Official Solution:


(1) The sum of ANY two factors of \(x^2\) is even.

From this statement it follows that each factor of \(x^2\) is odd: if even one factor were even, the sum of at least one pair of factors, 1 and that even factor, would be odd. Next, if all the factors of \(x^2\) are odd, then \(x^2\) is odd. For \(x^2\) to be odd, \(x\) must also be odd. The least value of \(x\) is therefore 3 and since \(y\) is greater than 1, then the least value of \(y\) is 2. Thus the least value of \(x^y=3^2=9 > 8\). Sufficient.

(2) The product of ANY two factors of \(y^3\) is odd.

From this statement it follows that each factor of \(y^3\) is odd: if even one factor were even, the product of at least one pair of factors would be even. Next, if all the factors of \(y^3\) are odd, then \(y^3\) is odd. For \(y^3\) to be odd, \(y\) must also be odd. The least value of \(y\) is therefore 3 and since \(x\) is greater than 1, then the least value of \(x\) is 2. Thus the least value of \(x^y=2^3=8\), but if \(y=odd > 3\), then \(x^y > 8\). Not sufficient.


Answer: A
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An integer cannot have all its factors even because 1 is a factor of every integer so at least one factor of very integer is odd.
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