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Quote:

Question 2. 
A given number is a possible value of [i]a’ if, for each value of x in the Table tab, there is a value of a that is compatible with that value of x and the other information provided. For each of the following numbers, select Yes if, given this condition, it is a possible value of a' Otherwise select No.[/i]
Now x has values 1/3, 1/4 etc, and xa has to be integer as xa is the number of contestants. Thus a has to be a multiple of LCM of denominators of values of x. Thus 12 or multiples of 12. 
Hence 9 and 10 are not valid while 12 is. 
chetan2u Aren't we talking about a' and not a?

Since a' = xa and we have to select a value for a', it could be anything, right?
1/4 . a = 9 where a = 36, 1/3 . a = 10 where a = 30, etc.

Have I misinterpreted the question? Please let me know. Thanks!­
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Quote:

Question 2. 
A given number is a possible value of [i]a’ if, for each value of x in the Table tab, there is a value of a that is compatible with that value of x and the other information provided. For each of the following numbers, select Yes if, given this condition, it is a possible value of a' Otherwise select No.[/i]
Now x has values 1/3, 1/4 etc, and xa has to be integer as xa is the number of contestants. Thus a has to be a multiple of LCM of denominators of values of x. Thus 12 or multiples of 12. 
Hence 9 and 10 are not valid while 12 is. 
chetan2u Aren't we talking about a' and not a? Since a' = xa and we have to select a value for a', it could be anything, right? 1/4 . a = 9 where a = 36, 1/3 . a = 10 where a = 30, etc. Sorry, have I misinterpreted the question? Please let me know. Thanks!
­
I think you're correct. But let's take a' = 9 , for all values of x, it won't return an integer a. Similarly for a'=10.
So, the answer will still be 12.
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Question 2.
A given number is a possible value of [i]a’ if, for each value of x in the Table tab, there is a value of a that is compatible with that value of x and the other information provided. For each of the following numbers, select Yes if, given this condition, it is a possible value of a' Otherwise select No.[/i]
Now x has values 1/3, 1/4 etc, and xa has to be integer as xa is the number of contestants. Thus a has to be a multiple of LCM of denominators of values of x. Thus 12 or multiples of 12.
Hence 9 and 10 are not valid while 12 is.
­Wouldnt it be numerators?

Since a'=x*a
=> a= a'*1/x

e.g.: a = 9*3/2 (not possible)

Since a has to be an integer, it would be the reciprocal of x and hence the LCM of the numrator?
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illegallyblonde

Since a' = xa and we have to select a value for a', it could be anything, right?
1/4 . a = 9 where a = 36, 1/3 . a = 10 where a = 30, etc.

Have I misinterpreted the question? Please let me know. Thanks!­
\(­x=\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{2},\frac{2}{3},\frac{3}{4}\)­

\(a=\frac{a'}{x}\)

\(a' =9\) would fail if the numerator of x were an even number, such as \(­x=\frac{2}{3}\)­ and \(a=\frac{9}{\frac{2}{3}}\)
\(a' =10\) would fail if the numerator of x were an odd number greater than 1, such as \(­x=\frac{3}{4}\)­ and \(a=\frac{10}{\frac{3}{4}}\)

only \(a' =12\) can deal with all those possible x listed above.­

the numerator of x matters, not the denominator. if three options are 6, 10, and 12, the answer will be 6 and 12.
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In MSR, do we take the info in each tab as always true? I noticed in your video explanation that you were checking if the math in the concise solution was legit.

I am assuming MSR tabs are always true, as in 3rd question it is asking us to validate whether a' = b' (which can only be true if xa = yb)
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For 3.

It's given in the table section that: a' = b' = xa = yb. (YES)
This means that a' = yb is correct, and because b' = yb, a' = b' is also correct. (YES)
However, the statement a + b < xa + yb is incorrect, as we can see, xa < an and yb < b, which actually leads to a + b > xa + yb. (NO)

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but isn't it asking for possible values and it can be true for some of them
nisen20

\(­x=\frac{1}{4},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{2},\frac{2}{3},\frac{3}{4}\)­

\(a=\frac{a'}{x}\)

\(a' =9\) would fail if the numerator of x were an even number, such as \(­x=\frac{2}{3}\)­ and \(a=\frac{9}{\frac{2}{3}}\)
\(a' =10\) would fail if the numerator of x were an odd number greater than 1, such as \(­x=\frac{3}{4}\)­ and \(a=\frac{10}{\frac{3}{4}}\)

only \(a' =12\) can deal with all those possible x listed above.­

the numerator of x matters, not the denominator. if three options are 6, 10, and 12, the answer will be 6 and 12.
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Parvin93
but isn't it asking for possible values and it can be true for some of them


Check the question:

A given number is a possible value of a’ if, for each value of x in the Table tab, there is a value of a that is compatible with that value of x and the other information provided. For each of the following numbers, select Yes if, given this condition, it is a possible value of a' Otherwise select No.
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