If a, b & c are integers, is abc odd?

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If a, b & c are integers, is abc odd?

by AbhishekRyu » Thu Sep 27, 2018 8:53 am

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If a, b & c are integers, is abc odd?

(1) ab is odd
(2) bc is odd

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by fskilnik@GMATH » Thu Sep 27, 2018 11:26 am

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AbhishekRyu wrote:If a, b & c are integers, is abc odd?

(1) ab is odd
(2) bc is odd
\[a,b,c\,\,{\text{ints}}\,\,\,\left( * \right)\]
\[abc\,\,\mathop = \limits^? \,\,\,{\text{odd}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Leftrightarrow \limits^{\left( * \right)} \,\,\,\,\,\,\boxed{\,\,?\,\,\,:\,\,\,a,b,c\,\,{\text{odd}}\,\,\,}\,\,\]

\[\left( 1 \right)\,\,\,ab = odd\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{\left( * \right)} \,\,\,\,a,b\,\,{\text{odd}}\,\,\,\,{\text{but}}\,\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {1,1,1} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{YES}}} \right\rangle \,\, \hfill \\
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {1,1,0} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{NO}}} \right\rangle \,\, \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.\]
\[\left( 2 \right)\,\,\,bc = odd\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{\left( * \right)} \,\,\,\,b,c\,\,{\text{odd}}\,\,\,\,{\text{but}}\,\,\,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {1,1,1} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{YES}}} \right\rangle \,\, \hfill \\
\,{\text{Take}}\,\,\left( {a,b,c} \right) = \left( {0,1,1} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{NO}}} \right\rangle \,\, \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.\]

\[\left( {1 + 2} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\left\langle {{\text{YES}}} \right\rangle \]

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

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fskilnik.
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
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by [email protected] » Fri Sep 28, 2018 3:48 pm

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Hi AbhishekRyu,

We're told that A, B and C are INTEGERS. We're asked if (A)(B)(C) is ODD. This is a YES/NO question and can be solved with Number Properties and TESTing VALUES.

1) (A)(B) is ODD

Since A and B are both integers, the only way the product of those two numbers to be odd is if BOTH A and B are ODD. However, we don't know whether C is odd or even.
IF...
A=1, B=1, C=1, then (A)(B)(C) = 1 and the answer to the question is YES
A=1, B=1, C=2, then (A)(B)(C) = 2 and the answer to the question is NO
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

2) (B)(C) is ODD

Since B and C are both integers, the only way the product of those two numbers to be odd is if BOTH B and C are ODD. However, we don't know whether A is odd or even.
IF...
A=1, B=1, C=1, then (A)(B)(C) = 1 and the answer to the question is YES
A=2, B=1, C=1, then (A)(B)(C) = 2 and the answer to the question is NO
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we know...
A and B are ODD
B and C are ODD
Thus, (A)(B)(C) will ALWYS be ODD and the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES.
Combined, SUFFICIENT

Final Answer: C

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by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Tue Oct 02, 2018 6:57 pm

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AbhishekRyu wrote:If a, b & c are integers, is abc odd?

(1) ab is odd
(2) bc is odd
We need to determine whether abc is odd.

Statement One Alone:

ab is odd

Since ab is odd, we know that both a and b are odd. However, without knowing anything about c we cannot answer the question. Statement one alone is not sufficient.

Statement Two Alone:

bc is odd

Since ab is odd, we know that both b and c are odd. However, without knowing anything about a we cannot answer the question. Statement two alone is not sufficient.

Statements One and Two Together:

Using the information from both statements we see that a, b, and c must all be odd, so the product of a, b, and c is odd.

Answer: C

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