Last visit was: 23 May 2024, 09:37 It is currently 23 May 2024, 09:37
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
Unanswered
Active Topics
New posts
New comers' posts
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
Tags:
Find Similar Topics 
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
manulath
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 May 2012
Posts: 56
Own Kudos [?]: 242 [25]
Given Kudos: 14
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Operations
GMAT 1: 650 Q51 V25
GMAT 2: 730 Q50 V38
GPA: 4
WE:General Management (Transportation)
Send PM
If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   Updated on: 25 Aug 2012, 00:35
4
Kudos
21
Bookmarks
00:00
A
B
C
D
E

Difficulty:

85% (hard)

Question Stats:

48% (01:55) correct 52% (02:00) wrong based on 450 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of \(t^{-3}*u^{-2}\)?

(1) \(t^{-2}*u^{-3} = \frac{1}{36}\).

(2) \(u*(t^{-1}) = \frac{1}{6}\).
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
A

Originally posted by manulath on 24 Aug 2012, 04:53.
Last edited by manulath on 25 Aug 2012, 00:35, edited 3 times in total.
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
L
Bunuel
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 93418
Own Kudos [?]: 626070 [8]
Given Kudos: 81940
Send PM
CAT Tests Forum Quiz Mode
If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   24 Aug 2012, 10:42
8
Kudos
Expert Reply
The question should read:

If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of \(t^{-3}*u^{-2}\)?

(1) \(t^{-2}*u^{-3} = \frac{1}{36}\) --> \(\frac{1}{t^{2}*u^{3}}=\frac{1}{36}\) --> \(t^{2}*u^{3}=36\) --> since \(t\) and \(u\) are positive integers, then only possible case is \(t^{2}*u^{3}=6^2*1^3\) (\(u\) cannot be any other positive integer but 1, since 36 doesn't have a prime factor in power of 3) --> \(t=6\) and \(u=1\). Sufficient.

(2) \(u*(t^{-1}) = \frac{1}{6}\) --> \(\frac{u}{t}=\frac{1}{6}\) --> infinite number of values are possible for \(u\) and \(t\) (1, and 6, 2 and 12, 3 and 18, ...), thus infinite number of values are possible for \(t^{-2}*u^{-3}\). Not sufficient.

Answer: A.

Hope it's clear.
General Discussion
User avatar
manulath
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 May 2012
Posts: 56
Own Kudos [?]: 242 [0]
Given Kudos: 14
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Operations
GMAT 1: 650 Q51 V25
GMAT 2: 730 Q50 V38
GPA: 4
WE:General Management (Transportation)
Send PM
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   25 Aug 2012, 00:34
Bunuel wrote:
The question should read:

If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of \(t^{-2}*u^{-3}\)?

(1) \(t^{-2}*u^{-3} = \frac{1}{36}\) --> \(\frac{1}{t^{2}*u^{3}}=\frac{1}{36}\) --> \(t^{2}*u^{3}=36\) --> since \(t\) and \(u\) are positive integers, then only possible case is \(t^{2}*u^{3}=6^2*1^3\) (\(u\) cannot be any other positive integer but 1, since 36 doesn't have a prime factor in power of 3) --> \(t=6\) and \(u=1\). Sufficient.

(2) \(t*(u^{-1}) = \frac{1}{6}\) --> \(\frac{t}{u}=\frac{1}{6}\) --> infinite number of values are possible for \(t\) and \(u\) (1, and 6, 2 and 12, 3 and 18, ...), thus infinite number of values are possible for \(t^{-2}*u^{-3}\). Not sufficient.

Answer: A.

Hope it's clear.


You have corrected the error. Thanks once again.
The question now makes sense.

In the original question the answer I got was C

PS: I have edited the question again, as question stem and A have become same.
User avatar
L
BillyZ
Current Student
Joined: 14 Nov 2016
Posts: 1173
Own Kudos [?]: 20811 [0]
Given Kudos: 926
Location: Malaysia
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: Sloan '23 (D) Tuck '23 (D) Darden '23 (D) Ross '23 (D) Kellogg '23 (D) Wharton '23 (D) Booth '23 (D) Fuqua '24 (A) Harvard '24 (D) Stanford '24 (D)
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V40 (Online)
GPA: 3.53
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User Reviews Badge
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   28 Jan 2017, 19:39
Bunuel wrote:
The question should read:

If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of \(t^{-3}*u^{-2}\)?

(1) \(t^{-2}*u^{-3} = \frac{1}{36}\) --> \(\frac{1}{t^{2}*u^{3}}=\frac{1}{36}\) --> \(t^{2}*u^{3}=36\) --> since \(t\) and \(u\) are positive integers, then only possible case is \(t^{2}*u^{3}=6^2*1^3\) (\(u\) cannot be any other positive integer but 1, since 36 doesn't have a prime factor in power of 3) --> \(t=6\) and \(u=1\) . Sufficient.

