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555-605 (Medium)|   Algebra|      
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Bunuel
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 23 May 2020, 08:36
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69% (01:28) correct 31% (01:38) wrong based on 652 sessions

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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure above so that the sum of the numbers in any row is the same as the sum of the numbers in any column: What number does x represent?

(1) z represents 5.
(2) y represents 8.


DS20400


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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 23 May 2020, 08:58
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Bunuel

A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure above so that the sum of the numbers in any row is the same as the sum of the number s in any column: What number does x represent?

(1) z represents 5.
(2) y represents 8.


DS20400


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1.png
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(1) z represents 5.
\(4+5+y=9+x+y\)
\(9+y=9+x+y\)
\(x=0\)

Sufficient

(2) y represents 8.
\(4+8+z=9+8+x\)
\(12+z=17+x\)
\(z=5+x\)
Not sufficient

Answer A
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 24 May 2020, 01:15
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Bunuel

A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure above so that the sum of the numbers in any row is the same as the sum of the number s in any column: What number does x represent?

(1) z represents 5.
(2) y represents 8.


DS20400
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Given: 9+ x + y = 4 + y + z

Statement 1: z represents 5.
=> 9+ x + y = 4 + y + z
=> 9 + x + y = 9 + y
=> x = 0.
Sufficient.


Statement 2: y represents 8.
9 + x + 8 = 4 + 8 + z.
1 equation, 2 unknowns, thus Insufficient.

Answer A.
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 25 May 2020, 13:36
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As per qth stem: 9 + x+ y = 4 + y +z
or 5 + x = z
or x = z -5

If we get z, we will get x

Let's analyze the statements:

I: z= 5: As per initial analysis; we can get x SUFFICIENT
II: y = 8; we cannot get z or x using this. NOT SUFFICIENT

Hence A
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 25 Nov 2020, 16:18
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Bunuel

A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure above so that the sum of the numbers in any row is the same as the sum of the number s in any column: What number does x represent?

(1) z represents 5.
(2) y represents 8.


DS20400


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Attachment:
1.png
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(1) z represents 5.

\(4 + y + 5 = 9 + x + y\)

\(9 + y = 9 + x + y\)

\(0 = x\)

SUFFICIENT.

(2) y represents 8.

\(4 + y + z = 9 + x + y\)

\(4 + 8 + z = 9 + x + 8\)

\(12 + z = 17 + x\)

We have two variables remaining; INSUFFICIENT.

Answer is A.
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 28 Nov 2020, 12:59
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Why is B not sufficient? I used a plug and play approach.

The square would look like this:

5 9 3
8 0 9
4 8 5

Each row and column adds up to 17. x = 0.
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 30 Jan 2021, 07:32
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CEdward
Why is B not sufficient? I used a plug and play approach.

The square would look like this:

5 9 3
8 0 9
4 8 5

Each row and column adds up to 17. x = 0.
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Hello CEdward,

The reason why B is not sufficient is because more than one value of x can satisfy the condition, just try to put x=1 and z=6 you will see that it satisfies the condition.
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 19 Aug 2021, 18:25
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Is it just me who was thrown off by the official GMAT question asking "sum of the number s in any column"? For 30 seconds I was trying to figure out, what do they mean by "number S"...
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A number is to be written in each of the small squares in the figure 24 Jul 2025, 06:13
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