Last visit was: 29 Apr 2026, 12:01 It is currently 29 Apr 2026, 12:01
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
Sub 505 (Easy)|   Algebra|               
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 29 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,974
Own Kudos:
811,971
 [10]
Given Kudos: 105,948
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,974
Kudos: 811,971
 [10]
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 23 Sep 2018, 05:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
10
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

5% (low)

Question Stats:

87% (00:48) correct 13% (01:11) wrong based on 1080 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x?

(1) x is a positive integer

(2) y = 4x
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
If this question felt shaky, try an adaptive mini quiz of similar problems in GMAT Club Forum Quiz →. Free plan gives 5 questions per day.
User avatar
dvishal387
User avatar
Joined: 01 Jan 2018
Last visit: 12 Jan 2022
Posts: 62
Own Kudos:
58
 [1]
Given Kudos: 26
Posts: 62
Kudos: 58
 [1]
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 23 Sep 2018, 05:21
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
From statement 1 we dont get any information about y hence not sufficient.
From statement 2 we can arrive at a unique value for x hence sufficient.
IMO B is the correct choice.
avatar
peon91
avatar
Joined: 23 Sep 2018
Last visit: 24 Jun 2020
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
4
 [3]
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 3
Kudos: 4
 [3]
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 23 Sep 2018, 05:34
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(1) No info about y. Insufficient.
(2) y = 4x then, 5x + 12x = 17 hence x=1. Sufficient.

B is the correct answer.
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,478
 [3]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,478
 [3]
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 23 Sep 2018, 07:00
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x?

(1) x is a positive integer
(2) y = 4x
Show more

Target question: What is the value of x?

Given: 5x + 3y = 17

Statement 1: x is a positive integer
Let's TEST some values.
There are several values of x and y that satisfy statement 1. Here are two:
Case a: x = 1 and y = 4 (these values satisfy the given equation, 5x + 3y = 17). In this case, the answer to the target question is x = 1
Case b: x = 2 and y = 7/3 (these values satisfy the given equation, 5x + 3y = 17). In this case, the answer to the target question is x = 2
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: y = 4x
When we add this equation to the given equation 5x + 3y = 17, we have a system of two linear equations with 2 variables. Since we COULD solve that system for x and y, we COULD answer the target question with certainty.
So, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

If you're not convinced, take 5x + 3y = 17 and replace y with 4x to get: 5x + 3(4x) = 17
Expand: 5x + 12x = 17
Simplify: 17x = 17
Solve: x = 1
So, the answer to the target question is x = 1
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer: B

Cheers,
Brent
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 29 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,989
Own Kudos:
5,863
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
Schools: HBS '26 CBS '26 Wharton '26
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: HBS '26 CBS '26 Wharton '26
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,989
Kudos: 5,863
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 17 Sep 2019, 06:30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x?

(1) x is a positive integer

(2) y = 4x
Show more

If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x?

(1) x is a positive integer
Since value of y is unknown
NOT SUFFICIENT

(2) y = 4x
5x + 12x = 17
x = 1
SUFFICIENT

IMO B
User avatar
Harry8014
User avatar
Joined: 20 Apr 2020
Last visit: 03 May 2022
Posts: 14
Own Kudos:
1
Given Kudos: 211
Location: India
Schools: MBS'23 (S) Judge '23 (S) Said '23 (S) Imperial Warwick "23
GMAT 1: 650 Q44 V35
GPA: 3.93
Schools: MBS'23 (S) Judge '23 (S) Said '23 (S) Imperial Warwick "23
GMAT 1: 650 Q44 V35
Posts: 14
Kudos: 1
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 07 Oct 2020, 20:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nowhere it's mentioned that x and y are integers - so special case isn't applicable here -

from choice a =

take x = 1 and y=4, satisfying the equation -> here x = 1

take x = 2 and y = 7/3 , satisfying the equation -> here x = 2 | So statement one isn't sufficient

Statement 2 explicitly mention that y = 4x, can be only one answer to this - so Answer is B
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 29 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,299
Own Kudos:
26,553
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,299
Kudos: 26,553
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 09 Nov 2022, 20:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x?

(1) x is a positive integer

(2) y = 4x
Show more

Question Stem Analysis:

We are told that 5x + 3y = 17 and we need to determine the value of x. No other information is given in the question stem.

Statement One Alone:

\(\Rightarrow\) x is a positive integer

It is important to notice that although x is required to be a positive integer, there are no restrictions on y. The value of x could be 1 (which would mean y = 4), or the value of x could be 2 (which would mean y = 7/3). Since more than one value of x is possible, statement one alone is not sufficient.

Eliminate answer choices A and D.

Statement Two Alone:

\(\Rightarrow\) y = 4x

Let's substitute y = 4x in 5x + 3y = 17:

\(\Rightarrow\) 5x + 3y = 17

\(\Rightarrow\) 5x + 3(4x) = 17

\(\Rightarrow\) 5x + 12x = 17

\(\Rightarrow\) 17x = 17 \(\rightarrow\) x = 1

Statement two alone is sufficient.

Answer: B
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,996
Own Kudos:
1,120
Posts: 38,996
Kudos: 1,120
If 5x + 3y = 17, what is the value of x? (1) x is a positive integer 25 Sep 2025, 21:30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109974 posts
kingbucky
498 posts
Gmat860sanskar
212 posts