BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

a, b

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Source: — Data Sufficiency |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 119
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:16 pm
Thanked: 9 times
GMAT Score:730

by mikeCoolBoy » Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:12 am
I get E

ax^2 + bx^3 =5 ---> x^2(a+bx) = 5 --- (1)

1) ax^2 = a ---> x^2 =1 ---> x = 1 or x= -1

substituting in (1)

x = 1 ---> a + b = 5
x = -1 ---> a -b = 5 insufficient

2) ax^3 = b ---> ax^2 = b/x

substituting in (1)
b/x + bx^3 =5 ---> b + bx^4 = 5x b and x can take different values
insufficient

1) and 2)

x = 1 --> b + b = 5 --> b = 5/2 and a = 5/2 and a+b = 5
x = -1 ---> b +b = -5 ---> b = -5/2 a = 5/2 and a - b = 5 and a + b = 0
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun May 17, 2009 11:04 pm
Location: Tokyo
Thanked: 81 times
GMAT Score:680

by tohellandback » Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:09 pm
mikeCoolBoy wrote:I get E

ax^2 + bx^3 =5 ---> x^2(a+bx) = 5 --- (1)

1) ax^2 = a ---> x^2 =1 ---> x = 1 or x= -1

substituting in (1)

x = 1 ---> a + b = 5
x = -1 ---> a -b = 5 insufficient

2) ax^3 = b ---> ax^2 = b/x

substituting in (1)
b/x + bx^3 =5 ---> b + bx^4 = 5x b and x can take different values
insufficient

1) and 2)

x = 1 --> b + b = 5 --> b = 5/2 and a = 5/2 and a+b = 5
x = -1 ---> b +b = -5 ---> b = -5/2 a = 5/2 and a - b = 5 and a + b = 0
in case 1 , can't we solve for a and b..a=5 and b=0??
The powers of two are bloody impolite!!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 119
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:16 pm
Thanked: 9 times
GMAT Score:730

by mikeCoolBoy » Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:05 am
tohellandback wrote:
mikeCoolBoy wrote:I get E

ax^2 + bx^3 =5 ---> x^2(a+bx) = 5 --- (1)

1) ax^2 = a ---> x^2 =1 ---> x = 1 or x= -1

substituting in (1)

x = 1 ---> a + b = 5
x = -1 ---> a -b = 5 insufficient

2) ax^3 = b ---> ax^2 = b/x

substituting in (1)
b/x + bx^3 =5 ---> b + bx^4 = 5x b and x can take different values
insufficient

1) and 2)

x = 1 --> b + b = 5 --> b = 5/2 and a = 5/2 and a+b = 5
x = -1 ---> b +b = -5 ---> b = -5/2 a = 5/2 and a - b = 5 and a + b = 0
in case 1 , can't we solve for a and b..a=5 and b=0??
the question says a and b are non zero numbers. b cannot be zero
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 876
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:14 am
Thanked: 13 times

by ketkoag » Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:15 pm
guys, please help here..
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 322
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:56 pm
Thanked: 24 times
GMAT Score:710

by mike22629 » Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:32 pm
Not sure but getting E.....

if ax^2 = a, fill into first equation

a + bx^3 = 5

if ax^3 = b, fill into first equation

a + ax^6 = 5, hence a must be positive and ax^2 must be less than 5 (but remember that x can be 1 or -1) so bx^3 must be positive as well because ax^2 + bx^3 = 5

but......b could be negative and x could be negative would would make bx^3 positive.

So we need to know whether x is positive or negative to answer this question, which we can not find out with the given information, HENCE E.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1