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nitya34
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? Updated on: 28 Jul 2015, 07:47
Originally posted by nitya34 on 20 Feb 2009, 21:11.
Last edited by Bunuel on 28 Jul 2015, 07:47, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic, edited the question and added the OA.
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

95% (hard)

Question Stats:

20% (02:21) correct 80% (01:58) wrong based on 55 sessions

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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ?

(1) x > y
(2) xy = 6

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E
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x2suresh
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 20 Feb 2009, 21:19
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nitya34
If a^x * b^y=200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ?
(1) x>y
(2) x*y = 6
A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.
C. BOTH Statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER Statement alone is
sufficient.
D. Each Statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.
______

I believe OA is not convincing.hence posted it.
Show more

a^x * b^y=200 = 2^3*5^2 = 10^2*2^1

1) x=3 y=2 and x=2 y=1 possible
insufficient
2) x*y=6

x=2 y=3 or x=3 y=2
x+y=5
a^x * b^y=200 = 200^1*1^1 = 1^2*200^1

insufficient

combined
x>y
1^6*200^1
x+y=7

x=3 and y=2
x+y=5

Not sufficient

E.
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sondenso
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 20 Feb 2009, 21:21
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nitya34
If a^x * b^y=200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ?
(1) x>y
(2) x*y = 6
A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.
C. BOTH Statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER Statement alone is
sufficient.
D. Each Statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.
______

I believe OA is not convincing.hence posted it.
Show more

B is the best

200=2^1*10^2 =20^1*10^1=2^3*5^2

So only x*y=6 is suff
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 20 Feb 2009, 23:52
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x2suresh
nitya34
If a^x * b^y=200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ?
(1) x>y
(2) x*y = 6
A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.
C. BOTH Statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER Statement alone is
sufficient.
D. Each Statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.
______

I believe OA is not convincing.hence posted it.

a^x * b^y=200 = 2^3*5^2 = 10^2*2^1

1) x=3 y=2 and x=2 y=1 possible
insufficient

2) x*y=6

x=2 y=3 or x=3 y=2
x+y=5
a^x * b^y=200 = 200^1*1^1 = 1^2*200^1
insufficient

combined
x>y
1^2*200^1
x+y=3

x=3 and y=2
x+y=5

Not sufficient

E.
Show more

Agree with 1 but in 2, xy = 6.
x and y either could be 2 and the other is 3.
x and y could alos be either 1 or 6 but this combination ius not possible cuz (a^x)(b^y) = 200.

so B should be suff..
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x2suresh
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 21 Feb 2009, 11:16
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x2suresh
nitya34
If a^x * b^y=200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ?
(1) x>y
(2) x*y = 6
A. Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient.
B. Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient but Statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient.
C. BOTH Statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER Statement alone is
sufficient.
D. Each Statement ALONE is sufficient.
E. Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.
______

I believe OA is not convincing.hence posted it.

a^x * b^y=200 = 2^3*5^2 = 10^2*2^1

1) x=3 y=2 and x=2 y=1 possible
insufficient

2) x*y=6

x=2 y=3 or x=3 y=2
x+y=5
a^x * b^y=200 = 200^1*1^1 = 1^2*200^1
insufficient

combined
x>y
1^2*200^1
x+y=3

x=3 and y=2
x+y=5

Not sufficient

E.

Agree with 1 but in 2, xy = 6.
x and y either could be 2 and the other is 3.
x and y could alos be either 1 or 6 but this combination ius not possible cuz (a^x)(b^y) = 200.

so B should be suff..
Show more


how about this

1^6 * 200^1 = 200
x=6 y=1
xy=6*1 =6
x>y

It should be E
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 21 Feb 2009, 21:11
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x2suresh
how about this

1^6 * 200^1 = 200
x=6 y=200, y=1 :lol:
xy=6*1 =6
x>y
Show more

but x+y=6+1=7, another one x+y=2+3=5, so Not Suff
Agree E is the best
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 21 Feb 2009, 22:06
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sondenso
x2suresh
how about this

1^6 * 200^1 = 200
x=6 y=200, y=1 :lol:
xy=6*1 =6
x>y

but x+y=6+1=7, another one x+y=2+3=5, so Not Suff
Agree E is the best
Show more


Yeap buddy!! No sleep for the last 3 days..(ALMOST WORKING 17 HOURS) working so hard..(NOT for GMAT :lol: ).. Lot of OFFICE WORK.

I am not sure what I am posting here..
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 21 Feb 2009, 22:35
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Agree with E as x2suresh did it.

Me too buddy. I am also not sleeping well since 3 weeks not for office work but for my personal works. I am completly loosing my concentration because of the stress. :oops:


x2suresh
sondenso
x2suresh
how about this

1^6 * 200^1 = 200
x=6 y=200, y=1 :lol:
xy=6*1 =6
x>y

but x+y=6+1=7, another one x+y=2+3=5, so Not Suff
Agree E is the best


Yeap buddy!! No sleep for the last 3 days..(ALMOST WORKING 17 HOURS) working so hard..(NOT for GMAT :lol: ).. Lot of OFFICE WORK.

I am not sure what I am posting here..
Show more
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 23 Feb 2009, 08:44
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I think if OA has to be B, then it should say in the question stem that a,b are the prime numbers, and x,y as the integers. Else it definitely is E.
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 23 Feb 2009, 21:35
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x2suresh


how about this

1^6 * 200^1 = 200
x=6 y=1
xy=6*1 =6
x>y

It should be E
Show more


1^6 * 200^1 = 200 means a = y = 1, now when the question mentions variable names a, b, x, y is it implied that they are different integers since their symbols are different? If yes, then B could be the answer.

I understand if it were a general textbook equation, we could have two variable that might turn out to be same. Just not sure what the GMAT convention is.

Thanks for your inputs.
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 23 Feb 2009, 21:49
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xyz21
x2suresh


how about this

1^6 * 200^1 = 200
x=6 y=1
xy=6*1 =6
x>y

It should be E


1^6 * 200^1 = 200 means a = y = 1, now when the question mentions variable names a, b, x, y is it implied that they are different integers since their symbols are different? If yes, then B could be the answer.

I understand if it were a general textbook equation, we could have two variable that might turn out to be same. Just not sure what the GMAT convention is.

Thanks for your inputs.
Show more

No.. All different variables can have same values..
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 26 Feb 2010, 22:22
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pls correct me if im wrong....but i think B is correct
because we dont have any a,b ,which satisfy the condition with x=2 ,and y=3.....or x=3 and y=2

in that case x,y can only be 1,6
and hence x+y=7 only

dont know where im wrong....
pls shed some light







or
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 27 Feb 2010, 02:25
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shalu
pls correct me if im wrong....but i think B is correct
because we dont have any a,b ,which satisfy the condition with x=2 ,and y=3.....or x=3 and y=2

in that case x,y can only be 1,6
and hence x+y=7 only

dont know where im wrong....
pls shed some light







or
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2^3 * 5^2 =200

a = 2, x= 3
b = 5, y = 2

thus, x+y = 5 is possible
and

1^6 * 200^1 = 200

a= 1, x =6
b=200, y=1

thus, x+y = 7 is possible

hence the answer is E
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If a^x*b^y = 200, where a, b, x, y are positive integers, x + y = ? 04 Nov 2015, 00:17
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