Mistake in OG? Q80 in QR! Please help!

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gmatnov09
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Topic: Mistake in OG? Q80 in QR! Please help!
PostMon Nov 16, 2009 6:20 pm

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For Q80 of the Official Guide, Quant. Review, I think there is a mistake. Please tell me if I'm wrong, I just can't understand how the OG is right here.

80. If xy>0, does (x-1)(y-1)=1

(1) x+y = xy
(2) x = y

Let's focus on (2)
If x=y, substituting in y for x gives you (y-1)(y-1)=1
Therefore y^2 -2y +1 = 1
Up to here me and the OG agree!

However, now I believe this can be solved. The 1's cancel out, leaving y^2 - 2y = 0
The y can be factored, giving y(y-2) = 0.

The GMAT claims this cannot be uniquely solved for y. BUT the question says that xy>0. That means that Y CANNOT BE 0. If y was 0, xy = 0! Therefore, y must equal 2. Therefore statement 2 IS sufficient, and the answer is D not A.

What are everyone's thoughts?
And is there a list somewhere of OG mistakes?

Thanks!
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palvarez
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PostMon Nov 16, 2009 6:28 pm

gmatnov09 wrote:
For Q80 of the Official Guide, Quant. Review, I think there is a mistake. Please tell me if I'm wrong, I just can't understand how the OG is right here.

80. If xy>0, does (x-1)(y-1)=1

(1) x+y = xy
(2) x = y

Let's focus on (2)
If x=y, substituting in y for x gives you (y-1)(y-1)=1
Therefore y^2 -2y +1 = 1
Up to here me and the OG agree!

However, now I believe this can be solved. The 1's cancel out, leaving y^2 - 2y = 0
The y can be factored, giving y(y-2) = 0.

The GMAT claims this cannot be uniquely solved for y. BUT the question says that xy>0. That means that Y CANNOT BE 0. If y was 0, xy = 0! Therefore, y must equal 2. Therefore statement 2 IS sufficient, and the answer is D not A.

What are everyone's thoughts?
And is there a list somewhere of OG mistakes?

Thanks!
Is (x-1)(y-1) = 1
or is xy = x+y?

look at (2): x = y, xy = x+y when x= y = 0 or when x = y =2. rule out x= y = 0


xy = x+y when x = y = 2
but xy <> x+y when x = y <> 2
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gmatnov09
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PostMon Nov 16, 2009 6:39 pm

Thanks, I get it now. The question was just asking IF we know that it equals 1. Totally missed it.
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PostFri Nov 20, 2009 9:10 am

i still dont understand how come 2 is not sufficient??
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