Is the largest of three consecutive integers odd?

Question

(1) The product of the three integers is 0.
(2) The sum of the three integers is 0.

GMATWhizTeam · Accepted Answer

Solution 
 Step 1: Analyse Question Stem 
We need to see whether the largest of three consecutive integers is odd or not.
 Step 2: Analyse Statements Independently (And eliminate options) – AD/BCE 
 Statement 1:  The product of three integers is 0.
 • It means one of the integers is 0, then only the product will be 0.
 o If integers are -1, 0, and 1, then the largest integer will be Odd.
o If integers are 0, 1, and 2, then the largest integer will be Even.  
Hence, statement 1 is not sufficient, we can eliminate answer options A and D
 Statement 2:  The sum of three integers is 0.
 • It means at least one of the integers is negative and the other is positive.
• It is only possible when integers are -1, 0, and 1.
 o The largest integer is an odd integer.  
Hence, statement 2 is sufficient, the correct answer is  Option B .

ajaygaur319 · Answer

Is the largest of three consecutive integers odd?

Statement 1 : The product of the three integers is 0.
If the product is 0 then the 3 integers can be
{-2, -1, 0} or {-1, 0, 1} or {0, 1, 2}
but we cannot determine which one is the largest integer.
 Not Sufficient

Statement 2 : The sum of the three integers is 0.
If the sum of 3 consecutive integers is 0 then 3 integers can be:
{-1, 0, 1} - No any other combination will suffice the condition.
Largest integer is  1  which is odd.
 Sufficient

So, the answer is  (B)

CareerGeek · Answer

(1) The product of the three integers is 0.
Case 1: 0*1*2 --> Largest = Even
Case 2: -1*0*1 --> Largest = Odd
-->  Insufficient

(2) The sum of the three integers is 0.
Only 1 case is possible: -1 + 0 + 1 = 0 --> Largest = 1 (Odd) -->  Sufficient

Option B

cathygeorge123 · Answer

Given : Three consecutive INTEGERS x, (x+1) and (x+2)
To Find : Is (x+2)=Odd?
or is x=Odd? ( because Odd-2= Odd-Even=Odd)

St1: (x)(x+1)(x+2)=0
we could have the following possibility {0,1,2} , {-1,0,1}, {-2,-1,0} where x=0(Even) or -1(Odd) or -2 (Even)
Not Sufficient

St 2: x + x+1 + x+ 2=0
3x +3 =0
x=-1 -->Odd
Sufficient

Ans: ( B )

cburanawit · Answer

Hi  Bunuel ! I wonder whether by today's standard this question should be framed more precisely as to mention excluding 'consecutive even' and 'consecutive odd' sequence

Bunuel · Answer

No, the question is perfectly OK. We are given three consecutive integers and are asked whether the largest of them is odd. The sequence can be {odd, even, odd} or {even, odd, even}, so the question asks whether we have the first case.

cburanawit · Answer

Bunuel 
But in consecutive odd integers, for example: x, x+2, x+4 or 3,5,7, this is also called a consecutive sequence right? Most times when I encounter questions dealing with consecutive numbers I always thought they meant 'a series of evenly spaced numbers which includes both all even, all odd, or a mixture of both'. Any tips on the language cue? Thank you for your clarification!

Bunuel · Answer

"Consecutive integers" ALWAYS mean integers that follow each other in order with common difference of 1:  ... x-3, x-2, x-1, x, x+1, x+2, ... .

For example:

-7, -6, -5 are consecutive integers.

2, 4, 6 ARE NOT consecutive integers, they are  consecutive even integers .

1, 3, 5 ARE NOT consecutive integers, they are  consecutive odd integers .

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Is the largest of three consecutive integers odd?

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Is the largest of three consecutive integers odd?

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