crackthegmat2011 wrote:If x is an integer > 1, r is remainder when (x-1) (x+1) is divided by 24, what is r ?
1. x is not multiple of 2
2. x is not multiple of 3
1. x is not multiple of 2.
x = 3,5,7,9,....
So, x is odd then x-1 and x+1 both are even. Even * Even = Even. When a Even number is divided by 24 then r can be anything.
For example let x = 3 then (x-1) (x+1) = 8 thus r = 8
For example let x = 5 then (x-1) (x+1) = 24 thus r = 0
Thus, as no concrete value of r is found, this is INSUFFICIENT.
2. x is not multiple of 3.
So x can be 2,4,5,7,8.....
For example let x = 2 then (x-1) (x+1) = 2 thus r = 2
For example let x = 4 then (x-1) (x+1) = 15 thus r = 15
Thus, as no concrete value of r is found, this is INSUFFICIENT.
Combine both (1) and (2),
x can be 5,7,11,13,17,19...
Take the value of x,
For example let x = 5 then (x-1) (x+1) = 24 thus r = 0
For example let x = 7 then (x-1) (x+1) = 48 thus r = 0
For example let x = 11 then (x-1) (x+1) = 120 thus r = 0
etc.
As we can alsways see r = 0 thus sufficient.
IMO
C