x(x – 1)(x – k) : GMAT Problem Solving (PS)

x(x – 1)(x – k)

Oldest

Best Reply

Author

Message

TAGS:

Manager

Joined: 07 Feb 2010

Posts: 170

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 21 [0], given: 101

x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

15 Dec 2010, 07:19

00:00

Question Stats:

60% (01:40) correct

40% (00:40) wrong

based on 3 sessions

If x is an integer, then x(x – 1)(x – k) must be evenly divisible by three when k is any of the following values EXCEPT

-4
-2
-1
2
5

[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Current Student

Status: Bring the Rain

Joined: 17 Aug 2010

Posts: 410

Location: United States (MD)

Concentration: Strategy, Marketing

Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2014

GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V39

GPA: 3.13

WE: Corporate Finance (Aerospace and Defense)

Followers: 6

Kudos [?]: 42 [0], given: 46

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

15 Dec 2010, 07:41

There is probably an easier way, but I just used the picking numbers option for this.

I chose x=2
2(1)(2-k) then just plugged in the answer choices for K until one wasn't evenly divisible by 3.

B gives you 8. 8/3 is not an integer.

B is the answer.
_________________

Go Blue!

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

GMAT Club team member

Joined: 02 Sep 2009

Posts: 11628

Followers: 1802

Kudos [?]: 9615 [1] , given: 829

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

15 Dec 2010, 07:52

This post received
KUDOS

anilnandyala wrote:

If x is an integer, then x(x – 1)(x – k) must be evenly divisible by three when k is any of the following values EXCEPT

-4
-2
-1
2
5

We have the product of 3 integers: (x-1)x(x-k).

Note that the product of 3 integers is divisible by 3 if at least one multiple is divisible by 3. Now, to guarantee that at least one integer out of x, (x – 1), and (x – k) is divisible by 3 these numbers must have different remainders upon division by 3, meaning that one of them should have remainder of 1, another reminder of 2 and the last one remainder of 0, so be divisible by 3.

Next, if k=-2 then we'll have (x-1)x(x+2)=(x-1)x(x-1+3) --> which means that (x-1) and (x+2) will have the same remainder upon division by 3. Thus for k=-2 we won't be sure whether (x-1)x(x-k) is divisible by 3.

Answer: B.

30 second approach: 4 out of 5 values of k from answer choices must guarantee divisibility of some expression by 3. Now, these 4 values of k in answer choices must have some pattern: if we get rid of -2 then -4, -1, 2, and 5 creating arithmetic progression with common difference of 3, so -2 is clearly doesn't belong to this pattern.

Hope it helps.
_________________

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW: 11 Rules for Posting!!!

RESOURCES: [GMAT MATH BOOK]; 1. Triangles; 2. Polygons; 3. Coordinate Geometry; 4. Factorials; 5. Circles; 6. Number Theory

COLLECTION OF QUESTIONS:
PS: 1. Tough and Tricky questions; 2. Hard questions; 3. Hard questions part 2; 4. Standard deviation; 5. Tough Problem Solving Questions With Solutions; 6. Probability and Combinations Questions With Solutions; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 12 Easy Pieces (or not?); 9 Bakers' Dozen; 10 Algebra set. NEW!!!

DS: 1. DS tough questions; 2. DS tough questions part 2; 3. DS tough questions part 3; 4. DS Standard deviation; 5. Inequalities; 6. 700+ GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions With Explanations; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 The Discreet Charm of the DS ; 9 Devil's Dozen!!!; 10 Number Properties set. NEW!!!

What are GMAT Club Tests?
25 extra-hard Quant Tests

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

Manager

Joined: 10 Nov 2010

Posts: 169

Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 24 [0], given: 6

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

03 Jan 2011, 22:00

Hi bunuel,
I don't understand the problem language, it says

If x is an integer, then x(x – 1)(x – k) must be evenly divisible by three when k is any of the following values EXCEPT

how does it matter whats the value of K, i can choose x = 3 and the expression will always be divisible by 3.

Am i missing any minor yet important point?

GMAT Club team member

Joined: 02 Sep 2009

Posts: 11628

Followers: 1802

Kudos [?]: 9615 [0], given: 829

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

04 Jan 2011, 03:22

vjsharma25 wrote:

Stem says: "If x is an integer, then x(x – 1)(x – k) must be evenly divisible by three when k is any of the following values EXCEPT"

The important word in the stem is "MUST", which means that we should guarantee the divisibility by 3 no matter the value of x (for ANY integer value of x), so you can not arbitrary pick its value.

Hope it's clear.
_________________

Manager

Joined: 10 Nov 2010

Posts: 169

Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 24 [0], given: 6

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

04 Jan 2011, 08:46

OK. Now i get it.

Thanks Bunuel.

Intern

Joined: 11 Nov 2010

Posts: 5

Followers: 0

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

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

04 Jan 2011, 09:41

To be divisible by 3, one of these sequences must be divisible by 3.

