If a and b are integers and a is even, what is the value of a – b? (1) a are -ve numbers odd and even ? does statement 1 restrict the value of a to 2 ?

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bblast: Legendary Member; Posts: 1077; Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:44 amFollowed by: 33 members; Thanked: 118 times; GMAT Score:710

by bblast » Fri May 13, 2011 7:26 am

If a and b are integers and a is even, what is the value of a – b?

(1) a < 3

(2) a/b = 2/7

oa-E

quick question-> are -ve numbers odd and even ? does statement 1 restrict the value of a to 2 ?

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bblast: Legendary Member; Posts: 1077; Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:44 amFollowed by: 33 members; Thanked: 118 times; GMAT Score:710

by bblast » Fri May 13, 2011 7:28 am

sorry for posting this in the PS forum

MAAJ: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 243; Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:12 amFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Dominican Republic; Thanked: 31 times; GMAT Score:480

by MAAJ » Fri May 13, 2011 9:50 am

a = integer
a = even
a < 3

a = 2,0,-2,-4,-6,etc... By definition an even number divided by 2 yields a remainder of 0.

IMO answer should be (E)

bblast wrote:If a and b are integers and a is even, what is the value of a – b?

(1) a < 3

(2) a/b = 2/7

oa-E

quick question-> are -ve numbers odd and even ? does statement 1 restrict the value of a to 2 ?

Last edited by MAAJ on Fri May 13, 2011 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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by GMATGuruNY » Fri May 13, 2011 9:50 am

bblast wrote:If a and b are integers and a is even, what is the value of a – b?

(1) a < 3

(2) a/b = 2/7

oa-E

quick question-> are -ve numbers odd and even ? does statement 1 restrict the value of a to 2 ?

The formal definition: an even number is any number n such that n=2k, where k is an integer.
Thus, an even number can be negative, 0, or positive.

-4 is even, because it can be written as -4 = 2*(-2).
0 is even, because it can be written as 0 = 2*0.
10 is even, because it can be written as 10 = 2*5.

A more practical definition: an even integer is any integer that, when divided by 2, leaves no remainder.

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bblast: Legendary Member; Posts: 1077; Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:44 amFollowed by: 33 members; Thanked: 118 times; GMAT Score:710

by bblast » Fri May 13, 2011 8:07 pm

Thank you Mitch.

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