Last visit was: 14 Dec 2024, 19:55 It is currently 14 Dec 2024, 19:55
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 14 Dec 2024
Posts: 97,877
Own Kudos:
685,923
 []
Given Kudos: 88,271
Products:
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 97,877
Kudos: 685,923
 []
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
acegmat123
Joined: 28 Jun 2016
Last visit: 25 Oct 2021
Posts: 152
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99
Location: Canada
Concentration: Operations, Entrepreneurship
Posts: 152
Kudos: 200
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
hudacse6
Joined: 16 Dec 2018
Last visit: 20 Sep 2024
Posts: 59
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 48
Posts: 59
Kudos: 106
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Franzhel
Joined: 19 Jul 2018
Last visit: 26 Oct 2024
Posts: 32
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 18
Location: France
Concentration: Economics, Nonprofit
Schools: ESSEC '22
GMAT 1: 680 Q47 V35
GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38
WE:Analyst (Manufacturing)
Schools: ESSEC '22
GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V38
Posts: 32
Kudos: 57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
First note that the answer says could potentially be a square number.

I- a^2 - 1 = (a-1)(a+1) Impossible to be a square number since they are diff numbers
II- Since a is an integer, if you try with several integers, you can quickly check that no integer will satisfy this.
III- a^2 - a = a(a-1) Again, same as I

Therefore, option is E.

If anyone knows how to prove option II without just trying numbers it would be helpful :)
avatar
Psyllium9
Joined: 12 Oct 2019
Last visit: 10 Jan 2021
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 49
Posts: 7
Kudos: 3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone please explain the quuestion stem?

Posted from my mobile device
Moderator:
Math Expert
97877 posts