X = 0 ?

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:12 am
Location: Dominican Republic
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:480

X = 0 ?

by MAAJ » Mon Apr 25, 2011 10:55 am
Is x = 0?

1) 3x = 2xy
2) (x^2) = x

----------

IMO [spoiler](C)[/spoiler]

1) 3x = 2xy
3x - 2xy = 0
x (3-2y) = 0
x = 0 OR 3-2y = 0

2)(x^2) = x
x = 0 OR x = 1

3)Combining 1 and 2:
x must be 0
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:12 am
Location: Dominican Republic
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:480

by MAAJ » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:14 am
Woops! wrong forum, should be moved to DS Section.
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:04 pm
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:2 members

by venmic » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:09 pm
Should this answer not be A alone becuase

3x - 2xy = 0
then
x(3-2Y) = 0

then

X=0 and y = 3/2

so sufficent

how can it be C

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:17 am
Thanked: 40 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:760

by jaymw » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:37 pm
Is x = 0?

1) 3x = 2xy
2) (x^2) = x
It does not personally bother me that you posted this question in the "wrong" forum, because we're still talking about math stuff here:) However, please make sure that you include the source whenever you post a question. Also, it would be good to include the OA using the spoiler tag.

Now to the question:

Is x=0 ?

Statement 1: 3x=2xy

if y=1.5 then x could be any value, including zero.

Insufficient.

Statement 2: x²=x


This is true for x=0 and x=1.

Insufficient.

Combining the statements:

x=0 would make both statements correct.

x=1 could also make both statements correct, because:

3(1)=2(1)*y, is true if y=1.5

Insufficent.
[spoiler]
The answer is E.[/spoiler]

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:17 am
Thanked: 40 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:760

by jaymw » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:41 pm
venmic wrote:Should this answer not be A alone becuase

3x - 2xy = 0
then
x(3-2Y) = 0

then

X=0 and y = 3/2

so sufficent

how can it be C
That's actually not true. Although your rearrangement was correct, the conclusion drawn from it (X=0 and y = 3/2) was not. For a product to equal zero, it is ENOUGH when ONE of the factors is equal to zero. Thus, the proper conclusion is X=0 OR y = 3/2.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 118
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:51 am
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 12 times
Followed by:1 members

by pankajks2010 » Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:41 am
venmic wrote:Should this answer not be A alone becuase

3x - 2xy = 0
then
x(3-2Y) = 0

then

X=0 and y = 3/2

so sufficent

how can it be C
The solution for the equation: x(3-2Y) = 0, cannot be just x=0 AND y=3/2.
It is actually, either x=0 or y=3/2 or both (x=0 and y=3/2)

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:12 am
Location: Dominican Republic
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:480

by MAAJ » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:21 am
This is tricky :(

I blindly choose C because both 1) and 2) stated x = 0

So the lesson here is that we should consider all values given by the statements and combine them?

1) x = 0 OR y = 3/2
2) x = 0 OR x = 1

3)Combined:
x = 0 AND y = 3/2
x = 1 AND y = 3/2

What's the best method to tackle this type of questions?
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:37 am
Location: Kolkata, India
Thanked: 50 times
Followed by:2 members

by Abhishek009 » Tue Apr 26, 2011 3:39 am
MAAJ wrote:Is x = 0?

1) 3x = 2xy
2) (x^2) = x

----------

IMO [spoiler](C)[/spoiler]

1) 3x = 2xy
3x - 2xy = 0
x (3-2y) = 0
x = 0 OR 3-2y = 0

2)(x^2) = x
x = 0 OR x = 1

3)Combining 1 and 2:
x must be 0

3x = 2xy

Can be written as

3 = 2y { Cancelling X from both sides }

Now y = 3/2

(x^2) = x

Can be written as

x = 1 { Cancelling X from both sides }

So to my knowledge none of them is sufficient to reach the conclusion x = 0.
Abhishek

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:12 am
Location: Dominican Republic
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:480

by MAAJ » Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:47 am
Abhishek009, the second statement is a quadratic equation, so you should not solve it dividing by a variable because you could miss an answer.

x² = x
x² - x + 0 = 0
(x-1)(x-0) = 0
x = 1 OR x = 0

x = 0 is a possible solution to the equation!
Abhishek009 wrote:
3x = 2xy

Can be written as

3 = 2y { Cancelling X from both sides }

Now y = 3/2

(x^2) = x

Can be written as

x = 1 { Cancelling X from both sides }

So to my knowledge none of them is sufficient to reach the conclusion x = 0.
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."