Question

One column of numbers consists of 33, 58, and 17. When the digits of the

numbers are added together, the result is 3+3+5+8+1+7=27, and when
the digits of 27 are then added together, the end result is 2 + 7 = 9. If the
same process is performed on the numbers in a second column, what can be
concluded?
OA. If the end result from the second column is also 9, then the sum of
the numbers in the first column is not equal to the sum of the
numbers in the second column.
OB. If the end result from the second column is not 9, then the sum of
the numbers in the first column is not equal to the sum of the
numbers in the second column.
OC. If the end result from the second column is not 9, then the sum of
the numbers in the first column is equal to the sum of the
numbers in the second column.
D. If the end result from the second column is also 9, then the sum of
the numbers in the first column is equal to the sum of the numbers
in the second column.

Answer 1

B. If the end result from the second column is not 9, then the sum of the numbers in the first column is not equal to the sum of the numbers in the second column.

This is because the process described (adding the digits of the numbers and then adding the digits of the result until a single digit is obtained) is essentially finding the digital root of the sum of the numbers in each column. If the digital roots of the two columns are different, then the sum of the numbers in the first column cannot be equal to the sum of the numbers in the second column.