufficient.

The correct answer is E.
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