QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Maths

Prelims 2022

"Consider the Question and two Statements given below: Question: Is xx an integer?

Statement-1: x3\frac{x}{3} is not an integer. Statement-2: 3x3x is an integer.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?"

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

  1. Statement-1 Alone: If x/3x/3 is not an integer, it means that xx is not divisible by 3. This information tells us that x is not a multiple of 3, but it doesn’t indicate whether x itself is an integer. For example, x could be a fraction like 5/25/2, which is not divisible by 3, or an integer like 5, which is also not divisible by 3. Conclusion: Statement-1 alone is insufficient to determine if x is an integer.

  2. Statement-2 Alone: If 3x3x is an integer, this means x could either be an integer or a fraction with a denominator that divides 3 (like x=1/3 x = 1/3). Conclusion: Statement-2 alone is also insufficient to determine if x is an integer.

  3. Using Both Statements Together: x could be 5/25/2, satisfying both statements since (5/2)/3(5/2)/3 is not an integer (Statement-1), and 3×(5/2)=15/23 \times (5/2) = 15/2, which is not an integer (Statement-2). Alternatively, x could be 5, which is an integer, also satisfying both statements. Conclusion: Even with both statements combined, we cannot determine if x is definitively an integer.

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