Could someone help me with this DS confusion

Question

Let's say the question is

Is N>2?

A) N=5.

B) N is an integer.

Before, I will pick Neither because I thought nether option would lead to "N>2". But recently I've been looking at examples in which, the correct answer may actually be A) is sufficient.

So even though eventually you are able to tell N is not going to be greater than 2, as long as you have the sufficient condition to get an definite outcome?

SonalSinha803 · Answer

Since the first statement tells you that N is 5 which is definitely greater than 2, so this information is sufficient.

Second statement tells you that N is an integer, so N can be any negative or positive integer, greater than or less than 2. So we cannot give a definite answer- yes or no. Thus, this is insufficient.

Thus, A is the answer.

Posted from my mobile device

ganand · Answer

Hi  Fc733 ,

A  definite Yes  or a  definite NO  is a perfectly valid answer in the DS question.

Question is asking is N>2? From statement (1) we know that N is 5. Hence, N is definitely greater than 2. The answer is (A).

Suppose we replace statement (1) by N < 1. In this case, also answer would be (A), because we know for sure that N is not greater than 2. Hence, a definite NO.

Now consider another variant of the statement (1). (1)  N 
eq 2 .

Now, in this case, we are not sure whether N is less than 2 or greater than 2. Hence, no definite answer. So the answer would be (E).

Please try the modified version of your question:

Variant1:

Is N> 2?

(1)  N^{2} = 4

(2) N is a positive integer.

Variant2:

Is N > 2?

(1)  N^{2} = 16

(2) N is a positive integer.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

GMATBusters · Answer

This is not the right way to post a question on the forum. Please read   carefully   and follow our  RULES OF POSTING . Thank you.

Huahua1987 · Answer

It perfectly helps. I actually made the question wrong. I was intending to make it a "definite No" question. Somehow you got that covered in your explanation. I guess you saw my intention.

It's very helpful. I've been doing GMAT for so long. I think this is probably why it's rare for me to get on Q50.

Thanks again and thanks so much.

Bunuel · Answer

There are two types of data sufficiency questions:

1. YES/NO DS Questions:

In a Yes/No Data Sufficiency questions, statement(s) is sufficient if the answer is “always yes” or “always no” while a statement(s) is insufficient if the answer is "sometimes yes" and "sometimes no".

2. VALUE DS QUESTIONS:

When a DS question asks about the value of some variable, then the statement(s) is sufficient ONLY if you can get the single numerical value of this variable.

Strategies and Tactics for DS Section

GMAT Tip of the Week: The Data Sufficiency Reward System 
 GMAT Tip of the Week: The Heart of Data Sufficiency 
 GMAT Tip of The Week: Tonya Harding Teaches Data Sufficiency 
 C-Trap Questions 
Veritas Prep blog on  C-Trap .
Manhattan GMAT blog on  C-Trap .
 Another Manhattan GMAT blog  on C-Trap.
 Warning: Don't Fall Into the C Trap on Data Sufficiency Questions 
 Easy (A)/(B) Trap in Data Sufficiency Questions on the GMAT 
 How to Breakdown Data Sufficiency Sequence Questions on the GMAT 
 How to Make Abstract Data Sufficiency Questions More Concrete 
 Math Knowledge is Often Insufficient on Data Sufficiency 
 Why You Should Do the Math on Data Sufficiency GMAT Questions 
 GMAT Tip of the Week: No Resolution! 
 GMAT Tip of the Week: LeBron James Says Don't Be Cavalier About Your Initial Data Sufficiency Decision 
 Data Sufficiency: Why Are you Here? 
 GMAT Tip of the Week: Kanye West Teaches You How To Live The Data Sufficiency Good Life 
 When Do You Have Enough Information on Data Sufficiency GMAT Questions?

For more check  Ultimate GMAT Quantitative Megathread

Hope it helps.

Could someone help me with this DS confusion

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards