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Bunuel
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Bunuel
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If \(x\) and \(y\) are positive integers, is \(\frac{10^y-x}{3}\) an integer?

For \(\frac{10^y-x}{3}\) to be an integer, \(10^y-x\) must be divisible by 3. This means the sum of the digits of \(10^y-x\) must also be divisible by 3. Since the sum of the digits of \(10^y\) is always 1 (for positive integer \(y\)), the sum of the digits of \(10^y-x\) will be divisible by 3 if \(x\) is: 1, 4, 7, 10, ... and so on. Essentially, \(x\) needs to be one more than a multiple of 3.

(1) \(\frac{x-1}{3}\) is an integer.

Given: \(\frac{x-1}{3}\) is an integer. This implies \(x = 3*\text{integer} + 1\), meaning \(x\) is one more than a multiple of 3. Sufficient.

(2) \(\frac{y+1}{3}\) is an integer.

There's no information about \(x\), so this is insufficient.


Answer: A
If x = 1 ( fulfilling the criteria of a positive integer) then it would be 1-1/3 = 0/3 = 0 which is also an integer, given that, I answered E
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Bunuel
Official Solution:


If \(x\) and \(y\) are positive integers, is \(\frac{10^y-x}{3}\) an integer?

For \(\frac{10^y-x}{3}\) to be an integer, \(10^y-x\) must be divisible by 3. This means the sum of the digits of \(10^y-x\) must also be divisible by 3. Since the sum of the digits of \(10^y\) is always 1 (for positive integer \(y\)), the sum of the digits of \(10^y-x\) will be divisible by 3 if \(x\) is: 1, 4, 7, 10, ... and so on. Essentially, \(x\) needs to be one more than a multiple of 3.

(1) \(\frac{x-1}{3}\) is an integer.

Given: \(\frac{x-1}{3}\) is an integer. This implies \(x = 3*\text{integer} + 1\), meaning \(x\) is one more than a multiple of 3. Sufficient.

(2) \(\frac{y+1}{3}\) is an integer.

There's no information about \(x\), so this is insufficient.


Answer: A
If x = 1 ( fulfilling the criteria of a positive integer) then it would be 1-1/3 = 0/3 = 0 which is also an integer, given that, I answered E

Why? How is (1) not sufficient? If x = 1, \(\frac{10^y-x}{3}\) comes out to be an integer, so we are getting the same yes answer.
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