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Statement 1: Not Sufficient
- A must be even
- B can be even or odd

Statement 2: Not sufficient
- Either A & B are both odd OR A & B are both even

Both: Sufficient
- A is even
- When A is even B is also even
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monirjewel
If a and b are integers, is b even?
(1) 3a + 4b is even
(2) 3a + 5b is even

If a sum is even, then both numbers are even or both numbers are odd.

Statement 1: 4b is even, and 3a + 4b is even, which means 3a is even and hence it tells us a is even. This is insufficient.

Statement 2: 3a + 5b is even, this means that either both a and b are even or both a and b are odd, since either way the sum will be even. But that is insufficient too.

Combining both statements, we know that a is even, which means for the second statement to be valid, b also has to be even.

Hence the answer is C.
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If a and b are integers, is b even?
(1) 3a + 4b is even
(2) 3a + 5b is even

(1) 3a + 4b is even --> if \(a\) is even, then it's not necessary for \(b\) to be even, may be even or odd. Not sufficient.
(2) 3a + 5b is even --> if \(a\) is even, then \(b\) is even too, but if \(a\) is odd, then \(b\) is odd too. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) Subtract (1) from (2) --> \((3a+ 5b)-(3a + 4b)=even_2-even_1\) --> \(b=even_2-even_1=even\). Sufficient.

Answer: C.


Hi Just a small doubt, can we consider b to be zero.
Is zero treated as an even integer.
Thx
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Bunuel
jakolik
If a and b are integers, is b even?
(1) 3a + 4b is even
(2) 3a + 5b is even

(1) 3a + 4b is even --> if \(a\) is even, then it's not necessary for \(b\) to be even, may be even or odd. Not sufficient.
(2) 3a + 5b is even --> if \(a\) is even, then \(b\) is even too, but if \(a\) is odd, then \(b\) is odd too. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) Subtract (1) from (2) --> \((3a+ 5b)-(3a + 4b)=even_2-even_1\) --> \(b=even_2-even_1=even\). Sufficient.

Answer: C.


Hi Just a small doubt, can we consider b to be zero.
Is zero treated as an even integer.
Thx

Zero is an even integer. Zero is nether positive nor negative, but zero is definitely an even number.

An even number is an integer that is "evenly divisible" by 2, i.e., divisible by 2 without a remainder and as zero is evenly divisible by 2 then it must be even (in fact zero is divisible by every integer except zero itself).

For more check Number Theory chapter of Math Book: math-number-theory-88376.html

Hope it helps.
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Hi All,

This question can be solved by TESTing VALUES.

We're told that A and B are integers. We're asked if B is even. This is a YES/NO question.

Fact 1: 3A + 4B is even

IF...
A = 0
B = 0
The answer to the question is YES.

A = 0
B = 1
The answer to the question is NO.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: 3A + 5B is even

IF...
A = 0
B = 0
The answer to the question is YES.

A = 1
B = 1
The answer to the question is NO.

Combined, we know...
3A + 5B = Even
3A + 4B = Even

We can actually do algebra here and subtract one equation from another...

(3A + 5B) - (3A + 4B) = B
(Even) - (Even) = Even

B = Even, so the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES.

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jakolik
If a and b are integers, is b even?

(1) 3a + 4b is even
(2) 3a + 5b is even


(1) 3a + 4b is even
Says that a has to be even, can't say anything about b.

3a + 5b is even
3*1 + 5*1 is even, but also
3*2 + 5*2 is even. So insufficient.

1+2
If a is even for statement 2 to be true b has to be even. C
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