It is currently 24 Mar 2018, 18:32

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# M02-23

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 44423

### Show Tags

16 Sep 2014, 00:18
Expert's post
3
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

77% (00:32) correct 23% (00:36) wrong based on 159 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

If $$x$$ and $$n$$ are positive integers, is $$n$$ a divisor of $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$?

(1) $$n = 3$$

(2) $$x = 12$$
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

_________________
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 44423

### Show Tags

16 Sep 2014, 00:18
Official Solution:

Statement (1) by itself is sufficient. The product of any three consecutive positive integers is divisible by 3.

Statement (2) by itself is insufficient. We do not know anything about $$n$$.

_________________
Intern
Joined: 24 Dec 2017
Posts: 2

### Show Tags

02 Jan 2018, 19:18
I don't quite understand this question. Is it necessary to plug the variables into the equation to solve this problem?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 44423

### Show Tags

02 Jan 2018, 23:18
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
darren1985 wrote:
I don't quite understand this question. Is it necessary to plug the variables into the equation to solve this problem?

If $$x$$ and $$n$$ are positive integers, is $$n$$ a divisor of $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$?

(1) $$n = 3$$. The question becomes: is $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$ divisible by 3? Now, since $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$ is the product of three consecutive integers, then one of them must be divisible by 3, so $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$ will be divisible by 3 for any integer value of x. Sufficient.

(2) $$x = 12$$. The question becomes: is $$12*13*14$$ divisible by n? Without knowing the value of n we cannot answer the question. For example, if n = 1, then the answer would be YES but if n = 17, then the answer would be NO. Not sufficient.

Hope it's clear.
_________________
SVP
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 1527

### Show Tags

03 Jan 2018, 07:44
1
KUDOS
Bunuel wrote:
darren1985 wrote:
I don't quite understand this question. Is it necessary to plug the variables into the equation to solve this problem?

If $$x$$ and $$n$$ are positive integers, is $$n$$ a divisor of $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$?

(1) $$n = 3$$. The question becomes: is $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$ divisible by 3? Now, since $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$ is the product of three consecutive integers, then one of them must be divisible by 3, so $$x(x+1)(x+2)$$ will be divisible by 3 for any integer value of x. Sufficient.

(2) $$x = 12$$. The question becomes: is $$12*13*14$$ divisible by n? Without knowing the value of n we cannot answer the question. For example, if n = 1, then the answer would be YES but if n = 17, then the answer would be NO. Not sufficient.

Hope it's clear.

Hi darren1985

Statement 1 represents a general rule when dealing with divisor 3 that you should know. Beside the above, you should know the variation for presenting 3 consecutive numbers . It could be:

(x-2)(x-1) x

or

(x-1) x (x+1)
Intern
Joined: 24 Dec 2017
Posts: 2

### Show Tags

03 Jan 2018, 10:59
I understand and thanks for the explanation.
Re: M02-23   [#permalink] 03 Jan 2018, 10:59
Display posts from previous: Sort by

# M02-23

Moderators: chetan2u, Bunuel

 Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.