GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 19 Jun 2018, 16:51

### 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

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

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of a^b?

 new topic post reply Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews Important topics
Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Manager
Joined: 03 Oct 2016
Posts: 84
Concentration: Technology, General Management
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of a^b? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

05 Oct 2016, 00:26
1
00:00

Difficulty:

75% (hard)

Question Stats:

44% (01:16) correct 56% (01:12) wrong based on 75 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of $$a^b$$?

(1) $$b^a = 27$$
(2) $$a^{2b} = 729$$

_________________

KINDLY KUDOS IF YOU LIKE THE POST

Senior Manager
Joined: 06 Jun 2016
Posts: 263
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Strategy
Schools: ISB '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 600 Q49 V23
GMAT 2: 680 Q49 V34
GPA: 3.9
Re: If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of a^b? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

05 Oct 2016, 01:29
idontknowwhy94 wrote:
If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of $$a^b$$?

1. $$b^a = 27$$
2. $$a^{2b} = 729$$

According to Statement 1
b^a=27 this can be satisfied with a=3 b=3 and a=1 and b=27
Hence a^b will have 2 different values of 27 and 1 Not sufficient

According to statement 2
a^(2b)=729 this can be written as 27^(2b)= 27^2 so in this case a=27 b=1
a^(2b)= 3^6 in this case a=3 b=3
These are the only 2 possible positive integer values as a and b are positive integers
either way you get a^b=27 Hence sufficient
PS Forum Moderator
Joined: 25 Feb 2013
Posts: 1142
Location: India
GPA: 3.82
Re: If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of a^b? [#permalink]

### Show Tags

26 Sep 2017, 12:10
idontknowwhy94 wrote:
If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of $$a^b$$?

(1) $$b^a = 27$$
(2) $$a^{2b} = 729$$

Statement 1: two variable one equation, hence multiple solutions are possible for e.g $$a=1$$, $$b=27$$ or $$a=3$$, $$b=3$$. Hence Insufficient

Statement 2: $$a^{2b}=729$$, or $$(a^b)^2=729$$. take square root of both sides

$$a^b=27$$. Sufficient

Option B
Re: If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of a^b?   [#permalink] 26 Sep 2017, 12:10
Display posts from previous: Sort by

# If a and b are positive integers, then what is the value of a^b?

 new topic post reply Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews Important topics

 Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.