If a^2b^2c^3 = 4500. Is b + c = 7?

Question

If  a^2*b^2*c^3 = 4500 . Is  b+c = 7  ?

(1) a, b and c are positive integers

(2) a > b

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Given:  a^2*b^2*c^3 = 4500=2^2*3^2*5^3 . Question: is  b+c=7

(1) a, b and c are positive integers --> sure it's possible that  a=3 ,  b=2  and  c=5  and in this case the answer will be YES but it's also possible that  a=2 ,  b=3  and  c=5  and in this case the answer will be NO. Not sufficient.

(2) a > b. Clearly insufficient.

(1)+(2) Note that we are not told that a, b and c are prime numbers, so again it's possible that  a=3>2=b  and  c=5  and in this case the answer will be YES but for example it's also possible that  a=2^2*3^2=6^2 ,  b=1  and  c=5  ( a^2*b^2*c^3 =6^2*1^2*5^3=4500 ) and in this case the answer will be NO. Not sufficient.

Answer: E.

sashikanth · Answer

Hi,
The answer to this question should be C. 
4500=2^2*3^2*5^3

This will yield C=5. Now possible values of 'a' are 2,-2,3,-3 and possible values of b are 3,-3,2,-2

Statement 1 tells a,b,c are positive integers. Hence possible values of 'b' reduces to 2,3. Not sufficient to answer the value of b+c.
Statement 2 tells a>b. Hence possible values of b are -3, when a=2 and 2,-2 when a=3. Hence not sufficient.
Now statement 1 and 2 together will yield 'b' as 2 Hence sufficient.Hope this helps . Thank You.

MichelleSavina · Answer

hey... thanks

this is what i answered... but the correct answer is E...

i need an explanation....... if it is E, then y so....

Anurag@Gurome · Answer

4500 = (2²)(3²)(5³) = (a²)(b²)(c³)
Comparing the terms we see that, c = 5
But a and b can have different sets of values.
 1. a = ±2, b = ±3
2. a = ±3, b = ±2
3. a = ±1, b = ±6
4. a = ±6, b = ±1 
 Statement 1:  a, b and c are positive integers
Hence, we should discard the negative values of a and b. Still we have four possible sets of values for a and b,
 1. a = 2, b = 3
2. a = 3, b = 2
3. a = 1, b = 6
4. a = 6, b = 1 
Thus (b + c) can have different possible values.

Not sufficient

Statement 1:  a > b
Hence, we should discard the values of a and b such that a < b. Still we have different sets of values for a and b,
 1. a = ±2, b = -3
2. a = 3, b = ±2
3. a = ±1, b = -6
4. a = 6, b = ±1 
Thus (b + c) can have different possible values.

Not sufficient

1 & 2 Together :  Still we can have two different sets of values for a and b,
 1. a = 3, b = 2
2. a = 6, b = 1 
Thus (b + c) can be equal to either 6 or 7.

Not sufficient

The correct answer is E.

gmihir · Answer

If a^2b^2c^3 = 4500. Is b+c = 7 ?
(1) a, b and c are positive integers
(2) a > b

2^23^25^3 = 4500 and from statement 1 and 2, it can be deduced that b=2, c=5 and b+c =7, why the answer is E, shouldn't it be C?

kp1811 · Answer

a,b and c don't have to be prime.
a=6 and b=1 will also satisfy the 2 statements alone and b+c=1+5 = 6. insuff together. hence E

dchow23 · Answer

Good question....But is GMAC really expecting us to figure that out in a span of 2 min???

kp1811 · Answer

yes...such questions may very well appear in the actual GMAT

sandal85 · Answer

Seriouslly very good question. Even after looking at the anwer I was not able to figure out how this can be possible.
I thought about this and realised how our mind works in one direction. As it has been so well trained to do the prime factors as soon as you see any problem like this. It can not think any other situation.

