Question 1 OG :2015 :DS

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Question 1 OG :2015 :DS

by Sh_QR » Sat Sep 05, 2015 12:49 am
please help me to understand the answer for this question:
1.What is the value of |x| ?
A) X=- |x|
B)X SQR=4
The answer is B
My answer is A

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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sat Sep 05, 2015 5:41 am
I believe the question should be worded as follows:
Sh_QR wrote: 1.What is the value of |x| ?
A) x = -|x|
B) x² = 4
Target question: What is the value of |x|?

Statement 1: x = -|x|
This statement doesn't FEEL sufficient, so I'm going to TEST some values.
There are several values of x satisfy statement 1. Here are two:
Case a: x = 0, (since 0 = -|0|). In this case, |x| = |0| = 0
Case b: x = -1, (since -1 = -|1|). In this case, |x| = |-1| = 1
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Aside: For more on this idea of plugging in values when a statement doesn't feel sufficient, you can read my article: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/articles/dat ... lug-values

Statement 2: x² = 4
There are two solutions to this equation: x = -2 and x = 2
However, this does not mean that the statement is insufficient, because the question is not asking us to find the value of x. We're asked to find the value of |x|, and in both cases, we get the SAME ANSWER
Case a: x = -2. In this case, |x| = |-2| = 2
Case b: x = 2. In this case, |x| = |2| = 2
So, we can be CERTAIN that |x| = 2
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer = B

Cheers,
Brent
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by Max@Math Revolution » Sat Sep 05, 2015 9:34 pm
Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and equations ensures a solution.


1.What is the value of |x| ?
1) X=- |x|
2) X^2=4

According to the variable approach method, there is 1 variable (x) in the original condition and we need 1 equation to match the number of variables and equations. Since we 1 each in 1) and 2), D is likely the answer.

In case of 1), x<0 therefore it is not unique. Thus the condition is NOT sufficient
In case of 2), x=-2,2==> |x|=|-2|,|2|, x=2 the answer is unique, therefore it is sufficient

The answer is B.

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