Carcass wrote:
If \(\frac{st}{u}\) is an integer, which of the following must also be an integer?
A. \(stu\)
B. \(\frac{3s^2t^2}{u^2}\)
C. \(\frac{su}{t}\)
D. \(\frac{tu}{s}\)
E. \(\frac{s}{tu}\)
Very tricky question. The key is noticing that \(s\), \(t\), and \(u\) don't have to be integers. Also, this is a
must question, meaning that if even one selection for \(s\), \(t\), and \(u\) provides a non-integer, the answer choice is incorrect. The goal would be to find that incorrect combination of \(s\), \(t\), and \(u\).
A. \(stu\)
\(s = t = u = \frac{1}{2}\)
\(stu = \frac{1}{2}*\frac{1}{2}*\frac{1}{2}\)
\(stu = \frac{1}{8}\)
In this case, \(stu\) is not an integer.
Therefore A is not the answer.B. \(\frac{3s^2t^2}{u^2}\)
We know that \(\frac{st}{u}\) is an integer, so \(\frac{s^{2}t^{2}}{u^{2}}\) must be an integer as well. Multiplying this by 3 will also keep it as an integer.
B looks like the answer, but let's check the rest.C. \(\frac{su}{t}\)
Let \(s = 2\), \(u = \frac{1}{2}\), and \(t = 3\)
\(\frac{st}{u} = \frac{2*3}{0.5} = 2*3*2 = 12\)
So we know that our selection of values for \(s\), \(t\), \(u\) produce an integer. But what happens when we rearrange the variables?
\(\frac{su}{t} = \frac{2*0.5}{3} = \frac{1}{3}\)
In this case, \(\frac{su}{t}\) is not an integer.
Therefore, C is not the answer.Using the same logic from C, we can eliminate D and E.Therefore, our answer is B