Sajjad1994
If x is a positive integer greater than 1, and y is the smallest positive integer that is evenly divisible by every integer between 1 and x, inclusive, what is the value of x ?
(1) y = 10x
(2) y = 60
It is a question based on your understanding of prime factors and LCM
x > 1,
y is the LCM of 1, 2, 3, ... x
Let's take statement 2 first.
(2) y = 60
y = 2*2*3*5
Since y is the LCM of all positive integers 1, 2, 3, ... x, this means 5 must be in this list 1, 2, 3, ... x.
So x is at least 5 (Note that LCM of 1, 2, 3, 4 will not have 5 as a factor. It will have only 2s and 3 as factors)
If x = 5, y will be 60 because 60 is the LCM of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
If x = 6, y will be 60 because LCM of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 is again 60.
We don't know whether x is 5 or 6.
Not sufficient alone.
(1) y = 10x
y = 2*5*x
Since y is the LCM of all positive integers 1, 2, 3, ... x, this means 5 must be in this list 1, 2, 3, ... x.
So x must be at least 5. Then y must have 3 as a factor. Since y is 2*5*x, the 3 has to come from x. So x must be a multiple of 3.
The smallest such value of x can be 6. Then y is 2*5*6 = 60 which is also the LCM of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This works.
Note that x can take no higher value such as 9 because then y = 2*5*9 which will need to be the LCM of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (which it is not since there is no 7 in y and only one 2)
As value of x increases, number of prime factors required increases substantially.
Hence x must be 6.
Sufficient alone.
Answer (A)