Last visit was: 17 Sep 2026, 03:01 It is currently 17 Sep 2026, 03:01
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New comers' posts
New posts
Unanswered

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
PREVIOUS TOPIC
NEXT TOPIC

n is a positive odd integer

Tags :
Find Similar Topics  About  Add a Tag

Show Tags
Hide Tags

User avatar
D
Carcass
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 36155
Own Kudos [?]: 43328 [1]
Given Kudos: 27250
Send PM
n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   26 May 2024, 22:02
Expert Reply
1
Bookmarks
00:00

Question Stats:

48% (01:39) correct 51% (01:07) wrong based on 60 sessions

Hide Show timer Statistics

n is a positive odd integer, \(a = \frac{n-1}{2}\) and \(b = \frac{n+1}{2}\)


Quantity A
Quantity B
\(-2^a\)
\(-2^b \)




ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
avatar
B
LuisMartinez
Intern
Intern
Joined: 30 Apr 2024
Posts: 18
Own Kudos [?]: 23 [2]
Given Kudos: 2
Send PM
Re: n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   27 May 2024, 15:03
1
1
Bookmarks
Okay, if we make a table I think it would be easier.
n=1
a=0
b=1
A= -2^0=-1
B=-2^1= -2

n=3
a=1
b=2
A= -2^1=-2
B= -2^2=-4

Since a is always going to be smaller than b, the correct answer is A. The tricky part is differentiating -2^n and (-2)^n (I fell for it haha)
avatar
B
steveharvi
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 Mar 2024
Posts: 51
Own Kudos [?]: 22 [2]
Given Kudos: 46
Send PM
Re: n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   02 Jun 2024, 01:31
2
LuisMartinez wrote:
Okay, if we make a table I think it would be easier.
n=1
a=0
b=1
A= -2^0=-1
B=-2^1= -2

n=3
a=1
b=2
A= -2^1=-2
B= -2^2=-4

Since a is always going to be smaller than b, the correct answer is A. The tricky part is differentiating -2^n and (-2)^n (I fell for it haha)


-2^0 is 1 not -1, -2^2 is 4 not -4 answer should be D,
User avatar
D
Carcass
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 36155
Own Kudos [?]: 43328 [0]
Given Kudos: 27250
Send PM
Re: n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   03 Jun 2024, 09:36
Expert Reply
The book reports A as answer but I agree is D

If we pick up 1 as odd number

a=0 and b =1

QA is 1 and QB is -2

A>B

However if we pick up 3

a=1 and b=2

QA= -2 and QB =4

D should be the answer
avatar
S
defender007
Manager
Manager
Joined: 03 Jul 2024
Posts: 77
Own Kudos [?]: 36 [1]
Given Kudos: 129
Send PM
Re: n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   17 Jul 2024, 00:26
1
Easy Rule

We can remember this always Odd x Odd= Odd
Even + or - Odd = Odd

Every other operation except division results in an even number.

Now considering this a and b can either be odd or even given there is a division by 2. we just know that numerator is even in the expressions. so we cannot determine the signs of the quantity and compare.

Hence D should be the answer. Hope this helps.
avatar
shaunpant
Intern
Intern
Joined: 26 Apr 2024
Posts: 2
Own Kudos [?]: 1 [1]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   17 Jul 2024, 04:01
1
ans is A
minus (-) sign is not powered, its just the numbers.
avatar
G
KurtMeyer
Manager
Manager
Joined: 13 Sep 2024
Posts: 208
Own Kudos [?]: 66 [0]
Given Kudos: 9
Send PM
Re: n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2025, 04:07
shaunpant wrote:
ans is A
minus (-) sign is not powered, its just the numbers.


That is right.
avatar
G
KurtMeyer
Manager
Manager
Joined: 13 Sep 2024
Posts: 208
Own Kudos [?]: 66 [0]
Given Kudos: 9
Send PM
Re: n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2025, 04:10
defender007 wrote:
Easy Rule

We can remember this always Odd x Odd= Odd
Even + or - Odd = Odd

Every other operation except division results in an even number.

Now considering this a and b can either be odd or even given there is a division by 2. we just know that numerator is even in the expressions. so we cannot determine the signs of the quantity and compare.

Hence D should be the answer. Hope this helps.


No.

Parentheses are of utmost importance in terms of which an even exponent can be powering the signs.
avatar
G
KurtMeyer
Manager
Manager
Joined: 13 Sep 2024
Posts: 208
Own Kudos [?]: 66 [0]
Given Kudos: 9
Send PM
n is a positive odd integer [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2025, 04:10
Carcass wrote:
The book reports A as answer but I agree is D

If we pick up 1 as odd number

a=0 and b =1

QA is 1 and QB is -2

A>B

However if we pick up 3

a=1 and b=2

QA= -2 and QB =4

D should be the answer


I am totally correct in this case. Answer must be D due to absence of the brackets.
Prep Club for GRE Bot
gmatclubot
n is a positive odd integer [#permalink]
20 Jan 2025, 04:10
Moderators:
adewale223
GRE Instructor
166 posts
bronaugust
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
VibhuAnurag
GRE Instructor
275 posts
Nsp10
Moderator
45 posts
tyrant100
GRE Forum Moderator
144 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne

Main navigation

Partners

GRE Resources

www.ets.org/gre | About | Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy | Prep Club for GRE Rules | Contact | Advertise