if x, y, and z are integers greater than 1

[guest612]

if x, y, and z are integers greater than 1, what is the value of x+y+z?

1) xyz=70
2) x/(yz) = 7/10

Can you please explain how the answer is A? I'm stumped.

[Genie]

The only way you could get a 70 is if the factors are 2,5 and 7.

[guest612]

thanks genie. i just realized i misread that all integers are greater than 1. oh my goodness.

[RonPurewal]

yeah - make sure that you read the questions carefully. ESPECIALLY pay attention to information that appears in the question prompt, because that information must be true regardless of which statement you happen to be using.

they do love their prime factorizations.

finally, if a question appears to be ridiculously easy - if there are no restrictions on x, y, or z, then it's pretty clear that there's not enough information to find x + y + z - then you ought to give it a second look to make sure you aren't ignoring any salient information (as you did here).
you aren't going to nail 'em all, but you definitely don't want to blow problems just because you aren't reading them closely enough.