Official Guide Explanation:
Data Sufficiency #44

 

 

Background

This is just one of hundreds of free explanations I've created to the quantitative questions in The Official Guide for GMAT Quantitative Review (2nd ed.). Click the links on the question number, difficulty level, and categories to find explanations for other problems.

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Solution and Metadata

Question: 44
Page: 156
Difficulty: 5 (Moderate)
Category 1: Arithmetic > Properties of Integers > Other
Category 2: Algebra > Linear Equations-Two Unk >

Explanation: Statement (1) is insufficient: it provides two equations--x - y = 3 and x + y = 9--but it isn't clear which digit is which. The values that fulfill those equations are x = 6 and y = 3, so Q could be 36 or 63. Statement (2) is insufficient: Q could be any number between 10 and 50.

Taken together, the statements are sufficient: if Q is 36 or 63 and Q < 50, Q must be equal to 36. Choice (C) is correct.

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