If abc = b^3 , which of the following must be true?

Let's answer this question by Process Of Elimination.

I. ac = b²
Must this be true? No.
Consider the case where a = 1, b = 0 and c = 1
This set of values satisfies the given equation (abc = b³),
HOWEVER it is not the case that ac = b²
Plug in the values to get (1)(1) = 0² - NOT TRUE

II. b = 0
Must this be true? No.
Consider the case where a = 1, b = 1 and c = 1
This set of values satisfies the given equation (abc = b³),
HOWEVER it is not the case that b = 0

NOTE: At this point, we need not examine statement III, because none of the answer choices state that only statement III must be true.

However, let's examine statement III for "fun"

III. ac = 1
Must this be true? No.
Consider the case where a = 0, b = 0 and c = 0
This set of values satisfies the given equation (abc = b³),
HOWEVER it is not the case that ac = 1

Answer: A

abc = b^3 implies abc - b^3 = 0
or b*(ac-b^2)=0
which implies either b=0 or ac=b^2
so, either of them or both of them can be true, but none of them must be true. Answer A

Hi Bunuel,
Request you to post your reasoning. Here is how I approached this one-
abc = b^3
abc-b^3 =0
b(ac-b^2)=0
Hence either b=0 or ac=b^2

However b=0 is not a solution. Could you please shed some light on how to approach must be true or could be true questions.
Thanks
H

Thanks Bunuel.. you are awesum

OA is definitely A. Folks may be little bit confused at option *i and iii* (3) tells us that ac=1. So what? Is b also 1 or equal to 0? Can't figure it out. Move further. If some part of multiplication is 0, there is no need to ans. That question. It doesnt satisfy the condition: abc=b^3.

NOTE:WHEN YOU ARE TACKLING "MUST BE TYPE" QUESTION, always try to find out " entire set" instead of "sub set" cz subset answers "what should be" rather than "what must be".
If you are an accountant, you may consider it equivalent to " Bad debt reserve".

Entire set= LCM
Suset =GCM.

Posted from my mobile device

Why is it wrong to divide both sides by b at the start?

Why is it wrong to divide both sides by b at the start?

Because b can be 0 and we cannot divide by 0.

Another way to understand this:

When you divide by b, you are assuming that b is not 0. Is it a fair assumption? No. You are losing on a possible solution of the equation.

How can I make abc = b^3? I can do that by either making b = 0 or making ac = b^2.

But if you divide by b, you get only one solution: ac = b^2 and that means I must be true. Actually, the answer is none because there is another possibility and that is b = 0.

HERE the question is asking us which statement must be true
Hence we can discard all of them as we can make each one of them untrue by taking the other leftover equations true.
Hence A

Here's an illustrative example:
(5)(0) = (6)(0) TRUE
Now divide both sides by 0 to get: 5 = 6 NOT TRUE

Likewise, if xy = xz, we can't divide both sides by x and conclude that y = z, because it's possible that x = 0
So, while it's true that (0)(y) = (0)(z), we can't then conclude that y = z

I considered three different integers:

When '1' is considered, Statement 1 & 3 are correct & when '3' is considered, statement 1 alone holds. Finally, considered a=-3,b=3 & c=3. None of the statements hold true.

Given that only 49% of the folks got this simple looking question right, understood that there is a trap.

abc=b^3
abc-b^3=0
b(ac-b^2)=0
either b=0 or ac=b^2

Definitely not 1 or 2 because EITHER

definitely not 3

abc = b^3

abc - b^3 = 0

b(ac - b^2) = 0

(b = 0) or (ac - b^2 = 0 → ac = b^2)

Since it’s either b = 0 or ac = b^2, so neither one is a must true statement. Also, nowhere we can conclude that ac = 1. So none of the statements is a must true.

Answer: A

The question is looking for "MUST BE TRUE". Do we NEED b to be 0 for abc = b^3 to hold? No.

Say a = 1, b = 2 and c = 4

Then abc = 1*2*4 = 8
b^3 = 2^3 = 8

So even if b is not 0, abc can be equal to b^3.

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