Is the positive integer y a multiple of 12?
(1) y3 is a multiple of 48.
(2) y2 is a multiple of 30.
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Its from a Kaplan CAT I just took, below is kaplans explanation.
I just cant understand how the get "So we know that y3 has at least four 2’s and at least one three among its prime factors" Can someone also point to a good source so I can get around this topic? I understand the basic primes and multiples properties but the exponent really toughed up the problem for me.
thanks.
Analyze the Question Stem:
If y were a multiple of 12, would have to equal an integer. That means that all the factors in 12 could be cancelled out by factors in y.
In other words asking whether y is a multiple of 12 is the same ask asking whether y has at least 22 and 31 as prime factors.
Since this is a Yes/No question, we need to know whether y definitely does or definitely does not have those factors.
Evaluate the Statements:
Statement (1): For y3 to be a multiple of 48, it must be that yields an integer. Let’s find the prime factors of 48.
48 = 8 × 6
48 = 23× 2 × 3
48 = 24 x 3
So we know that y3 has at least four 2’s and at least one three among its prime factors.So our answer is definitely "yes," and Statement (1) is Sufficient. Eliminate choices (B), (C), and (E).
Statement (2): For y2 to be a multiple of 30, it must be that yields an integer. Again, let’s go through prime factorization.
30 = 6 × 5
30 = 2 × 3 × 5
So, y2 has at least one factor of 2, at least one factor of 3, and at least one factor of 5.
Just as y3 had to have all of its factors in groups of threes, y2 must have its factors in groups of twos. So we can deduce that y2 has at least two factors of 2, at least two factors of 3, and at least two factors of 5.
y will have the same factors as y2 has, but half as many of each. So, y must have at least one factor of 2, at least one factor of 3, and at least one factor of 5.
So, y definitely has one factor of 3. But it might have only one factor of 2, or it might have two factors of 2.
Statement (2) is Insufficient. Eliminate choice (D). Answer Choice (A) is correct.
Combined: Unnecessary