Last visit was: 26 Apr 2026, 07:00 It is currently 26 Apr 2026, 07:00
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 26 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,837
Own Kudos:
811,373
 [9]
Given Kudos: 105,895
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,837
Kudos: 811,373
 [9]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
7
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,441
Own Kudos:
79,415
 [6]
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,441
Kudos: 79,415
 [6]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
vitaliyGMAT
Joined: 13 Oct 2016
Last visit: 26 Jul 2017
Posts: 297
Own Kudos:
895
 [1]
Given Kudos: 40
GPA: 3.98
Posts: 297
Kudos: 895
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
manhasnoname
Joined: 21 Apr 2016
Last visit: 03 Feb 2025
Posts: 138
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 79
Products:
Posts: 138
Kudos: 75
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasPrepKarishma

we know that x is prime and it is a factor of y^2. In that case, it must be a factor of y because whichever prime factors are in y, only those prime factors will be in y^2 too. So x must be a factor of y.

I know that's the truth from childhood when I learned how to check whether a number is prime.

But now I'm struggling to figure out how. Could you please point me to any resource that proves this. Thanks!
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,441
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,441
Kudos: 79,415
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
manhasnoname
VeritasPrepKarishma

we know that x is prime and it is a factor of y^2. In that case, it must be a factor of y because whichever prime factors are in y, only those prime factors will be in y^2 too. So x must be a factor of y.

I know that's the truth from childhood when I learned how to check whether a number is prime.

But now I'm struggling to figure out how. Could you please point me to any resource that proves this. Thanks!

I am not sure what you are struggling with...
this - whichever prime factors are in y, only those prime factors will be in y^2 too?

If yes, say \(y = 2^3 * 3 * 7\)
What is \(y^2\)? It is
\(y^2 = 2^6 * 3^2 * 7^2\)

Can y^2 have 5 in it given that y doesn't have it? Every prime factor that y^2 has, has a power of at least 2 in it. In y, its power will be at least 1.
User avatar
manhasnoname
Joined: 21 Apr 2016
Last visit: 03 Feb 2025
Posts: 138
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 79
Products:
Posts: 138
Kudos: 75
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasPrepKarishma
manhasnoname
VeritasPrepKarishma

we know that x is prime and it is a factor of y^2. In that case, it must be a factor of y because whichever prime factors are in y, only those prime factors will be in y^2 too. So x must be a factor of y.

I know that's the truth from childhood when I learned how to check whether a number is prime.

But now I'm struggling to figure out how. Could you please point me to any resource that proves this. Thanks!

I am not sure what you are struggling with...
this - whichever prime factors are in y, only those prime factors will be in y^2 too?

If yes, say \(y = 2^3 * 3 * 7\)
What is \(y^2\)? It is
\(y^2 = 2^6 * 3^2 * 7^2\)

Can y^2 have 5 in it given that y doesn't have it? Every prime factor that y^2 has, has a power of at least 2 in it. In y, its power will be at least 1.

To check whether a number N is prime, it is enough to test whether any of the prime numbers less than or equal to sqrt(N) is a factor of N or not. I was trying to prove to myself why and how this is true.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,441
Own Kudos:
79,415
 [1]
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,441
Kudos: 79,415
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
manhasnoname

To check whether a number N is prime, it is enough to test whether any of the prime numbers less than or equal to sqrt(N) is a factor of N or not. I was trying to prove to myself why and how this is true.

Check out the blog posts on the link given in my signature below.
User avatar
stonecold
Joined: 12 Aug 2015
Last visit: 09 Apr 2024
Posts: 2,231
Own Kudos:
3,644
 [1]
Given Kudos: 893
GRE 1: Q169 V154
GRE 1: Q169 V154
Posts: 2,231
Kudos: 3,644
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Amazing Question.

Given Data-> x and y are integers.
We are asked if xy/x^2 is an integer or not => y/x must be an integer too.
So we can rephrase the Question to is y divisible by x i.e--> y/x is an integer or not.

Statement 1->
Case 1->
x=1
y=1
YES
x=4
y=2
NO

Hence not sufficient.

Statement 2=>x is a prime
x=3
y=3
YES
x=3
y=13
NOT

Hence not sufficient.

Combing the two statements it gets interesting.
Property in action -> X and X^n always have the exact same prime factors.

Hence as x is a prime factor of y^2 => x must be a prime factor of y too.
Thus y/x must be an integer.


Hence C.
User avatar
stne
Joined: 27 May 2012
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,811
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 679
Posts: 1,811
Kudos: 2,093
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasPrepKarishma
Bunuel
If x and y are integers, is xy divisible by x^2?

(1) x divides into y^2 with no remainder.
(2) x is a prime.

x and y are integers.
Is xy divisible by x^2?

x^2 has two x's. xy already has one x. For xy to be divisible by x^2, now all we need is another x to be a factor of y.
If x is a factor of y, xy will be divisible by x^2.

(1) x divides into y^2 with no remainder.
x is a factor y^2 does not mean that x is a factor of y. For example, if x = 4 and y = 2, x is a factor of y^2 but not a factor of y.
Not sufficient.

(2) x is a prime.
x may or may not a factor of y. Not sufficient.

Using both, we know that x is prime and it is a factor of y^2. In that case, it must be a factor of y because whichever prime factors are in y, only those prime factors will be in y^2 too. So x must be a factor of y.
Sufficient.
Answer (C)

Hi Karishma,
When it says x divides into y^2 does it mean y^2 is divisible by x or vice versa. I solved it correctly assuming the former.
So if y = 4 then x can be 2,4,8 and 16 .
If you can please share your insight , we would be grateful.
Thank you.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,441
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,441
Kudos: 79,415
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
stne
VeritasPrepKarishma
Bunuel
If x and y are integers, is xy divisible by x^2?

(1) x divides into y^2 with no remainder.
(2) x is a prime.

x and y are integers.
Is xy divisible by x^2?

x^2 has two x's. xy already has one x. For xy to be divisible by x^2, now all we need is another x to be a factor of y.
If x is a factor of y, xy will be divisible by x^2.

(1) x divides into y^2 with no remainder.
x is a factor y^2 does not mean that x is a factor of y. For example, if x = 4 and y = 2, x is a factor of y^2 but not a factor of y.
Not sufficient.

(2) x is a prime.
x may or may not a factor of y. Not sufficient.

Using both, we know that x is prime and it is a factor of y^2. In that case, it must be a factor of y because whichever prime factors are in y, only those prime factors will be in y^2 too. So x must be a factor of y.
Sufficient.
Answer (C)

Hi Karishma,
When it says x divides into y^2 does it mean y^2 is divisible by x or vice versa. I solved it correctly assuming the former.
So if y = 4 then x can be 2,4,8 and 16 .
If you can please share your insight , we would be grateful.
Thank you.

"x divides into y^2" means y^2 / x is an integer. It means x is a factor of y^2. So yes, if y = 4, y^2 = 16. Factors of y^2 are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and x can take any of these values (provided other conditions are met)
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,988
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,988
Kudos: 1,118
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109837 posts
498 posts
212 posts