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1). n can be 2, 3, 5, 7, any prime number, insuf

2). only 2 can satisfy this condition, suff

answer B
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meenal8284
well.. i think answer is c

statement 1 is insufficient as it states property of every prime no.
statement 2 is insufficient as it is true for numbers like 14, 18 ,28 ... and so on and so forth.


A prime number (which is always odd) having only itself and 1 as its factor can have the difference between two of its factors odd if and only if it is even.. hence.. both statements are imperative for arriving at one unique solution i.e. 2

B only..
1.) n = any prime number --- 2,3,5,7 ( So, n can be 2 or can not be 2)..not sufficient.

2.) factors of 14 = 1,2,7,14 ...( 2-1 = 1 odd ; 7-1 = 6 even ; 14-2 = 12 even ) not true..
same with 18, 28 etc..

2nd statement is true only when n = 2 ...
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gmate2010
meenal8284
well.. i think answer is c

statement 1 is insufficient as it states property of every prime no.
statement 2 is insufficient as it is true for numbers like 14, 18 ,28 ... and so on and so forth.


A prime number (which is always odd) having only itself and 1 as its factor can have the difference between two of its factors odd if and only if it is even.. hence.. both statements are imperative for arriving at one unique solution i.e. 2

B only..
1.) n = any prime number --- 2,3,5,7 ( So, n can be 2 or can not be 2)..not sufficient.

2.) factors of 14 = 1,2,7,14 ...( 2-1 = 1 odd ; 7-1 = 6 even ; 14-2 = 12 even ) not true..
same with 18, 28 etc..

2nd statement is true only when n = 2 ...

It is said the difference of ANY two factors should be odd. 14-1=13 and it is still odd. \(x-1=odd\)if and only if x is even. So we need a condition that will eliminate all other even numbers other than 2. This condition is "x is prime". Since there is only one prime even number (2), it is sufficient. Therefore, C is an answer I get. Can someone explain why B is OA?
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LenaA
gmate2010
meenal8284
well.. i think answer is c

statement 1 is insufficient as it states property of every prime no.
statement 2 is insufficient as it is true for numbers like 14, 18 ,28 ... and so on and so forth.


A prime number (which is always odd) having only itself and 1 as its factor can have the difference between two of its factors odd if and only if it is even.. hence.. both statements are imperative for arriving at one unique solution i.e. 2

B only..
1.) n = any prime number --- 2,3,5,7 ( So, n can be 2 or can not be 2)..not sufficient.

2.) factors of 14 = 1,2,7,14 ...( 2-1 = 1 odd ; 7-1 = 6 even ; 14-2 = 12 even ) not true..
same with 18, 28 etc..

2nd statement is true only when n = 2 ...

It is said the difference of ANY two factors should be odd. 14-1=13 and it is still odd. \(x-1=odd\)if and only if x is even. So we need a condition that will eliminate all other even numbers other than 2. This condition is "x is prime". Since there is only one prime even number (2), it is sufficient. Therefore, C is an answer I get. Can someone explain why B is OA?


factors of 14 are -- 1,2,7 and 14

Any factors can be
1,2 or 1,7 or 1,14 or 2,7 or 2,14 or 7,14

The difference is sometimes even and sometimes odd..

Only when n =2 , we have 1,2 are the only factors ..

diff = 2-1 = 1 odd only..

When n is 0dd not a prime..lets n = 9 factors are 1,3,9

diff = 3-1 = 2 even always
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I got it. The statement 2 will hold only for number 2...for any other number, we have even or odd difference... which is a violation of statement 2. Thanks!
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Think this way easier:
(1) insuff
(2) Difference of any distinct positive factors is odd.
Every integer has at least two prime factors.
Let's take one is x second is 1 => x-1=odd => x is even and also prime. only one prime even 2. => 2 must be a factor of n => n is even. If n>2 even number itself(factor) - 2(factor) is always even. so n=2 is the only option.
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Nice explanations.



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