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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?

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himanshuhpr
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   Updated on: 29 Oct 2012, 04:18
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?

(1) 4^(x–1) < 4^x – 120

(2) x^2 = 36
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C

Originally posted by himanshuhpr on 28 Oct 2012, 15:31.
Last edited by Bunuel on 29 Oct 2012, 04:18, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   29 Oct 2012, 04:18
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?

Since \(3^6=729>500\) and \(3^5=243<500\), then the question basically asks whether x is an integer less than 6 (5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, -1, ...).

(1) 4^(x–1) < 4^x – 120;

\(\frac{4^x}{4}<4^x-120\);

\(120<\frac{3}{4}*4^x\);

\(160<4^x\);

x is an integer greater than 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, ... Not sufficient.

(2) x^2 = 36 --> \(x=6\) or \(x=-6\). Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) From above \(x=6\), thus the answer to the question is NO. Sufficient.

Answer: C.

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goeladit
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   04 Jun 2019, 23:22
for both the value of x in statement 2 i.e -6 and 6, statement 3x<500 is yes. Then why isnt the answer b?

I see. we are interpreting the question differently. The main statement is 3x in the question not 3 RAISED TO THE POWER X.

If 3x, in that case answer is b otherwise its c.
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Re: If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   04 Jun 2019, 23:45
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goeladit wrote:
for both the value of x in statement 2 i.e -6 and 6, statement 3x<500 is yes. Then why isnt the answer b?

I see. we are interpreting the question differently. The main statement is 3x in the question not 3 RAISED TO THE POWER X.

If 3x, in that case answer is b otherwise its c.


It's \(3^x\), NOT \(3x\). That's what the first post says as well as my solution above.
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   06 Jun 2019, 07:43
Bunuel wrote:
If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?

Since \(3^6=729>500\) and \(3^5=243<500\), then the question basically asks whether x is an integer less than 6 (5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, -1, ...).

(1) 4^(x–1) < 4^x – 120;

\(\frac{4^x}{4}<4^x-120\);

\(120<\frac{3}{4}*4^x\);

\(160<4^x\);

x is an integer greater than 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, ... Not sufficient.

(2) x^2 = 36 --> \(x=6\) or \(x=-6\). Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) From above \(x=6\), thus the answer to the question is NO. Sufficient.

Answer: C.

Similar questions to practice:
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https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-5-x-134898.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-3-x-134968.html

Hope it helps.


Can you please elaborate the steps for statement 1?
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   06 Jun 2019, 07:56
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AmanMatta wrote:
Can you please elaborate the steps for statement 1?


\(4^{(x–1)} < 4^x – 120\);

\(\frac{4^x}{4}<4^x-120\);

Add 120 to both sides: \(\frac{4^x}{4}+120<4^x\);

Subtract 4^x/4 from both sides: \(20<4^x-\frac{4^x}{4}\);

\(120<\frac{3}{4}*4^x\);

Multiply by 4/3: \(160<4^x\);

x is an integer greater than 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, ... Not sufficient.
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Re: If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   02 May 2020, 13:59
Bunuel - can you explain to me how did 4^(x–1) become 4x/4?
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Re: If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   02 May 2020, 14:04
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anindhya25 wrote:
Bunuel - can you explain to me how did 4^(x–1) become 4x/4?


\(4^{(x–1)}=4^x*4^{-1}= 4^x*\frac{1}{4}=\frac{4^x}{4}\)
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If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   20 May 2023, 08:08
Bunuel wrote:
If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?

Since \(3^6=729>500\) and \(3^5=243<500\), then the question basically asks whether x is an integer less than 6 (5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, -1, ...).

(1) 4^(x–1) < 4^x – 120;

\(\frac{4^x}{4}<4^x-120\);

\(120<\frac{3}{4}*4^x\);

\(160<4^x\);

x is an integer greater than 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, ... Not sufficient.

(2) x^2 = 36 --> \(x=6\) or \(x=-6\). Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) From above \(x=6\), thus the answer to the question is NO. Sufficient.

Answer: C.

Similar questions to practice:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-x-10-10-1 ... 27881.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-5-k-less- ... 28055.html
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https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-5-x-134898.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-3-x-134968.html

Hope it helps.



3^(-6) is also less than 500 no?
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Re: If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink] If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?   20 May 2023, 09:36
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Chanovski wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500?

Since \(3^6=729>500\) and \(3^5=243<500\), then the question basically asks whether x is an integer less than 6 (5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, -1, ...).

(1) 4^(x–1) < 4^x – 120;

\(\frac{4^x}{4}<4^x-120\);

\(120<\frac{3}{4}*4^x\);

\(160<4^x\);

x is an integer greater than 3: 4, 5, 6, 7, ... Not sufficient.

(2) x^2 = 36 --> \(x=6\) or \(x=-6\). Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) From above \(x=6\), thus the answer to the question is NO. Sufficient.

Answer: C.

Similar questions to practice:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-x-10-10-1 ... 27881.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-5-k-less- ... 28055.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-x-is-an-i ... 06353.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-4-x-5-3x- ... 86765.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-5-x-134898.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-3-x-134968.html

Hope it helps.



3^(-6) is also less than 500 no?


Yes, 3^(-6) = 1/3^6, which is less than 1.
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Re: If x is an integer, is 3^x less than 500? [#permalink]
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