Data Sufficiency

Hello,

Can you please assist with this?

If m and n are consecutive positive even integers, is m greater than n?

(1) (m - 2) and (n + 2) are consecutive even integers.
(2) (m + 2) and (n - 2) are not consecutive even integers.

OA: D

Thanks a lot,
Sri

Hi,

In such questions, you can directly check with substituting values.
For eg, take m=4, n=6
option 1. m-2 = 2, n+2 = 8 ( not consecutive so try for opposite values, m =6, n=4)
m-2 = 4, n+2 = 6 (right --> m>n -----------so option 1 is correct as u can answer if m>n)

option 2. m+2 = 6, n-2 = 4 ( are consecutive so try for opposite values m=6,n=4)
m+2 = 8, n-2 = 2 (right --> m>n -----------so option 2 is correct as u can answer if m>n)

Both are independently correct so correct answer is D

To find: m > n

Statement 1:
If the pattern were: _ M N _
M _ _ N ==> Not Consecutive ==> INValid CASE

If the pattern were: _ N M _
_ M N _ ==> Consecutive
m>n
SUFFICIENT

Statement 2:
If the pattern were: _ M N _
_ N M _ ==> THey are consecutive.. ==> INVALID CASE

If the pattern were: _ N M _
N _ _ M ==> Not Consecutive ==> VALID
m>n
SUFFICIENT
[spoiler]{D}[/spoiler]

gmattesttaker2 wrote:Hello,

Can you please assist with this?

If m and n are consecutive positive even integers, is m greater than n?

(1) (m - 2) and (n + 2) are consecutive even integers.
(2) (m + 2) and (n - 2) are not consecutive even integers.

OA: D

Thanks a lot,
Sri

Start with easy plugging in for m and n, let them be one is 2 and the other is 4, and figure out which is what by exploring through the statement(s) that follow:

(1) (m - 2) and (n + 2) are consecutive even integers, this is not possible if we take m = 2 and n = 4, bur this is definite if we take m = 4 and n = 2. Hence YES, m is greater than n. [spoiler]Sufficient[/spoiler]

(2) (m + 2) and (n - 2) are not consecutive even integers, this is not possible if we take m = 2 and n = 4, bur this is definite if we take m = 4 and n = 2. Hence YES, m is greater than n. [spoiler]Sufficient

Like D[/spoiler]

siddhu161 wrote:Hi,

In such questions, you can directly check with substituting values.
For eg, take m=4, n=6
option 1. m-2 = 2, n+2 = 8 ( not consecutive so try for opposite values, m =6, n=4)
m-2 = 4, n+2 = 6 (right --> m>n -----------so option 1 is correct as u can answer if m>n)

option 2. m+2 = 6, n-2 = 4 ( are consecutive so try for opposite values m=6,n=4)
m+2 = 8, n-2 = 2 (right --> m>n -----------so option 2 is correct as u can answer if m>n)

Both are independently correct so correct answer is D

Hi siddhu161,

On DS, the (1) and (2) are termed as the Statements, NOT as the Options. The options indeed are the following fixed five choices:

A. Statement (1) alone is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
B. Statement (2) alone is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
C. Both statements taken together are sufficient to answer the question, but neither statement alone is sufficient.
D. Each statement alone is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) together are not sufficient, and additional data is needed to answer the question.

Further, it's all about the Sufficiency, NOTHING about the Correctness of a statement there, because the Statements on the DS are ALWAYS CORRECT.

I'm sure that it won't confuse you call them otherwise, but it could confuse your tender readers sometimes.