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# If x is a prime number, what is the value of x?

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If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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23 Dec 2009, 10:16
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If x is a prime number, what is the value of x?

(1) 2x + 2 is the cube of a positive integer.

(2) The average of any x consecutive integers is an integer.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: if x prime, value of x [#permalink]

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23 Dec 2009, 11:04
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xcusemeplz2009 wrote:
IMO E is correct
s1) x = 2 , 31, 107 will give a perfect cube and all are prime so insuff
s2) x can be any prime no. so insuff
togather also no. single value
hence E

If x is a prime number, what is the value of x?

(1) 2x + 2 is the cube of a positive integer --> 2x+2=n^3 --> n even.

n=2 --> 2x+2=n^3=8 --> x=3=prime;
n=4 --> 2x+2=n^3=4^3 --> x=31=prime;
n=6 --> 2x+2=n^3=6^3 --> x=107=prime.

Multiple choices for x. not sufficient.

(2) The average of any x consecutive integers is an integer. This statement is basically tells us that x is odd, as only the average of odd consecutive numbers are an integer (the average of even number of consecutive integers is a fraction: integer/2). Hence x can be any prime but 2. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) x can be odd primes, for example 31 or 107, hence insufficient.

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Re: if x prime, value of x [#permalink]

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23 Dec 2009, 11:17
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Got E with a similar approach.
Only tip is for statement 1, instead of prime numbers which satisfy 2*x+2 is a perfect cube, find perfect cubes which when subtracted by 2 and divided by 2 yields a prime number.
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Re: if x prime, value of x [#permalink]

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23 Dec 2009, 10:27
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IMO E is correct
s1) x = 2 , 31, 107 will give a perfect cube and all are prime so insuff
s2) x can be any prime no. so insuff
togather also no. single value
hence E
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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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23 Jan 2013, 00:34
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msunny wrote:
If x is a prime number, what is the value of x?

(1) 2x + 2 is the cube of a positive integer.
(2) The average of any x consecutive integers is an integer.

Statement 1:
I first listed a few cubes:
1,8,27,64,125,...

x = cube - 2 / 2
x = 8 - 2/2 = 3 (prime)
x = 27 -2 /2 is not an integer (skip)
x = 64 - 2/2 = 31 (prime)

INSUFFICIENT!

Statement 2: A(x) consecutive numbers is an integer if odd (A RULE) and not an integer if EVEN
This is just saying x is odd...
INSUFFICIENT!

Together: 31 and 3 are both ODD
INSUFFICIENT!

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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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21 Aug 2013, 11:52
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(1) INSUFFICIENT: Start by listing the cubes of some positive integers: 1, 8, 27, 64, 125. If we set each of these equal to 2x + 2, we see that we can find more than one value for x which is prime. For example x = 3 yields 2x + 2 = 8 and x = 31 yields 2x + 2 = 64. With at least two possible values for x, the statement is insufficient.

(2) INSUFFICIENT: In a set of consecutive integers, the mean is always equal to the median. When there are an odd number of members in a consecutive set, the mean/median will be a member of the set and thus an integer (e.g. 5,6,7,8,9; mean/median = 7). In contrast when there are an even number of members in the set, the mean/median will NOT be a member of the set and thus NOT an integer (e.g. 5,6,7,8; mean/median = 6.5). Statement (2) tells us that we are dealing with an integer mean; therefore x, the number of members in the set, must be odd. This is not sufficient to give us a specific value for the prime number x.

(1) AND (2) INSUFFICIENT: The two x values that we came up with for statement (1) also satisfy the conditions of statement (2).

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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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16 Jul 2013, 02:33
msunny wrote:
If x is a prime number, what is the value of x?

(1) 2x + 2 is the cube of a positive integer.

(2) The average of any x consecutive integers is an integer.

From F.S 1, we know that $$2(x+1) = t^3$$, where t is a positive integer. Two conditions are to be met:

1.x should be a prime number.
2.(x+1) should at-least be equal to $$2^2$$, or have it as a factor.

Now, for $$x+1 = 2^2$$, we get x = 4-1 = 3. So , we get x = 3(prime)

Again, to make 2(x+1) as a perfect cube, the next value of (x+1) should be $$2^2*2^3 \to x+1 = 32 \to x = 31$$(prime). Thus x = 31.

Two values of x$$\to$$Insufficient.

From F.S 2, for a set of consecutive integers, the mean is always the middle term, which is unique and an integer. Thus, for any x, which is odd, the mean of the given series would be a unique integer. Thus, x = odd. Clearly Insufficient.

Both the statements taken together, x can be 3 or x can be 31. Insufficient.

E.
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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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21 Oct 2014, 08:12
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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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17 Feb 2015, 10:59
Statement 1:
Try x=2, works. Potentially the right answer, but x= another prime might also satisfy the equation. Move on.

Statement 2:
X is a prime that is not even. Not sufficient.

1 & 2 together:
Since both statements can't contradict each other, it means that x=2 can't be the answer. Both statements don't narrow x down to one value. Answer is E

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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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17 Feb 2015, 11:14
Sammyh21 wrote:
Statement 1:
Try x=2, works. Potentially the right answer, but x= another prime might also satisfy the equation. Move on.

Statement 2:
X is a prime that is not even. Not sufficient.

1 & 2 together:
Since both statements can't contradict each other, it means that x=2 can't be the answer. Both statements don't narrow x down to one value. Answer is E

Let me mention it here...

YOU NEVER ASSUME THAT STATEMENT IS NOT SUFFICIENT BASED ON HUNCH LIKE YOU DID IN STATEMENT 1. Also x=2 doesn't work

You must be able to prove that it's not sufficient in order to improve accuracy therefore the first statement should be considered in the following manner

Statement 1: 2x + 2 is the cube of a positive integer

2x+2 = 2(x+1) for this to be a perfect cube (x+1) must be even i.e. x must be odd

at x=3, 2x+2 = 8 One possibility
another Even perfect cube is 64
64 = 2(x+1) => x=31

there are two or more possibilities of x= 3, 31 etc.
Inconsistent Values therefore,
NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: Average of X consecutive integers is even

True for all Odd values of x therefore
NOT SUFFICIENT

Combining the two statements

x can still be 3 or 31 etc
so, NOT SUFFICIENT

[Reveal] Spoiler:
E

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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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11 Mar 2016, 11:13
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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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06 Dec 2016, 04:49
Aha question as Mike from Magoosh will say

well rather than hitting and trying with multiple prime numbers we can opt for a simpler process. first sort out the cube roots and see if any equation is satisfying it with prime number.

2^3=8 2(x+1)=8 yes prime 3
next 3^3= 27
No primes satify this equation
next 4^3=64
any prime satisfying it ? YES 31

DONE STOP PROCEEDING Statement 1 is Not sufficient

Statement 2: well any odd number will satify this statement and we can have multiple answers such as 3 and 31 which are primes.

Combining 1& 2 we still have multiple options

Thus E
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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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07 Dec 2016, 09:45
msunny wrote:
If x is a prime number, what is the value of x?

(1) 2x + 2 is the cube of a positive integer.

(2) The average of any x consecutive integers is an integer.

from 1

x = y^3/2 - 1 thus y has to be even , y = 2 thus x could be 7 , or y = 4 and thus x = 3... insuff

from 2

x is odd prime ( 3,5,7,...etc)

both

x could be 3 or 7... insuff

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Re: If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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20 Dec 2016, 22:43
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C as both the statements on their own are not sufficient ,when clubbed result in x=3

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If x is a prime number, what is the value of x? [#permalink]

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13 Jan 2017, 00:49
Great Question.
We are told that x is a prime number and asked about its value.

Statement 1->
2x+2=t^3
for any positive integer t.
Lets use some test cases =>
2x+2=1
x=1/2=> Not allowed
2x+2=8
x=3=> Allowed
2x+2=27
x=25/2=> Not allowed
2x+2=64
x=31=>Allowed

Hence 3 and 31 are both acceptable values => Not sufficient.

Statement 2->
Remember for set of consecutive integers is an AP series.
Mean can be of the form p if x is odd (p is an integer )
Mean can be of the form p.5 if x is even (p is an integer)
RULE->Sum of n consecutive integers is always divisible by n for n being odd and never divisible by n for n being even.
Hence this statement tells us that x is odd.
But their are ∞ odd primes => Not sufficient.
Combing them x=3 and x=31 are both acceptable values.
Hence not sufficient .

Hence E.

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If x is a prime number, what is the value of x?   [#permalink] 13 Jan 2017, 00:49
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