Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 01:08 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 01:08
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: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,802
Own Kudos:
810,909
 [3]
Given Kudos: 105,868
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,802
Kudos: 810,909
 [3]
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Luckisnoexcuse
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 18 Aug 2016
Last visit: 31 Mar 2026
Posts: 513
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 198
Concentration: Strategy, Technology
GMAT 1: 630 Q47 V29
GMAT 2: 740 Q51 V38
Products:
GMAT 2: 740 Q51 V38
Posts: 513
Kudos: 684
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
sashiim20
Joined: 04 Dec 2015
Last visit: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 608
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 276
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,453
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
What is the value of integer n ?

(1) n(n + 1) = 12
(2) 3^(n+1) = 81

Target question: What is the value of n?

Statement 1: n(n + 1) = 12
Expand: n² + n = 12
Rewrite as: n² + n - 12 = 0
Factor: (n + 4)(n - 3) = 0
So, EITHER n = -4 OR n = 3
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: 3^(n+1) = 81
Rewrite 81 as 3^4 to get: 3^(n+1) = 3^4
So, we can conclude that n+1 = 4
Solve: n = 3
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer:
RELATED VIDEO
avatar
harikrish
Joined: 05 Nov 2014
Last visit: 20 Nov 2018
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 113
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Operations
GMAT 1: 580 Q49 V21
GPA: 3.75
Products:
GMAT 1: 580 Q49 V21
Posts: 74
Kudos: 85
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What is the value of integer n ?

(1) n(n + 1) = 12
(2) 3^(n+1) = 81

Solution:

Statement 1: Tricky indeed. n can be 3 or n can be -4. So it is insufficient.
Statement 2: Only possible value of n is 3 as 3^(n+1)=3^(3+1)=81. Sufficient.

Therefore, the answer is Option B.
User avatar
arvind910619
Joined: 20 Dec 2015
Last visit: 18 Oct 2024
Posts: 814
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 755
Status:Learning
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V36
GRE 1: Q157 V157
GPA: 3.4
WE:Engineering (Manufacturing)
Products:
GMAT 1: 670 Q48 V36
GRE 1: Q157 V157
Posts: 814
Kudos: 615
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Imo B
Statement 1 is insufficient as it gives the values of n as 3,-4
Statement 2 is sufficient as value of n is 3
User avatar
akshayk
Joined: 06 Jul 2016
Last visit: 21 Sep 2020
Posts: 271
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99
Location: Singapore
Concentration: Strategy, Finance
Posts: 271
Kudos: 424
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
What is the value of integer n ?

(1) n(n + 1) = 12
(2) 3^(n+1) = 81

1) n = -4,3
Insufficient

2) 3^n = 3^3
=> n=3
Sufficient.

B
User avatar
shashankism
Joined: 13 Mar 2017
Last visit: 19 Feb 2026
Posts: 608
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 88
Affiliations: IIT Dhanbad
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.8
WE:Engineering (Energy)
Posts: 608
Kudos: 712
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
What is the value of integer n ?

(1) n(n + 1) = 12
(2) 3^(n+1) = 81

Read the question carefully , it is asking whether we can find the value of integer n

Given : nothing
DS : Value of n

Option 1: n(n+1) = 12 = 3*4 (possible )=4*3(not possible ) = 12*1 (not possible) = 1*12 (not possible)
We must also check -ve values
n (n+1) = -4*-3 (possible)= -3*-4 , -12*-1, -1*-12 (not possible)

So n = -4, 3 .................NOT SUFFICIENT



Option 2: 3^(n+1) = 81
-> 3^(n+1) = 3^4
n = 3..........................SUFFICIENT

Answer B
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,965
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,965
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109802 posts
498 posts
212 posts