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# If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?

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Joined: 11 Aug 2012
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If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 21 Aug 2013, 12:26
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Difficulty:

85% (hard)

Question Stats:

47% (02:04) correct 53% (02:12) wrong based on 134 sessions

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If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?

(1) 4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12

(2) k = 1

I don't agree with the OA. If we use statements 1 and 2 together, we get this:

We replace the value of $$k$$ in the original question, so the question now is:$$is k = 5 ?$$

Now we replace the value of $$k$$ in statement (1), so:

$$m^2 = 25$$

So,$$m = +/- 25$$

There is not indication whether m is possitive.

Originally posted by danzig on 21 Aug 2013, 12:05.
Last edited by Bunuel on 21 Aug 2013, 12:26, edited 1 time in total.
Edited the OA.
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Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49968
Re: If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?  [#permalink]

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21 Aug 2013, 12:16
danzig wrote:
If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?

(1) 4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12

(2) k = 1

I don't agree with the OA. If we use statements 1 and 2 together, we get this:

We replace the value of $$k$$ in the original question, so the question now is: is m = 5 ?

Now we replace the value of $$k$$ in statement (1), so:

$$m^2 = 25$$

So, m = +/- 5

There is not indication whether m is possitive.

Yes, you are right. When we combine we get that m is either 5 or -5. If m=5 then the answer is YES but if m=-5, then the answer is No.

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Re: If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?  [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2013, 01:26
danzig wrote:
If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?

(1) 4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12

(2) k = 1

I don't agree with the OA. If we use statements 1 and 2 together, we get this:

We replace the value of $$k$$ in the original question, so the question now is:$$is k = 5 ?$$

Now we replace the value of $$k$$ in statement (1), so:

$$m^2 = 25$$

So,$$m = +/- 25$$

There is not indication whether m is possitive.

I don't know what was the original OA but I am assuming it was C, here's how I think the answer should be C, please do correct if there is a flaw in my reasoning.

Given If k is an integer, is $$2^k + 3^k = m$$?
Squaring both sides original equation now becomes $$2^{2k} +3^{2k}+2.6^k=m^2$$

statement 1:$$4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12$$this can be written as $$2^{2k} +3^{2k}+12 =m^2$$..

Comparing this with original equation we see that this will be equal to original equation only if K=1 since we do not have the value of K, hence insufficient

statement 2 : K=1 , by itself it is insufficient as we do not know the value of M

1+ 2

K=1 then $$m^2$$ = 25

this is also what we get from the original equation,doesn't matter what m is, $$m^2$$ is 25
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Re: If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?  [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2013, 04:41
1
stne wrote:
danzig wrote:
If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?

(1) 4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12

(2) k = 1

I don't agree with the OA. If we use statements 1 and 2 together, we get this:

We replace the value of $$k$$ in the original question, so the question now is:$$is k = 5 ?$$

Now we replace the value of $$k$$ in statement (1), so:

$$m^2 = 25$$

So,$$m = +/- 25$$

There is not indication whether m is possitive.

I don't know what was the original OA but I am assuming it was C, here's how I think the answer should be C, please do correct if there is a flaw in my reasoning.

Given If k is an integer, is $$2^k + 3^k = m$$?
Squaring both sides original equation now becomes $$2^{2k} +3^{2k}+2.6^k=m^2$$

statement 1:$$4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12$$this can be written as $$2^{2k} +3^{2k}+12 =m^2$$..

Comparing this with original equation we see that this will be equal to original equation only if K=1 since we do not have the value of K, hence insufficient

statement 2 : K=1 , by itself it is insufficient as we do not know the value of M

1+ 2

K=1 then $$m^2$$ = 25

this is also what we get from the original equation,doesn't matter what m is, $$m^2$$ is 25

It does matter. If m=-5, then the question is: does $$2^k + 3^k = -5$$? And you cannot square this.
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Re: If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?  [#permalink]

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30 Aug 2013, 07:00
Bunuel wrote:
stne wrote:
danzig wrote:
If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?

(1) 4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12

(2) k = 1

I don't agree with the OA. If we use statements 1 and 2 together, we get this:

We replace the value of $$k$$ in the original question, so the question now is:$$is k = 5 ?$$

Now we replace the value of $$k$$ in statement (1), so:

$$m^2 = 25$$

So,$$m = +/- 25$$

There is not indication whether m is possitive.

I don't know what was the original OA but I am assuming it was C, here's how I think the answer should be C, please do correct if there is a flaw in my reasoning.

Given If k is an integer, is $$2^k + 3^k = m$$?
Squaring both sides original equation now becomes $$2^{2k} +3^{2k}+2.6^k=m^2$$

statement 1:$$4^k + 9^k = m^2 - 12$$this can be written as $$2^{2k} +3^{2k}+12 =m^2$$..

Comparing this with original equation we see that this will be equal to original equation only if K=1 since we do not have the value of K, hence insufficient

statement 2 : K=1 , by itself it is insufficient as we do not know the value of M

1+ 2

K=1 then $$m^2$$ = 25

this is also what we get from the original equation,doesn't matter what m is, $$m^2$$ is 25

It does matter. If m=-5, then the question is: does $$2^k + 3^k = -5$$? And you cannot square this.

Well if you say so, there are many ways algebraic equations can be manipulated and I thought they could be squared .Thank you +1
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Re: If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?  [#permalink]

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25 Dec 2014, 10:58
1
Hi All,

This question can be solved with a combination of TESTing VALUES and some basic algebra/arithmetic skills.

We're told that K is an integer and we're asked if 2^K + 3^K = M. This is a YES/NO question.

Fact 1: 4^K + 9^K = M^2 - 12

At first glance, I would want to TEST something simple...
K = 1
4^1 + 9^1 = M^2 - 12
4 + 9 = M^2 - 12
25 = M^2
M = +5 or -5

In the question, we have to track BOTH options...
Is 2^1 + 3^1 = 5? The answer is YES
Is 2^1 + 3^1 = -5 The answer is NO
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: K = 1

This tells us NOTHING about M, so the answer COULD be YES or it COULD be NO.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we have the same options that we had in Fact 1 - a YES and a NO.
Combined, INSUFFICIENT

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Rich
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Re: If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ?  [#permalink]

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10 Oct 2017, 10:52
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Re: If k is an integer, is 2^k + 3^k = m ? &nbs [#permalink] 10 Oct 2017, 10:52
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