Hi All,
We're told that the 1st term of a sequence is 0 and the 2nd term is 1. We're asked if the 5th term in the sequence is 2. To properly answer any sequence question, we need to know the underlying pattern or formula behind it.
(1) Each odd-numbered term is either 0 or 2.
Fact 1 limits the possible values for the 5th term - it can only be 0 or 2. However, we don't know which one it is, so the answer to the question could be NO (if the 5th term is 0) or YES (if the 5th term is 2).
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT
(2) The 3rd term is 2.
Fact 2 gives us another term to work with (so we know that the sequence begins with 0, 1, 2...), but this tells us nothing about how the sequence "works", so we cannot deduce the values of any other terms in the sequence.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT
Combined, we know...
Each odd-numbered term is either 0 or 2.
The 3rd term is 2.
Even combined, we still don't know what the 5th term is; with two possible values (and 2 different corresponding answers), the answer could be YES OR NO.
Combined, INSUFFICIENT
Final Answer: E
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
