If z is a multiple of 9 and w is a multiple of 4, is zw a

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If z is a multiple of 9 and w is a multiple of 4, is zw a multiple of 126?

(1) z is a multiple of 21
(2) w is a multiple of 25

OA A

Source: Veritas Prep

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:If z is a multiple of 9 and w is a multiple of 4, is zw a multiple of 126?

(1) z is a multiple of 21
(2) w is a multiple of 25

Source: Veritas Prep
\[\frac{z}{{{3^2}}} = \operatorname{int} \,\,\,;\,\,\,\,\,\frac{w}{{{2^2}}} = \operatorname{int} \,\,\,\,\,\left( * \right)\]
\[\frac{{zw}}{{2 \cdot {3^2} \cdot 7}}\,\,\,\mathop = \limits^? \,\,\,\operatorname{int} \]
\[\left( 1 \right)\,\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}
\,\frac{z}{{3 \cdot 7}} = \operatorname{int} \,\,\,\, \cap \,\,\,\,\frac{z}{{{3^2}}} = \operatorname{int} \,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\frac{z}{{{3^2} \cdot 7}} = \operatorname{int} \, \hfill \\
\,\frac{w}{{{2^2}}} = \operatorname{int} \,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\frac{w}{2} = \operatorname{int} \, \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\]
\[\frac{{zw}}{{2 \cdot {3^2} \cdot 7}} = \left( {\frac{z}{{{3^2} \cdot 7}}} \right) \cdot \left( {\frac{w}{2}} \right)\,\,\, = \,\,\,\operatorname{int} \,\, \cdot \,\,\,\operatorname{int} \,\,\,\, = \operatorname{int} \,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{YES}}} \right\rangle \]
\[\left( 2 \right)\,\,\,\,\frac{w}{{{5^2}}} = \operatorname{int} \,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\,\left( {z,w} \right) = \left( {0,0} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{YES}}} \right\rangle \hfill \\
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\,\left( {z,w} \right) = \left( {{3^2},{2^2} \cdot {5^2}} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{{\text{7}}\,\,{\text{missing}}} \,\,\,\,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{NO}}} \right\rangle \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\]

The correct answer is therefore [spoiler]__(A)_____[/spoiler] .

This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
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by Jay@ManhattanReview » Mon Sep 24, 2018 9:18 pm

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:If z is a multiple of 9 and w is a multiple of 4, is zw a multiple of 126?

(1) z is a multiple of 21
(2) w is a multiple of 25

OA A

Source: Veritas Prep
BTGmoderatorDC wrote:If z is a multiple of 9 and w is a multiple of 4, is zw a multiple of 126?

(1) z is a multiple of 21
(2) w is a multiple of 25

OA A

Source: Veritas Prep
Say z = 9p and w = 4q, where p and q are some integers

=> zw = 36pq

zw = 36r; r = pq

If zw a multiple of 126, zw = 126m, where m is some integer

=> 36r = 126m

m = 36r / 126 = 2r/7

Since m is an integer, r must be a multiple of 7. Only statement 1 can assure that r is a multiple of 7 since Statement 1 says that z is a multiple of 21 (= 3*7). Sufficient.

The correct answer: A

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Sep 26, 2018 4:00 pm

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:If z is a multiple of 9 and w is a multiple of 4, is zw a multiple of 126?

(1) z is a multiple of 21
(2) w is a multiple of 25

OA A

Source: Veritas Prep
First, REPHRASE the given information:

- if z is a multiple of 9, it contains two factors of 3.
- if w is a multiple of 4, it contains two factors of 2.
- the product zw must contain two factors of 2 and two factors of 3.

Now rephrase the question:
Is zw a multiple of 126 --> does zw contain all of the prime factors of 126?
Break down 126 using a factor tree:
Image
The prime factorization of 126 = (2)(3^2)(7)

So we're wondering: does zw contain (2)(3^2)(7)?
We already know that it contains at least one 2 and two 3's. So the only thing we're left wondering: does zw contain a factor of 7?

Target question: does either z or w contain a factor of 7?

(1) z is a multiple of 21

This tells us that z contains a 7. Sufficient.

(2) w is a multiple of 25

This tells us nothing about whether the product will be divisible by 7. Insufficient.

The answer is A.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education

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by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Sep 26, 2018 4:15 pm

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Btw, this question is nearly identical to this OG question: https://www.beatthegmat.com/is-xy-a-mul ... tml#712134
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education