X(X-1) (X-k)

Any 3 sequence number will always be divisible by 3. So X(X-1) (x-2) is divisible by 3.

K = 2, divisible by 3
K= 5, also a sequence ( parallel ) divisible by 3
K= -1, sequence is (X-1) X (X+1) so divisible by 3
K= -4, also a sequence ( parallel ) divisible by 3
K=-2, not a sequence, may not be divisible by 3

So Answer is (B)

Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor

Joined: 16 Oct 2010

Posts: 3114

Location: Pune, India

Followers: 574

Kudos [?]: 2021 [2] , given: 92

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

04 Jan 2011, 19:49

This post received
KUDOS

anilnandyala wrote:

If x is an integer, then x(x – 1)(x – k) must be evenly divisible by three when k is any of the following values EXCEPT

-4
-2
-1
2
5

I am providing the theoretical explanation below. Once you get it, you can solve such questions in a few seconds in future!

Notice a few things about integers:
-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16......

Every number is a multiple of 1
Every second number is a multiple of 2
Every third number is a multiple of 3
Every fourth number is a multiple of 4 and so on...

So if I pick any 3 consecutive integers, one and only one of them will be a multiple of 3: e.g. I pick 4, 5, 6 (6 is a multiple of 3) or I pick 11, 12, 13 (12 is a multiple of 3) etc..

x(x - 1)(x - k) will be evenly divisible by 3 if at least one of x, x - 1 and x - k is a multiple of 3. We know from above, (x - 2)(x - 1)x will have a multiple of 3 in it. Also, (x-1)x(x + 1) will have a multiple of 3 in it because they both are products of 3 consecutive integers. So k can be 2 or -1. Eliminate these options.
Now let me write down consecutive integers around x:

(x-5), (x - 4), (x - 3), (x - 2), (x - 1), x, (x + 1), (x + 2), (x + 3), (x + 4), (x + 5) etc

(x - 2)(x - 1)x will have a multiple of 3 in it. x could be the multiple of 3, (x - 1) could be the multiple of 3 or (x - 2) could be the multiple of 3, in which case (x - 5) will also be a multiple of 3.
So in any case, (x - 5)(x - 1)x will have a multiple of 3 in it. So k can be 5.

Similarly, (x-1)x(x + 1) will have a multiple of 3 in it. x could be the multiple of 3, (x - 1) could be the multiple of 3 or (x + 1) could be the multiple of 3, in which case (x + 4) will also be a multiple of 3.
So in any case, (x - 1)x(x + 4) will have a multiple of 3 in it. So k can be -4.

We cannot say whether (x-1)x(x + 2) will have a multiple of 3 in it and hence if k = -2, we cannot say whether the product is evenly divisible by 3.

Answer (B).
_________________

Karishma
Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor
My Blog

Save 10% on Veritas Prep GMAT Courses And Admissions Consulting
Enroll now. Pay later. Take advantage of Veritas Prep's flexible payment plan options.

Veritas Prep Reviews

Senior Manager

Affiliations: SPG

Joined: 15 Nov 2006

Posts: 327

Followers: 9

Kudos [?]: 180 [0], given: 19

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

05 Jan 2011, 01:29

a. -4
b. -2 [2 more than A]
c. -1 [3 more than A]
d. 2 [6 more than A]
e. 5 [9 more than A]

nice, so we do have a pattern ... 4 answers have a difference of a multiple of 3 except B ... 3, 6, 9 are all multiples of 3

so we can select B without solving much
_________________

press kudos, if you like the explanation, appreciate the effort or encourage people to respond.

Download the Ultimate SC Flashcards

Manager

Joined: 02 Oct 2010

Posts: 163

Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 1 [0], given: 29

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink]

07 Jan 2011, 23:49

Bunuel wrote:

anilnandyala wrote:

If x is an integer, then x(x – 1)(x – k) must be evenly divisible by three when k is any of the following values EXCEPT

-4
-2
-1
2
5

Bunnel,
The second approach is too good...
Very helpful,...

Re: x(x – 1)(x – k) [#permalink] 07 Jan 2011, 23:49

	Similar topics	Author	Replies	Last post
Similar Topics:	If x is an integer, then x(x 1)(x k) must be evenly	sujayb	2	22 Nov 2006, 13:32
	If x is an integer, then x(x 1)(x k) must be evenly	ani	14	14 May 2007, 10:42
	If x is an integer, then x(x 1)(x k) must be evenly	ashkrs	12	04 Jan 2008, 21:38
	If x is an integer, then x(x 1)(x k) must be evenly	shobuj	11	24 Apr 2008, 08:40
	If x is an integer, then x(x 1)(x k) must be evenly	gmatnub	9	29 Jun 2008, 22:06

x(x – 1)(x – k)

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.