If we think about this problem logically, we can see that if we take a number and square it and then multiply the result by -3, we will never end up with a positive number as the result. Accordingly, we can eliminate answer choices (C), (D), and (E) as when we take these numbers, triple them, add 2, and multiply that by 3, we will invariably come up with a positive result, which will not match. The only valid possibilities are (A) and (B).
Let's imagine that we choose A. If so, our number is -3. We square that (9) and multiply by -3 to get a total of -27.
In the latter half of the problem, we contemplate tripling that number (-9) adding 2 (-7) and tripling that to -21. Since this does not match up with -27, we know that (A) is not the answer. So we can safely pick B.
On the other hand, if we choose B, our number is -2. We square that (4) and multiply by -3 to get a total of -12.
In the latter half of the problem, we contemplate tripling that number (-6) adding 2 (-4) and tripling that number to get -12. Since those numbers coincide, (B) must be the answer.
Elias Latour
Verbal Specialist @ ApexGMAT
blog.apexgmat.com
+1 (646) 736-7622
