Numbers vs. Integers - General Question

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
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Numbers vs. Integers - General Question

by jk2010 » Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:39 pm
I know the GMAT is very specific when talking about whether x is an integer. However, on occasion a question is worded so that "integer" and "number" are interchangeable. For example, this DS question from the Kaplan Premier 2011 (pg 465, No. 6) states:

If p, q, and r are even numbers and 2 < p < q < s, what is the value of q?

1) r < 10
2) P < 6

I read this question and immediately was on guard for the trap, since they did not say "integer," I would not assume the numbers were 4, 6, and 8 respectively. The answer was A and the explanation was basically to assume they numbers were integers. Am I wrong to say that 2.2 is an even number? It is divisible by 2 with no remainder. If 2.2 is even than q can equal 6.2, 8, 8.8, etc and therefore 1 is insufficient.

Am I reading too deep into this?
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by Geva@EconomistGMAT » Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:54 am
jk2010 wrote:I know the GMAT is very specific when talking about whether x is an integer. However, on occasion a question is worded so that "integer" and "number" are interchangeable. For example, this DS question from the Kaplan Premier 2011 (pg 465, No. 6) states:

If p, q, and r are even numbers and 2 < p < q < s, what is the value of q?

1) r < 10
2) P < 6

I read this question and immediately was on guard for the trap, since they did not say "integer," I would not assume the numbers were 4, 6, and 8 respectively. The answer was A and the explanation was basically to assume they numbers were integers. Am I wrong to say that 2.2 is an even number? It is divisible by 2 with no remainder. If 2.2 is even than q can equal 6.2, 8, 8.8, etc and therefore 1 is insufficient.

Am I reading too deep into this?
Even and odd are definitions that only hold to Integers. 2.2 is neither even, nor odd - it's a fraction. By saying that the numbers are even, the question is already implying that they are integers.
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by jk2010 » Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:39 am
Thanks Geva, that explanation makes perfect sense.