Sir, answer should be 0 ? because any number * 0 = 0, and we have been given 3 non-zero products.

Hi Carcass,

Why is it not zero?

Thanks,
Simran

We're told a number of facts about a game and the cards that you use to play the game:
1) There are 12 cards, each with an integer written on it
2) The integers are consecutive
3) After drawing 2 cards, you multiply the product of the two numbers on the cards
4) The scores 40, 72 and 60 are earned during three turns.

We're asked which of the answers could NOT be the smallest number in the deck.

Let's focus on the number 40....

Since we have to get to the number 40 by using the product of 2 integers that are within "range" of one another (remember there are only 12 integers and they are CONSECUTIVE), there are only a few possible options....

40 =
(1)(40) --> NOT an option, since 1 and 40 are not within 12 integers.
(2)(20) --> NOT an option either
(4)(10) --> This IS an option
(5)(8) --> This IS an option

To get the "40" score, you either need the 4 or the 5....so one or the other or both needs to be on one of the cards.

Thus, there's no way that the 6 can be the smallest card.

As 40 is the smallest score . Lets check it.
40 can be written as product of 1*40, 2*20, 4*10, 5*8
but given to us is 12 as highest number so only 4*10 or 5*8 combinations are possible. minimum can't be 6.

E

but how can 0 be the smallest number ? Since 0*anything =0 and we have non zero values in the question.