If p is an integer greater than 1, is p a prime number?

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If p is an integer greater than 1, is p a prime number?

(1) p is a factor of 13
(2) p is a factor of 78

OA A

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Mon Jun 17, 2019 5:05 am

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BTGmoderatorDC wrote:If p is an integer greater than 1, is p a prime number?

(1) p is a factor of 13
(2) p is a factor of 78
Given: p is an integer greater than 1

Target question: Is p a prime number?

Statement 1: p is a factor of 13
13 has exactly two factors: 1 and 13
Since p > 1, we KNOW that p = 13 (which is prime)
The answer to the target question is YES, p IS prime
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: p is a factor of 78
The factors of 78 are: 1, 2, 3, 6, 13, 26, 39, 78
So, p can have MANY values. Here are two:
Case a: If p = 2, then the answer to the target question is YES, p IS prime
Case b: If p = 6, then the answer to the target question is NO, p is NOT prime
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer: A

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Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
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