What is the value of a^-2*b^-3 ? (1) (a^-3)*(b^-2) = 36^-1

Oldest

Best Reply

Author

Message

TAGS:

Manager

Joined: 10 Oct 2005

Posts: 66

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

What is the value of a^-2*b^-3 ? (1) (a^-3)*(b^-2) = 36^-1 [#permalink]

12 Oct 2005, 13:13

What is the value of a^-2*b^-3 ?

(1) (a^-3)*(b^-2) = 36^-1
(2) ab^-1 = 6^-1

Last edited by trickygmat on 14 Oct 2005, 07:50, edited 1 time in total.

Manager

Joined: 20 Sep 2005

Posts: 56

Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 3 [0], given: 0

[#permalink]

12 Oct 2005, 13:24

I think it's C (both). What's OA

Senior Manager

Joined: 02 Oct 2005

Posts: 307

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 2 [0], given: 0

[#permalink]

12 Oct 2005, 13:25

Could you please repost the question? Should we interpret:
a^-3b^-2 = 36^-1
as (a^-3) * (b^-2) ? or (a ^ (-3 (b^-2) ) ) ?

I guess it should be former.

Manager

Joined: 04 May 2005

Posts: 136

Location: Chicago

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 1 [0], given: 0

C [#permalink]

13 Oct 2005, 06:50

C

1. insuff. (a^-3)(b^-2)= 1/36, from this we can gather (a^3)(b^2)=36. Still we can't gatehr any info because the stem has (a^-2)(b^-3). 2 variables, one equation...insuff.

2. insuff. again 2 variables, one equation....insuff

together, 2 equations, 2 variables....suff.
C
OA?
_________________

Christopher Wilson

Current Student

Joined: 29 Jan 2005

Posts: 5289

Followers: 17

Kudos [?]: 90 [0], given: 0

[#permalink]

13 Oct 2005, 07:04

If we read statement 1 as a raised to the power of -3b, raised to the power of -2, then wouldn`t it be sufficient?

A?

Last edited by GMATT73 on 13 Oct 2005, 07:41, edited 1 time in total.

Manager

Joined: 10 Oct 2005

Posts: 66

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

[#permalink]

13 Oct 2005, 07:39

a^-3b^-2 = 36^-1 = (a^-3) * (b^-2) = 1/36

Manager

Joined: 19 Jul 2005

Posts: 54

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

Re: d/s - value [#permalink]

13 Oct 2005, 15:09

trickygmat wrote:

What is the value of a^-2*b^-3 ?

(1) a^-3b^-2 = 36^-1
(2) ab^-1 = 6^-1

It's A

a^-3b^-2=36^-1

a^(-3b*-2)=6^-2

a^6b=6^-2

so a=6

and 6b=-2 or b= -1/3

So sufficient

Statement II

ab^-1 = 6^-1

1/ab=1/6
or ab=6 two variables so insufficient

Hence insufficient

Please provide OA

Senior Manager

Joined: 02 Oct 2005

Posts: 307

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 2 [0], given: 0

[#permalink]

13 Oct 2005, 15:28

Answer should be C
(considering a^-3b^-2 = 36^-1 as (a^-3) * (b^-2) from trickygmat's post)

Multiply stmt 1 * stmt 2 we get
(a^-2)*(b^-3) = (36^-1)(6^-1) = (216^-1)

ALI, I think you made a mistake here:
a^-3b^-2=36^-1
a^(-3b*-2)=6^-2

a^-3b^-2=36^-1 should be (a^-3) * (b^-2) = 36^-1

Manager

Joined: 10 Oct 2005

Posts: 66

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

[#permalink]

14 Oct 2005, 08:35

sudhagar, could you pls show the working... how did you arrive at 1/(a^2*b^3) = 1/216???

[#permalink] 14 Oct 2005, 08:35

		Similar topics	Author	Replies	Last post
Similar Topics:		What is the value of (a^-2)(b^-3)? 1) (a^-3)(b^-2)=36^-1 2)	buckkitty	11	12 Mar 2006, 09:59
		20 / 2^5 = (1/ 2^m ) + ( 1 / 2^n ) What is m+n ? A) 2 b) 3	bhatiagp	10	22 Jun 2008, 23:53
		What is the value of a^-2 * b^-3 ? (1) a^-3 * b^-2 = 36^-1	nikhilpoddar	3	21 Sep 2008, 04:25
	1	What is the value of (a^-2)(b^-3)? (1) (a^-3)(b^-2) = 36^-1	bakfed	4	08 May 2010, 09:53
	7	What is the value of a^(-2)*b^(-3)?	monirjewel	9	11 Nov 2010, 10:02

What is the value of a^-2*b^-3 ? (1) (a^-3)*(b^-2) = 36^-1

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources

GMAT ® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council ® (GMAC ®). GMAT Club's website has not been reviewed or endorsed by GMAC.

GMAT Courses

Admissions Consulting

What is the value of a^-2b^-3 ? (1) (a^-3)(b^-2) = 36^-1

What is the value of a^-2b^-3 ? (1) (a^-3)(b^-2) = 36^-1

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources