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Nice explenation guys.
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If X is an integer, how many even numbers does set (0, x, x^2, x^3,.... x^9) contain?

(1) The mean of the set is even
(2) The standard deviation of the set is 0


Can someone please explain how to get to this answer?

Thank you.

If x is an integer, how many even numbers does set (0, x, x^2, x^3,.... x^9) contain?

We have the set with 10 terms: {0, x, x^2, x^3, ..., x^9}.

Note that if \(x=odd\) then the set will contain one even (0) and 9 odd terms (as if \(x=odd\), then \(x^2=odd\), \(x^3=odd\), ..., \(x^9=odd\)) and if \(x=even\) then the set will contain all even terms (as if \(x=even\), then \(x^2=even\), \(x^3=even\), ..., \(x^9=even\)).

Also note that: standard deviation is always more than or equal to zero: \(SD\geq{0}\). SD is 0 only when the list contains all identical elements (or which is same only 1 element).

(1) The mean of the set is even --> mean=sum/10=even --> sum=10*even=even --> 0+x+x^2+x^3+...+x^9=even --> x+x^2+x^3+...+x^9=even --> x=even (if x=odd then the sum of 9 odd numbers would be odd) --> all 10 terms in the set are even. Sufficient.

(2) The standard deviation of the set is 0 --> all 10 terms are identical --> as the first term is 0, then all other terms must equal to zero --> all 10 terms in the set are even. Sufficient.

Answer: D.


I am a little confused about statement 1) especially if x is odd. For eg: consider x=3. Now if there are 3 elements in the set, they are (0,3,9). The mean of the set will be (0+3+9)/3=4 which is EVEN
Now consider 4 terms in this series with x=3 the set will be (0,3,9,27) then the mean would be (0+3+9+27)/4 = 39/4 which is not even. So x could be odd and still have the Mean of the set to be even. So A is insufficient. What am I missing, thanks
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If X is an integer, how many even numbers does set (0, x, x^2, x^3,.... x^9) contain?

(1) The mean of the set is even
(2) The standard deviation of the set is 0


Can someone please explain how to get to this answer?

Thank you.

If x is an integer, how many even numbers does set (0, x, x^2, x^3,.... x^9) contain?

We have the set with 10 terms: {0, x, x^2, x^3, ..., x^9}.

Note that if \(x=odd\) then the set will contain one even (0) and 9 odd terms (as if \(x=odd\), then \(x^2=odd\), \(x^3=odd\), ..., \(x^9=odd\)) and if \(x=even\) then the set will contain all even terms (as if \(x=even\), then \(x^2=even\), \(x^3=even\), ..., \(x^9=even\)).

Also note that: standard deviation is always more than or equal to zero: \(SD\geq{0}\). SD is 0 only when the list contains all identical elements (or which is same only 1 element).

(1) The mean of the set is even --> mean=sum/10=even --> sum=10*even=even --> 0+x+x^2+x^3+...+x^9=even --> x+x^2+x^3+...+x^9=even --> x=even (if x=odd then the sum of 9 odd numbers would be odd) --> all 10 terms in the set are even. Sufficient.

(2) The standard deviation of the set is 0 --> all 10 terms are identical --> as the first term is 0, then all other terms must equal to zero --> all 10 terms in the set are even. Sufficient.

Answer: D.


I am a little confused about statement 1) especially if x is odd. For eg: consider x=3. Now if there are 3 elements in the set, they are (0,3,9). The mean of the set will be (0+3+9)/3=4 which is EVEN
Now consider 4 terms in this series with x=3 the set will be (0,3,9,27) then the mean would be (0+3+9+27)/4 = 39/4 which is not even. So x could be odd and still have the Mean of the set to be even. So A is insufficient. What am I missing, thanks


consider x=3. Now if there are 3 elements in the set - You cannot have 3 elements. The set must contain \(0, 3, 3^2,3^3,3^4,...,3^9\) - \(10\) elements.
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Can you please explain why we are considering 0 as even, because 0 is mostly treated as nether even nor odd. Hence 2) is insufficient.
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ssingla
Can you please explain why we are considering 0 as even, because 0 is mostly treated as nether even nor odd. Hence 2) is insufficient.

Zero is an even integer. Zero is nether positive nor negative, but zero is definitely an even number.

An even number is an integer that is "evenly divisible" by 2, i.e., divisible by 2 without a remainder and as zero is evenly divisible by 2 then it must be even (in fact zero is divisible by every integer except zero itself).

For more check Number Theory chapter of Math Book: math-number-theory-88376.html

Hope it helps.
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Tricky Question ...

nice explanation bunuel...

I didnt c zero in set..selected option E..:(
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For Stmt A ?

Does it mean if x = odd , then sum is odd , the mean would be = Sum / numbers ( 9 ) in this case which would be

Mean = Sum ( Odd )
------------------ == Odd .. so X can only be even here ...
9 ( Odd )
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