Thanks for posting such question which can break the mindset.

harshavmrg · Answer

fantastic problem, but i got stumped.. i selected C as the answer and now i understand why the answer is E

Donnie84 · Answer

Great question! Fell in to the trap and picked C. E makes perfect sense.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

We're told that (A^2)(B^2)(C^3) = 4500. We're asked if B+C = 7. This is a YES/NO question. This question really tests the 'thoroughness' of your thinking - and it's likely that many Test Takers would get this question wrong because they wouldn't consider all of the possible options.

To start, it would help to 'break down' 4500 into pieces... 
4500 = (9)(500) = 
(3^2)(5)(100) = 
(3^2)(5)(2^2)(5^2) = 
(2^2)(3^2)(5^3)

Based on the starting equation, we know that C MUST be +5. However, there are more than just these two possible values for A and B. Since we're SQUARING terms, A and B could be (2 or -2) and (3 or -3). In addition, this question is NOT forcing us to deal with Prime Numbers, so there is another option besides "2 and 3" to consider.... "1 and 6" is another possible pairing of values for A and B.... 
(1^2)(6^2)(5^3) 
...meaning that we would have to also consider that the values could be (1 or -1) and (6 or -6):

(1) A, B and C are POSITIVE integers

IF.... 
A=2, B=3, C=5 then the answer to the question is NO 
A=3, B=2, C=5 then the answer to the question is YES 
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

2) A > B 
A=3, B=2, C=5 then the answer to the question is YES 
A=6, B=1, C=5 then the answer to the question is NO 
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we already have two groups of values that fit both Facts and produce different answers to the given question: 
A=3, B=2, C=5 then the answer to the question is YES 
A=6, B=1, C=5 then the answer to the question is NO 
Combined, INSUFFICIENT

Final Answer:  E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

gsingh0711 · Answer

Explanation:

Given a2 b2 c3 = 4500
⇒ a2 b2 c3 = 22 32 53
⇒ a = ±2, b = ±3 and c = 5
or a = ±3, b = ±2 and c = 5
or a = ±1, b = ±6 and c = 5
or a = ±6, b = ±1 and c = 5
or a, b and c can be decimal numbers.

Considering statement 1:
a, b and c are positive integers
⇒ a = 2, b = 3 and c = 5
or a = 3, b = 2 and c = 5
⇒ b + c = 8 or 7 (depending whether a = 2 or 3, respectively)
Since we are not getting a definite answer from above statement , statement 1 itself is not sufficient to provide the answer.

Considering statement 2:
a > b
Let us consider 4 possible values of a (2, −2, 3 and −3):
If we consider a = 2, then b has to be −3 (since statement 2 says a > b). Also, c = 5 ⇒ b + c = 2.
If we consider a = −2, then b has to be −3 (since statement 2 says a > b). Also, c = 5 ⇒ b + c = 2.
If we consider a = 3, then b may be 2 or −2 (in both cases, a > b). Also, c = 5 ⇒ b + c = 7 or 3.
And if we consider a = −3, then no possible value of b satisfies a > b.
Hence, b + c may be either 2 or 7 or 3. ⇒ b + c may or may not be 7.
Further, if a, b and c are decimals then there are infinite combinations of b and c.
Since we are not getting a definite answer from above statement , statement 2 also itself is not sufficient to provide the answer.

Considering statement 1 and 2 both:
Statement 1 gives: b = 1, 2, 3 or 6
Statement 2 gives: b = 1 or 2 or some decimal number.

Hence, the value of b + c can be 6 or 7.

Since we are not getting a definite answer from combination of statements 1 and 2.

Answer: E.

I think, I deserve a Kudus :D Lol

shmba · Answer

it's a hard question. easy to ommit the case of 1!
it didn't mention a,b,c are primes

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If a^2b^2c^3 = 4500. Is b + c = 7?

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If a^2b^2c^3 = 4500. Is b + c = 7?

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