simple but tricky

Anurag@Gurome: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3835; Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pm; Location: Milpitas, CA; Thanked: 1854 times; Followed by:523 members; GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:18 am

gmat25 wrote:What is x?

(1) |x| < 2
(2) |x| = 3x - 2

Statement 1: |x| < 2 ---> -2 < x < 2 ---> NOT sufficient

Statement 2: |x| = 3x - 2
If x â‰¥ 0, x = 3x - 2 ---> x = 1
If x < 0, -x = 3x - 2 ---> x = 1/2 ---> Not possible

Hence, x = 1

Sufficient

The correct answer is B.

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beatthegmat.garry: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 29; Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:07 pm; Thanked: 8 times; Followed by:1 members

by beatthegmat.garry » Sat Jul 16, 2011 5:32 pm

Thank you for your reply, but why do you say that x=1/2 value is not possible? It doesnt mention in the question that x is an integer.

Regards!

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Frankenstein: Legendary Member; Posts: 1448; Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 9:55 am; Location: India; Thanked: 375 times; Followed by:53 members

by Frankenstein » Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:54 pm

beatthegmat.garry wrote:Thank you for your reply, but why do you say that x=1/2 value is not possible? It doesnt mention in the question that x is an integer.

Regards!

Hi,

If x < 0, -x = 3x - 2 ---> x = 1/2 ---> Not possible

We get x = 1/2, when we have considered the case x<0. So, it is impossible.
Moreover, whenever in doubt just plug in that value in the equation
Check if |1/2| = 3(1/2) -2
LHS is 1/2,
RHS = -1/2.

Cheers!

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