Explanation

To find the value of n here, we're going to need to be given the values of both a and b, or else the value of some expression with a and b that fortuitously drops out of the equation. On to the statements, first separately. Statement (1) allows us to conclude that , but that's insufficient to determine the value of n. On to Statement (2). There may be a way to combine this equation with the equation in the stem in a fortuitous manner. If we substitute the value of a into the original equation, we get



This yields . So Statement (2) is sufficient and the correct answer is (B). This was, indeed, a case in which we were able to solve not according to the n variables, n equations rule, but through fortuitous algebra. This event doesn't contradict the n variables, n equations rule, because Statement (2) alone doesn't allow us to solve for all variables involved, just n. Moreover, this question is a good example of why it's beneficial to be disciplined about evaluating the data statements separately first. If you had evaluated the statements together before evaluating Statement (2) alone, it would have easy to choose (C) erroneously.

The correct answer is (B).