(2) \(t*(u^{-1}) = \frac{1}{6}\) --> \(\frac{t}{u}=\frac{1}{6}\) --> infinite number of values are possible for \(t\) and \(u\) (1, and 6, 2 and 12, 3 and 18, ...), thus infinite number of values are possible for \(t^{-2}*u^{-3}\). Not sufficient.

Answer: A.

Hope it's clear.


Dear Bunuel, (1) t should be 1 and u should be 6.
Attachments

Untitled.jpg
Untitled.jpg [ 25.31 KiB | Viewed 8563 times ]

User avatar
L
Bunuel
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 93418
Own Kudos [?]: 626070 [0]
Given Kudos: 81940
Send PM
CAT Tests Forum Quiz Mode
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   29 Jan 2017, 03:44
Expert Reply
ziyuenlau wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
The question should read:

If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of \(t^{-3}*u^{-2}\)?

(1) \(t^{-2}*u^{-3} = \frac{1}{36}\) --> \(\frac{1}{t^{2}*u^{3}}=\frac{1}{36}\) --> \(t^{2}*u^{3}=36\) --> since \(t\) and \(u\) are positive integers, then only possible case is \(t^{2}*u^{3}=6^2*1^3\) (\(u\) cannot be any other positive integer but 1, since 36 doesn't have a prime factor in power of 3) --> \(t=6\) and \(u=1\) . Sufficient.

(2) \(t*(u^{-1}) = \frac{1}{6}\) --> \(\frac{t}{u}=\frac{1}{6}\) --> infinite number of values are possible for \(t\) and \(u\) (1, and 6, 2 and 12, 3 and 18, ...), thus infinite number of values are possible for \(t^{-2}*u^{-3}\). Not sufficient.

Answer: A.

Hope it's clear.


Dear Bunuel, (1) t should be 1 and u should be 6.


Everything is correct there. Notice that first statement in the original post and in your screenshot are different.

User avatar
B
mbaapp1234
Manager
Manager
Joined: 23 Dec 2013
Posts: 86
Own Kudos [?]: 81 [0]
Given Kudos: 23
Location: United States (CA)
Schools: HBS '20 (D) Stanford '20 (D) Yale '21 (A$) Tuck '21 (A) Wharton '21 (A) Sloan '21 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q45 V41
GMAT 2: 760 Q49 V44
GPA: 3.76
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   29 May 2017, 17:29
manulath wrote:
If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of \(t^{-3}*u^{-2}\)?

(1) \(t^{-2}*u^{-3} = \frac{1}{36}\).

(2) \(t*(u^{-1}) = \frac{1}{6}\).



This problem is a classic C-trap. The goal is to find the value of t^-2*u^-3. It should be a distinct value.

Statement 1) t^-3*u^-2 = 1/36

We should take the reciprocal here to make the math easier.

t^3*u^2 = 36

There is only one possible value here that satisfies this relationship:

t = 1, u = 6.

Sufficient.

Statement 2) t/u = 1/6

6t = u. We cannot infer anything beyond this ratio. Insufficient.
User avatar
G
Basshead
Director
Director
Joined: 09 Jan 2020
Posts: 960
Own Kudos [?]: 228 [0]
Given Kudos: 434
Location: United States
Send PM
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   28 Oct 2020, 12:08
If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of \(t^{-3}*u^{-2}\)?

What is the value of \(\frac{1}{t^{3}} * \frac{1}{t^{2}}\)?

(1) \(t^{-2}*u^{-3} = \frac{1}{36}\).

\(\frac{1}{t^2} * \frac{1}{u^3} = \frac{1}{36}\)

\(t^{2}u^{3}\) = 36
t = 6 u = 1. Sufficient.

(2) \(u*(t^{-1}) = \frac{1}{6}\).

\(u * \frac{1}{t} = \frac{u}{t}\)

Multiple numbers are possible. Insufficient.

Answer is A.
avatar
B
AnkitHRD
Intern
Intern
Joined: 04 Mar 2020
Posts: 38
Own Kudos [?]: 24 [0]
Given Kudos: 36
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Finance
GPA: 3.5
WE:Securities Sales and Trading (Investment Banking)
Send PM
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   21 Dec 2020, 13:08
Hi Bunuel mbaapp1234 can you plz help me with more similar question type, where obvious answer is C, but actually is a trap answer.

Thanks
User avatar
L
Bunuel
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 93418
Own Kudos [?]: 626070 [1]
Given Kudos: 81940
Send PM
CAT Tests Forum Quiz Mode
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   21 Dec 2020, 13:11
1
Kudos
Expert Reply
AnkitHRD wrote:
Hi Bunuel mbaapp1234 can you plz help me with more similar question type, where obvious answer is C, but actually is a trap answer.

Thanks


Check this C-Trap Questions.
User avatar
bumpbot
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 33151
Own Kudos [?]: 829 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink] If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of   13 Oct 2022, 03:55
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: If t and u are positive integers, what is the value of [#permalink]
13 Oct 2022, 03:55
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
93419 posts