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0akshay0


St I \(x^2 − y^2\) is even => (x-y)(x+y) is even;
In this case either one term (x-y) can be even and the other term (x+y) can be even or odd or
one term (x+y) can be even and the other term (x-y) can be even or odd or vice versa. --------Insufficient

If (x + y) or (x - y) is even then x and y are both even or odd. So, (x + y) has to be even.

Answer: D
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St I \(x^2 − y^2\) is even => (x-y)(x+y) is even;
In this case either one term (x-y) can be even and the other term (x+y) can be even or odd or
one term (x+y) can be even and the other term (x-y) can be even or odd or vice versa. --------Insufficient

If (x + y) or (x - y) is even then x and y are both even or odd. So, (x + y) has to be even.

Answer: D


:oops guess I need some coffee now.
Thanks Vyshak, have edited my reply to the Question
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Bunuel
For integers x and y, is x + y even?

(1) x^2 − y^2 is even

(2) x − y is even

1) Tells us that x and y both have to have the same sign. SUFF

2) Tells us that x and y both have to have the same sign. SUFF

D
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Bunuel
For integers x and y, is x + y even?

(1) x^2 − y^2 is even

(2) x − y is even

We need to determine whether x + y is even. Before jumping into the statements, there are two important rules to consider.

Rule #1:

When an odd integer is raised to a positive integer exponent, the result will still be odd, and when an even number is raised to a positive integer exponent, the result will still be even.

Rule #2:

Addition rules for even and odd numbers are the same as subtraction rules for even and odd numbers.

Statement One Alone:

x^2 - y^2 is even.

Since x^2 - y^2 is even, following rules one and two, we see that x + y will also be even. Statement one alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

x - y is even.

Following rule two, we see that if x - y is even, then x + y will also be even. Statement two alone is also sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: D
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Bunuel
For integers x and y, is \(x + y\) even?

(1) \(x^2 − y^2\) is even

(2) \(x − y\) is even

Official solution from Veritas Prep.

D. This question is a good example of the GMAT's classic "C trap", in which the statements are written to bait you toward selecting C. Yes, you can deconstruct statement 1 into:

\((x + y)(x - y)\) is even

But at this point you don't need to use statement 2 along with it. Your options now with statement 1 alone are:

\((Even + Even)(Even - Even) = Even\)

and

\((Odd + Odd)(Odd - Odd) = Even\)

It cannot be \((Even + Odd)(Even - Odd)\) because then the two parentheticals would both be odd, making the product odd. So statement 1 guarantees that each of \((x + y)\) and \((x - y)\) are even.

Similarly, statement 2 guarantees that \(x + y\) is even. For \(x - y\) to be even, it's either Odd - Odd or Even - Even. Change that minus to a plus in either case and the result will still be even, so statement 2 is sufficient, also. The correct answer is D.
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Statement 1 analysis:
if we deconstruct statement 1: (x-y)(x+y) = even. Product of 2 terms can be even if:
1) one of them is even or
2) both of them are even

Using point 2) above we are able to get (x+y) is even, however, if we use point 1) then (x+Y) may or may not be even thus giving us not sufficient. Where am I going wrong for statement 1 analysis?
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