the value of b

[sanju09]

What is the value of b?

(1) a = 3.
(2) (a - 3) (b + 2) = 0.


[spoiler]Source: https://gmat-math.blocked/2010/02/4gmat[/spoiler]

[Rahul@gurome]

Solution:
Obviously (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Next consider (2) alone.
It is given that (a-3)(b+2) = 0.
So either a = 3 or b = -2 or both.
So if a is 3, b can take any value.
Or (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Next combine both the statements together and check.
So what we have is a is 3 and (a-3)(b+2) = 0.
This means b can take any value.
So both the statements together are not sufficient to answer the question.

The correct answer is (E).