a, b, x and y are positive integers. If ay=bx, is 7 a factor of x?
(1) 35 is a factor of a
(2) b when prime factorized will be of the form (5)^s
The OA is C.
Why is not sufficient the statement (1)? Can any expert help me? Please.
a, b, x & y are positive integers. If ay=bx, is 7 . . .
This topic has expert replies
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Jay@ManhattanReview
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 3008
- Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:19 am
- Location: Grand Central / New York
- Thanked: 470 times
- Followed by:34 members
We have ay = bx => x = (a/b)yVJesus12 wrote:a, b, x and y are positive integers. If ay=bx, is 7 a factor of x?
(1) 35 is a factor of a
(2) b when prime factorized will be of the form (5)^s
The OA is C.
Why is not sufficient the statement (1)? Can any expert help me? Please.
We have to determine whether 7 a factor of x.
(1) 35 is a factor of a.
Say a = 35n; where n = any positive integer
Thus, x = 35n/b
Say b = 35n, then the answer is No; however, if say n = n, then the answer is Yes. No unique answer. Insufficient.
(2) b when prime factorized will be of the form (5)^s
We do not have any information about a and y. Insufficient.
(1) and (2) together
x = (a/b)y = 35n/5^s = (5*7*n)/5^s
Since x is an integer, and there only 5s in the denominator, x must be a factor of 7. Sufficient.
The correct answer: C
Hope this helps!
-Jay
_________________
Manhattan Review GMAT Prep
Locations: Beijing | Copenhagen | Oslo | Lisbon | and many more...
Schedule your free consultation with an experienced GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here.