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is a^bn evenly divisible by b^am?

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Source: — Data Sufficiency |
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by KICKGMATASS123 » Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:48 am
bhumika.k.shah wrote:If a,b ,m , and n are positive integers, is a^bn evenly divisible by b^am?

I.a is prime.
II. bn = 36

Source Knewton CAT

Different and quicker approaches + whats d difficulty level of this Q
I think A and B are definitely not sufficient together.
Is the answer E?
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by KICKGMATASS123 » Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:49 am
bhumika.k.shah wrote:If a,b ,m , and n are positive integers, is a^bn evenly divisible by b^am?

I.a is prime.
II. bn = 36

Source Knewton CAT

Different and quicker approaches + whats d difficulty level of this Q
I think A and B are definitely not sufficient together.
Is the answer E?
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by eaakbari » Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:17 am
IMO E
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by bhumika.k.shah » Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:18 am
OA E

HOW + whats d difficulty level of this Q ?
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by eaakbari » Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:35 am
Statement one
Since a is a prime for the condition to be divisible either b = a or b =1 but b could be any value
Hence Insuff
You can also do quick substitution to arrive at this

Statement two
The value of bn does not help us in anyway. Insuff

Combined
since bn = 36 and a is prime, it will seem like its not divisible but then if b=1 its divisible. Substituting random primes is the quickest method.
Ergo Insuff

Answer E

I am not sure but I do think its on the harder side maybe a 650+ question. We'll wait for the experts to comment
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