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If x is an integer, is x/2 an even integer
(1) x is a multiple of 2
(2) x is a multiple of 4
Source: Veritas Prep; Book 02
Chapter: 3 Number Properties
Topic: Data Sufficiency
Question: 11
Question: Page 135
Solution: Page 136
Veritas Answer:
An even integer can be represented algebraically as 2n, where n=any integer. Therefore asking "is \frac{x}{2} an even integer" is the same as asking "is \frac{x}{2=2n}" or is x = 4n.
Statement 1: Fact: x is a multiple of 2. x=2n where n = any integer. This is not sufficient.
Statement 2: Fact: x is a multiple of 4. x=4n. So it is sufficient. The correct answer choice is B.
My answer:
Statement 1: Not Sufficient
Multiples of 2: -14, -12, -10, -8, -6, -4, -2 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14......
0/2 = 0 is Neither odd nor even; 4/2 = 2 is even; 6/2 = 3 is odd.
Statement 2: Not Sufficient
Multiples of 4: -24, -20, -16, -12, -8, -4, 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24.......
0/2 = 0 is neither odd nor even; 4/2 = 2 even; 8/2 = 4 even.
This is not sufficient because zero is also a multiple of 4 and does not provide a yes or no answer.
Statement 1 and Statement 2 together.
Not Sufficient. Hence the answer choice is E.
Can you please advise what is wrong with my understanding ?
If x is an integer, is x/2 an even integerIs \(\frac{x}{2}=even=2k\) --> is \(x=2*even=4k\)? So, the question basically asks whether x is a multiple of 4.
(1) x is a multiple of 2. Not sufficient.
(2) x is a multiple of 4. Sufficient.
Answer: B.
As for your solution:
Zero is an even integer.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).
Hope it's clear.
Thank You. I made a wrong logic regarding zero myself while answering the question. Just for everyone else who maybe reading this at some point, zero is an even integer that is neither negative or positive; it is a multiple of all integers but is never a factor.