Loading...

Lesson: Data Sufficiency Challenging - 20t03

Multiple Steps: Example 2

[Page 20 of 24]

If m and n are positive integers, are m and n consecutive integers?

1) m2 = n2 + n + m

2) n2 = m2 - 2m + 1

The question stem asks whether m and n are consecutive numbers. What are the two ways to represent this relationship algebraically?

m =

m =

Review Statement 1 below. Is it sufficient or insufficient? Select the correct answer and then click Continue.

1)

  Sufficient Insufficient    

If m and n are consecutive, then we can replace m in the expression with one of n – 1 or n + 1 without violating the equation. If they’re not, the equation won’t work if we do so. So, let’s try n – 1:

Is ? Well, if we work out both sides of the equation, we get . These are not equal, so we know that .

Now let’s try n + 1:

Is ? Well, if we work out both sides of the equation, we get . These are equal, so we know that m = n + 1, which means that m and n are indeed consecutive. Statement 1 is therefore sufficient.

Let’s look at Statement 2.

v>

Countinue

Next to display next topic in the chapter.

Test Prep Lessons With Video Lessons and Explained MCQ

More for You
All in this Category

You may be interested in

Colleges in cities of Balochistan

Comprehensive lists of colleges in ...

Colleges in Bahawalpur

Find colleges in your area in Bahaw ...

Visa and Immigration to Cyprus

How you can get Visa and Immigratio ...

Admissions News and Info

Have current admission news and inf ...

SAT Reasoning Test

SAT Reasoning - a general test for ...

GRE Bio-Chemistry

Find what is GRE Bio-Chemistry and ...

Universities in KPK

A comprehensive list of universitie ...

COMSATS - Engineering

COMSAT degrees in engineering - the ...