Mohsin,
This has been answered before on this forum. Pls search.
thanks
functions
This topic has expert replies
Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving |
-
vittalgmat
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 621
- Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:13 pm
- Thanked: 33 times
- Followed by:4 members
- logitech
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 2134
- Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:26 pm
- Thanked: 237 times
- Followed by:25 members
- GMAT Score:730
You can solve this by inserting X and 1-X to each choices and waste your 4 minutes..or since the correct answer will be for all x!
You should use X =1 so 1-X will be 0
just compare the results with x=1 and X=0
this will eliminate A, B and C in 30 seconds!
D looks right but you cant test E with X=1
so just check E with some other alternatives , lets say X=2 and X=-1
and you will see that the answer choices are not the same..but hey I checked the D too with X=2 and X=-1 and ...well I am not sure about the the validity of D & E any more
You should use X =1 so 1-X will be 0
just compare the results with x=1 and X=0
this will eliminate A, B and C in 30 seconds!
D looks right but you cant test E with X=1
so just check E with some other alternatives , lets say X=2 and X=-1
and you will see that the answer choices are not the same..but hey I checked the D too with X=2 and X=-1 and ...well I am not sure about the the validity of D & E any more
LGTCH
---------------------
"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
---------------------
"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
-
simba12123
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:05 pm
This question is begging to plug numbers in.
Plugging 2 into original equation and you get -1 as the target.
A yields -1 hence my answer choice.
B yields -3 no
C yields 3 no
D yields 1 no
E yields -2 no
So where am I going wrong? IMO QA IS A
Plugging 2 into original equation and you get -1 as the target.
A yields -1 hence my answer choice.
B yields -3 no
C yields 3 no
D yields 1 no
E yields -2 no
So where am I going wrong? IMO QA IS A
the ans is D
just substitute 1-x in plce of x in all options
you will easily be ablr to remove all wrong
A
it will turn out to be x which is wrong
B
x^2 will give something like 2x which can not be removed so wrong
C
good choice
but -ve sign will create problem
D
OK
E
easy one
it will becme 1-x/x
just substitute 1-x in plce of x in all options
you will easily be ablr to remove all wrong
A
it will turn out to be x which is wrong
B
x^2 will give something like 2x which can not be removed so wrong
C
good choice
but -ve sign will create problem
D
OK
E
easy one
it will becme 1-x/x
-
simba12123
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:05 pm
For must be true questions, use numbers to prove that particular option is WRONG.simba12123 wrote:I am trying your way, however, I am very apt to plug in numbers to bring about concrete answers. My brain is wired that way. I dont see how my answer is wrong!
Plugging 2 gives -1 as the answersimba12123 wrote:This question is begging to plug numbers in.
Plugging 2 into original equation and you get -1 as the target.
A yields -1 hence my answer choice.
that means we need to prove that
f(2) = f(-1)
but what you are concluding it as
f(2) = -1
Which is wrong.
f(x) = 1-x
so
f(1-x)
=1-(1-x)
=x
remember
x ! f(x)
B yields -3 no
C yields 3 no
D yields 1 no
E yields -2 no
So where am I going wrong? IMO QA IS A
Received a PM for detailed reply.
Here I go.............
I will try for option A, rest you do yourself and let me know if you want me to do those as well.
Method 1: Without numbers
we need to prove f(x) = f(1-x) for all x
A
f(x) = 1-x
now if f(1-x) is also equal to 1-x than I can say A is the answer.
Let me try
we know
f(x) = 1-x
substitute x by 1-x
f(1-x) = 1-(1-x) = 1-1+x = x
Now we know
f(x) = 1-x
and
f(1-x) = x
so f(x) != f(1-x)
hence A can not be the answer....
Method 2: With numbers
you choose x = 2
so f(2) = 1-2 = -1
now we need ot prove that
f(2) = f(1-2) ie
f(2) = f(-1) [what you are proving is f(2) = -1, which is not desired. We want f(2) to be equal to f(-1)]
now let me do
f(-1)
ie substitute x by -1 in f(x) = 1-x
f(-1) = 1-(-1) =2
hence
when x = 2
f(x) != f(1-x)
as f(2) is -1 and f(-1) is 2
so we can say A is incorrect.
Please do this for all other options, the concept will become clear to you.
Here I go.............
I will try for option A, rest you do yourself and let me know if you want me to do those as well.
Method 1: Without numbers
we need to prove f(x) = f(1-x) for all x
A
f(x) = 1-x
now if f(1-x) is also equal to 1-x than I can say A is the answer.
Let me try
we know
f(x) = 1-x
substitute x by 1-x
f(1-x) = 1-(1-x) = 1-1+x = x
Now we know
f(x) = 1-x
and
f(1-x) = x
so f(x) != f(1-x)
hence A can not be the answer....
Method 2: With numbers
you choose x = 2
so f(2) = 1-2 = -1
now we need ot prove that
f(2) = f(1-2) ie
f(2) = f(-1) [what you are proving is f(2) = -1, which is not desired. We want f(2) to be equal to f(-1)]
now let me do
f(-1)
ie substitute x by -1 in f(x) = 1-x
f(-1) = 1-(-1) =2
hence
when x = 2
f(x) != f(1-x)
as f(2) is -1 and f(-1) is 2
so we can say A is incorrect.
Please do this for all other options, the concept will become clear to you.
-
simba12123
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:05 pm
Stop@800
I get it! I usually tend to make things more complex than they really are. I saw one step that was in my way of clarity. I thank you and stand correct. The main takeaway from this is not a mechanical error approach but more of a framing issue. I must step back before jumping into the computations to see what is really being asked. I am now one step closer to my 700. Thankyou
I get it! I usually tend to make things more complex than they really are. I saw one step that was in my way of clarity. I thank you and stand correct. The main takeaway from this is not a mechanical error approach but more of a framing issue. I must step back before jumping into the computations to see what is really being asked. I am now one step closer to my 700. Thankyou
True for everyoe.simba12123 wrote:Stop@800
I get it! I usually tend to make things more complex than they really are. I saw one step that was in my way of clarity. I thank you and stand correct. The main takeaway from this is not a mechanical error approach but more of a framing issue. I must step back before jumping into the computations to see what is really being asked. I am now one step closer to my 700. Thankyou












