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# The operation* represents either addition, subtraction, or multiplicat

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Joined: 12 Mar 2009
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Updated on: 16 Oct 2019, 03:49
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45% (medium)

Question Stats:

53% (00:56) correct 47% (00:48) wrong based on 755 sessions

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The operation* represents either addition, subtraction, or multiplication of integers, what is the value of 1*0?

(1) 0*2 = 2
(2) 2*0 = 2

Originally posted by vaivish1723 on 23 Jan 2010, 00:25.
Last edited by Bunuel on 16 Oct 2019, 03:49, edited 2 times in total.
Edited the question and the OA.
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23 Jan 2010, 01:35
1
6
The operation* represents either addition, subtraction, or multiplication of integers, what is the value of 1*0?

(1) 0*2=2 --> operation * represents addition --> 1*0=1+0=1. Sufficient.

(2) 2*0=2 --> operation * represents either addition or subtraction --> 1*0=1+0=1 and 1*0=1-0=1, the same answer. Sufficient.

OA must be wrong.
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10 Dec 2011, 18:35
1
ashiima wrote:
The operation* represents either addition, subtraction, or multiplication of integers, what is the value of 1*0?
(1) 0*2=2
(2) 2*0=2

We know that * is a plus sign, a minus sign, or a multiplication sign. If Statement 1 is true, the '*' symbol must be a plus sign, since the equation in Statement 1 won't be true if '*' is subtraction or multiplication. Since * represents addition, 1*0 = 1+0 = 1, and Statement 1 is sufficient.

For Statement 2, we know 2*0 = 2. This would be true if * is either addition or subtraction; * cannot be multiplication. So we know that 1*0 is either equal to 1+0 = 1, or is equal to 1-0 = 1. Either way its value is 1, so Statement 2 is also sufficient.

The answer is D (the OA given above is not right).
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03 Jul 2013, 08:47
Bunuel wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
9
The operation* represents either addition, subtraction, or multiplication of integers,
what is the value of 1*0?
(1) 0*2=2
(2) 2*0=2

OA is

Why cant the OA is D because using statement II we get the same answer and we can use that to solve 1*0.

(1) 0*2=2 --> operation * represents addition --> 1*0=1+0=1. Sufficient.

(2) 2*0=2 --> operation * represents either addition or subtraction --> 1*0=1+0=1 and 1*0=1-0=1, the same answer. Sufficient.

OA must be wrong.

Hi Bunuel,

Operation from statement 1: You assumed 0*2 is an "addition" operation i.e. a*b = a +b. But couldn't it be assumed that a*b could also be = b-a (subtraction) ?. And hence 0*2 = 2-0 = 2. Isn't this statement insufficient because of 2 scenarios?

Where as in statement 2: 2*0 could be 2-0 = 2 or 2+0= 2. In either case, this statement alone is sufficient. Hence answer is B.

Am I missing something ?

Best
Rohan
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03 Jul 2013, 09:06
RohanKhera wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
vaivish1723 wrote:
9
The operation* represents either addition, subtraction, or multiplication of integers,
what is the value of 1*0?
(1) 0*2=2
(2) 2*0=2

OA is

Why cant the OA is D because using statement II we get the same answer and we can use that to solve 1*0.

(1) 0*2=2 --> operation * represents addition --> 1*0=1+0=1. Sufficient.

(2) 2*0=2 --> operation * represents either addition or subtraction --> 1*0=1+0=1 and 1*0=1-0=1, the same answer. Sufficient.

OA must be wrong.

Hi Bunuel,

Operation from statement 1: You assumed 0*2 is an "addition" operation i.e. a*b = a +b. But couldn't it be assumed that a*b could also be = b-a (subtraction) ?. And hence 0*2 = 2-0 = 2. Isn't this statement insufficient because of 2 scenarios?

Where as in statement 2: 2*0 could be 2-0 = 2 or 2+0= 2. In either case, this statement alone is sufficient. Hence answer is B.

Am I missing something ?

Best
Rohan

In (1) the operation cannot be subtraction, since $$0-2=-2$$ and not 2, as stated. But even if you were right, so suppose the operation can be addition or subtraction (as in the second statement), still (1) would be sufficient because we need to find the value of 1*0 which is the same for either of these two operations (+ or -).

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Hope it helps.
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16 Oct 2019, 03:47
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Re: The operation* represents either addition, subtraction, or   [#permalink] 16 Oct 2019, 03:47
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