Is m^2n + mn^2 = 0 ?

This topic has expert replies
Legendary Member
Posts: 2898
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 2:49 pm
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:5 members

Is m^2n + mn^2 = 0 ?

by Vincen » Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:41 am
Is m^2n + mn^2 = 0 ?

(1) m + n = 1
(2) mn = 1

The OA is B.

I don't have this question clear. Why is the statement (2) sufficient? Experts, may you clarify this for me?
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3008
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:19 am
Location: Grand Central / New York
Thanked: 470 times
Followed by:34 members

by Jay@ManhattanReview » Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:06 pm
Vincen wrote:Is m^2n + mn^2 = 0 ?

(1) m + n = 1
(2) mn = 1

The OA is B.

I don't have this question clear. Why is the statement (2) sufficient? Experts, may you clarify this for me?
m^2n + mn^2 = 0 => mn(m + n) = 0

If either m = 0, or n = 0 or (m + n) = 0, the answer is Yes, else no.

(1) m + n = 1

Case 1: If m = 0 and n = 1, then mn(m + n) = 0. The answer is Yes.
Case 2: If say m = 1/2 and n = 1/2, then mn(m + n) = 1/4 ≠ 0. The answer is No. No unique answer. Insufficient.

(2) mn = 1

If (m + n) ≠ 0, then the answer is No; however, if (m + n) = 0, the answer is Yes.

Since mn = 1, we see that neither m nor n is 0 and m and n have the same sign. For (m + n) to be equal to 0, the absolute values of m and n must be equal and of opposite signs, which is not possible. Thus, (m + n) ≠ 0. This implies that mn(m + n) ≠ 0. The answer is No. A unique answer. Sufficient.

The correct answer: B

Hope this helps!

-Jay
_________________
Manhattan Review GMAT Prep

Locations: New Haven | Doha | Stockholm | Pretoria | and many more...

Schedule your free consultation with an experienced GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here.