* GCF...DataSufficiency

[sd]

[problem deleted because source was not cited.]

But the solution is given as A, because in statement B what if a=b. Then the greatest common factor will be a (or b since a=b). Hence this statement is insufficient, because

CASE 1 - IF a b are prime and a <> b, then GCF = 1
CASE 2 - IF a b are prime and a = b, then GCF = a

There statement 2 is insufficient.

Now my question is if this were an actual GMAT question, do we have to consider the possibility that a = b? Since the question has used 2 separate alphabets a and b to denote 2 positive integers, why do we have to conider the possibility that a = b?

[Ben Ku]

Can you post the source of this question?

[Kweku.Amoako]

yes

The question only stated that a and be are positive integers. It never said a and b are positive DIFFIRENT integers so you would have to accomodate this condition

[StaceyKoprince]

problem deleted b/c source was not cited. please remember to read / follow the forum rules!

In general, just because two different variables are assigned does NOT mean that those two different variables represent different numbers. So, yes, we have to assume that they could be the same number (unless we are told that they are not the same number).