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saumster
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mikki0000
I agree with (D)

Two things to watch out for:

- My biggest bogeyman - that the answer to a DS can be NO and still be sufficient!

When you solve for k with the given values, you get k = 0.

Both (a) and (b) give you equations which will give you k values since a and b values are specified.

Therefore regardless of WHAT those values are, you can answer the question!

- The second thing to watch out for when you have two equations in two variables are to make sure they are not saying exactly the same thing, i.e. they are not the same equation. However, in this case even that wont dampen the issue, since the answer will still be D - either is sufficient.

MG

I guess there is a typo in your post
How did you get k=0? :wink:
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If b = ak + 3
and the values of a and b are 2, 3....

Then 3 = 2k + 3?

Therefore k = 0.

MG
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mikki0000
If b = ak + 3
and the values of a and b are 2, 3....

Then 3 = 2k + 3?

Therefore k = 0.

MG

yes you are right but how do you know that the given values of (a,b)=(2,3)
are solutions for the equation b = ak + 3
Look at the question especially the bolded part

In the equation b = ka+3, k is a constant. If the possible solutions are in the form (a,b); is (2,3) a solution to the equation?
without knowing the value of k you can't state that (a,b)=(2,3)
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Answer: D
Q: (2,3) solution for b=ka+3?

S1: (1,4) solution for b=ka+2
k=2.
Replacing in b=ka+3, not a solution

Sufficient.

S2: (5,3)... repeat same process as above.
Sufficient.

Answer: D.
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Yurik, its another way of looking at the same thing, isnt it?

IF the solution is correct, i.e. (a,b) are (2,3) then k must be 0. We can figure out whether the options are sufficient based on whether or not k = 0 in those options!

Alternatively, we find the value of k and plug it back into the equations.

Same stuff, diff way.

MG.
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Ah I get it - this is the part that was throwing me off. Ikept sub-ing (2,3) and getting k = 0; wondering if I can get the value for K from what's given, what's the point of the rest. Many thanks!

Yurik79
mikki0000
If b = ak + 3
and the values of a and b are 2, 3....

Then 3 = 2k + 3?

Therefore k = 0.

MG
yes you are right but how do you know that the given values of (a,b)=(2,3)
are solutions for the equation b = ak + 3
Look at the question especially the bolded part

In the equation b = ka+3, k is a constant. If the possible solutions are in the form (a,b); is (2,3) a solution to the equation?
without knowing the value of k you can't state that (a,b)=(2,3)



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