Last visit was: 13 Sep 2026, 05:01 It is currently 13 Sep 2026, 05:01
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: 13 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,481
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 111,490
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,481
Kudos: 840,983
 [23]
Kudos
Add Kudos
23
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 13 Sep 2026
Posts: 8,817
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,817
Kudos: 5,339
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
anshkool4u
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 18 Oct 2018
Last visit: 22 Oct 2022
Posts: 91
Own Kudos:
75
 [5]
Given Kudos: 23
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Operations
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
GPA: 4
WE:Business Development (Retail Banking)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
Posts: 91
Kudos: 75
 [5]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 13 Sep 2026
Posts: 8,817
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,817
Kudos: 5,339
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
anshkool4u
Answer is A.
From stmnt 1,we know X=3*( sum of digits of X)
Now,supposing X is A3 digit no.,999,sum of digits =27,and 3 times 27= 81,a 2 digit no.which is contradictory in itself.
Considering X=100,sum of digits=1,hence 3 times 1=1,a one digit no.
This means X should be a 2 digit no.
Let X=10a+b
Then 10a+b= 3*(a+b)
Or 7a=2b,or a=3.5b.
Now,for the 2 digit no.X,a and b should both be integers,and should be 0<a,b<=9.
Only digits satisfying this are 2 and 7.
So,X=27= 3*(2+7)
Sufficient.

Stmnt 2 is insufficient

So,A

Posted from my mobile device

anshkool4u

quoting your line :
Let X=10a+b
Then 10a+b= 3*(a+b)
Or 7a=2b,or a=3.5b.

this would be 3.5a=b

Now,for the 2 digit no.X,a and b should both be integers,and should be 0<a,b<=9. " how did you come up to this range"? agree that a and b have to be between 0-9 but why specifically you have mentioned that "be 0<a,b<=9."
User avatar
ShankSouljaBoi
Joined: 21 Jun 2017
Last visit: 12 Aug 2026
Posts: 593
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4,089
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
GMAT 2: 620 Q47 V30
GMAT 3: 650 Q48 V31
GPA: 3.1
WE:Corporate Finance (Non-Profit and Government)
Products:
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let X be of form pq . So basically X =10P + Q

A---> 3x = P + Q
---> 2Q = 7P
For this to hold P should be 2 and Q should be 7
27 is the unique no.
Sufficient

B---> No unique value. Insufficient

Answer A

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 13 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,481
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 111,490
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,481
Kudos: 840,983
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
What is the value of a positive integer x?

(1) x is three times the sum of its digits
(2) x is a two-digit number

Par of GMAT CLUB'S New Year's Quantitative Challenge Set

User avatar
anshkool4u
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 18 Oct 2018
Last visit: 22 Oct 2022
Posts: 91
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Operations
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
GPA: 4
WE:Business Development (Retail Banking)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
Posts: 91
Kudos: 75
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archit3110
anshkool4u
Answer is A.
From stmnt 1,we know X=3*( sum of digits of X)
Now,supposing X is A3 digit no.,999,sum of digits =27,and 3 times 27= 81,a 2 digit no.which is contradictory in itself.
Considering X=100,sum of digits=1,hence 3 times 1=1,a one digit no.
This means X should be a 2 digit no.
Let X=10a+b
Then 10a+b= 3*(a+b)
Or 7a=2b,or a=3.5b.
Now,for the 2 digit no.X,a and b should both be integers,and should be 0<a,b<=9.
Only digits satisfying this are 2 and 7.
So,X=27= 3*(2+7)
Sufficient.

Stmnt 2 is insufficient

So,A

Posted from my mobile device

anshkool4u

quoting your line :
Let X=10a+b
Then 10a+b= 3*(a+b)
Or 7a=2b,or a=3.5b.

this would be 3.5a=b

Now,for the 2 digit no.X,a and b should both be integers,and should be 0<a,b<=9. " how did you come up to this range"? agree that a and b have to be between 0-9 but why specifically you have mentioned that "be 0<a,b<=9."


Hi Archit,
the range quoted is because if a=0, then the no. ab would just become a single digit no.
and since 3.5a=b, value of b cannot be 0 because a cannot be 0.

I hope that makes it clear.
User avatar
exc4libur
Joined: 24 Nov 2016
Last visit: 22 Mar 2022
Posts: 1,678
Own Kudos:
1,495
 [2]
Given Kudos: 607
Location: United States
Posts: 1,678
Kudos: 1,495
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
What is the value of a positive integer x?

(1) x is three times the sum of its digits
(2) x is a two-digit number

(2) x is a two-digit number insufic.

(1) x is three times the sum of its digits sufic.

digits: {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9}

if x = one-digit number: A, then A=3A is only possible if A=0, but x≥1; out.
if x = three-digit number: then 100 ≤ x ≤ 999, but the max possible sum of digits = {9,9,9} = 27; out.
if x = two-digit number: 10A+B, then 10A+B=3(A+B)… 7A=2B…A=2B/7=integer;
since 1≤A≤9, 0≤B≤9 and A=2B/7=integer… B has multiple of 7: B=(0,7);
B=0; A=2B/7…A=0…but A≥1; out;
B=7; A=2B/7…A=2…so, x=27

Answer (A)
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 13 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,481
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 111,490
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,481
Kudos: 840,983
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
What is the value of a positive integer x?

(1) x is three times the sum of its digits
(2) x is a two-digit number


M36-66

Official Solution:


What is the value of a positive integer \(x\)?

(1) \(x\) is three times the sum of its digits

First let's check how many digit number \(x\) can be.

Can \(x\) be a single-digit number? No. Only 0 satisfices \(x=3x\) but we are told that \(x\) is positive.

Can \(x\) be a three-digit number? No. The maximum sum of the digits of a three-digit number is \(9+9+9=27\) and thrice of that is not a three-digit number. The same for four or more digit numbers: thrice the sum of the digits will always be less than the number itself.

Can \(x\) be a two-digit number? Say \(x=10a+b\), then we'd have that \(10a+b=3(a + b)\):

\(\frac{a}{b}=\frac{2}{7}\). Since both \(a\) and \(b\) are positive digits (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), then \(a=2\) and \(b=7\). So, \(x=27\). Sufficient.

(2) \(x\) is a two-digit number. Clearly insufficient.


Answer: A
Moderator:
Math Expert
113481 posts