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Hadiagh
can someone please give a little more clarity on why B is the correct answer.
B will only tell us the sign of the value of P but it does not actually helps us figure out the value of P.
and P= -ve could be any value so like wouldn't statement 2 be insufficient.



please help


\(P = a^4*b^7\), where \(a^2 = 1\) and \(b^2 = 9\). What is the value of P?

Since \(a^2 = 1\), then \(a^4=1\);
Since \(b^2 = 9\), then \(b=3\) or \(b=-3\).

Therefore, \(P =3^7\) or \(P=(-3)^7\)

Basically to get the value of P we only need to know whether b is positive or negative.

(1) a < 0. Not sufficient.

(2) b < 0 --> \(b=-3\) --> \(P=(-3)^7\). Sufficient.

Answer: B.
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Given: \(P = a^4*b^7\), where \(a^2 = 1\) and \(b^2 = 9\).
Asked: What is the value of P?

a = 1 or -1
b = 3 or -3

(1) a < 0
a = -1
\(P = a^4*b^7= 1*b^7\)
P = 3^7 or -3^7
NOT SUFFICIENT

(2) b < 0
b = -3
\(P = a^4*b^7= 1*(-3)^7= - 3^7\)
SUFFICIENT

IMO B
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Hadiagh
can someone please give a little more clarity on why B is the correct answer.
B will only tell us the sign of the value of P but it does not actually helps us figure out the value of P.
and P= -ve could be any value so like wouldn't statement 2 be insufficient.



please help


\(P = a^4*b^7\), where \(a^2 = 1\) and \(b^2 = 9\). What is the value of P?

Since \(a^2 = 1\), then \(a^4=1\);
Since \(b^2 = 9\), then \(b=3\) or \(b=-3\).

Therefore, \(P =3^7\) or \(P=(-3)^7\)

Basically to get the value of P we only need to know whether b is positive or negative.

(1) a < 0. Not sufficient.

(2) b < 0 --> \(b=-3\) --> \(P=(-3)^7\). Sufficient.

Answer: B.







okay yes that helped thankyou...
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