If p is a prime number greater than 2, what is the value of p?
(1) There are a total of 100 prime numbers between 1 and p+1
(2) there are a total of p prime numbers between 1 and 3912
I have no idea how to start with this problem. Plus, can you show the fastest way to handle this problem in 2 minutes? Thanks!
Prime number question
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- lunarpower
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on this problem, it's impossible to compute the actual value of p in the given timeframe. but, fortunately, you don't have to!
remember that data sufficiency isn't about solving the problem -- it's about determining whether there's only one solution, or more than one..
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(2) must be sufficient, as there is clearly some fixed number of primes between 1 and 3912. i.e., if you had all the time in the world and counted all the primes, you'd get ... a number.
one number.
we don't care what that number is, because it's clear that the number is unique -- there are exactly so-and-so-many primes in that range, and that's that.
(1) also sufficient.
p is a prime number, so:
if p is the 100th prime, then there are 100 primes - viz., the first 100 primes - between 1 and p + 1.
if p is the 101th prime or later, then there are 101 or more primes, so that's no good.
if p is the 99th prime or earlier, then there are 99 or fewer primes; also no good.
therefore, p is the 100th prime.
again, you don't have to determine the value of p (i.e., there's no reason to bother figuring the actual value of the 100th prime number!) it's good enough to know that p has one value.
remember that data sufficiency isn't about solving the problem -- it's about determining whether there's only one solution, or more than one..
--
(2) must be sufficient, as there is clearly some fixed number of primes between 1 and 3912. i.e., if you had all the time in the world and counted all the primes, you'd get ... a number.
one number.
we don't care what that number is, because it's clear that the number is unique -- there are exactly so-and-so-many primes in that range, and that's that.
(1) also sufficient.
p is a prime number, so:
if p is the 100th prime, then there are 100 primes - viz., the first 100 primes - between 1 and p + 1.
if p is the 101th prime or later, then there are 101 or more primes, so that's no good.
if p is the 99th prime or earlier, then there are 99 or fewer primes; also no good.
therefore, p is the 100th prime.
again, you don't have to determine the value of p (i.e., there's no reason to bother figuring the actual value of the 100th prime number!) it's good enough to know that p has one value.
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.
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Quand on se sent bien dans un vêtement, tout peut arriver. Un bon vêtement, c'est un passeport pour le bonheur.
Yves Saint-Laurent
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Pueden hacerle preguntas a Ron en castellano
Potete chiedere domande a Ron in italiano
On peut poser des questions à Ron en français
Voit esittää kysymyksiä Ron:lle myös suomeksi
--
Quand on se sent bien dans un vêtement, tout peut arriver. Un bon vêtement, c'est un passeport pour le bonheur.
Yves Saint-Laurent
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Learn more about ron
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- lunarpower
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by the way, this is a very good problem for testing your understanding of data sufficiency in general.
it should be a very fast problem, because you don't have to (and, in fact, can't) actually calculate the solution -- you just have to think about the fact that there's only going to be one value.
if you are worried about timing here, then you may be overly concerned with calculation, and/or you may not have gotten entirely accustomed to data sufficiency yet.
it should be a very fast problem, because you don't have to (and, in fact, can't) actually calculate the solution -- you just have to think about the fact that there's only going to be one value.
if you are worried about timing here, then you may be overly concerned with calculation, and/or you may not have gotten entirely accustomed to data sufficiency yet.
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.
--
Pueden hacerle preguntas a Ron en castellano
Potete chiedere domande a Ron in italiano
On peut poser des questions à Ron en français
Voit esittää kysymyksiä Ron:lle myös suomeksi
--
Quand on se sent bien dans un vêtement, tout peut arriver. Un bon vêtement, c'est un passeport pour le bonheur.
Yves Saint-Laurent
--
Learn more about ron
--
Pueden hacerle preguntas a Ron en castellano
Potete chiedere domande a Ron in italiano
On peut poser des questions à Ron en français
Voit esittää kysymyksiä Ron:lle myös suomeksi
--
Quand on se sent bien dans un vêtement, tout peut arriver. Un bon vêtement, c'est un passeport pour le bonheur.
Yves Saint-Laurent
--
Learn more about ron