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Absolute DS

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by prashant misra » Fri Nov 04, 2011 5:36 am
oh i did this question wrong i thought the answer to this would be B but its not the case i rectified my mistake after looking the solutions posted here.i did it in a hurry and ended up with a wrong answer
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by Rastis » Wed Dec 07, 2011 11:21 am
can someone provide an easier to understand explanation?
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by ArunangsuSahu » Sun Jan 15, 2012 11:01 am
Defn of Absolute Value

X=A-B

and X=-(A-B)
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by jayoptimist » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:06 pm
This is a smple problem.

Q. asks if x = a-b AND b-a simultaneously.

1) x= a-b ------->not sufficient.
2) x= b-a (or, -(a-b)--------->not sufficient.

but 1&2 together is sufficient since one states x=a-b and the other states x=b-a.
Hence C.
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by [email protected] » Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:13 am
gmatusa2010 ur method of the trial and error is perfectly right in this sum...
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by mourinhogmat1 » Fri Feb 03, 2012 2:13 am
Is |X|= A - B?

1. X = A - B
2. X = B - A

1. INSUFFICIENT. Because, A-B can be positive or negative
2. INSUFFICIENT. Because, B-A can be positive or negative

Note: Negative A-B or B-A will mean that the A-B or B-A will become B-A or A-B if either is negative.

COMBINED, we know X = A - B = B - A ; which means A=B=X=0. (Not sure if there is any other value?)

ANSWER: C.
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by ronnie1985 » Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:24 am
(C) is the answer.
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by Lifetron » Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:31 am
C !
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by ekmtutor » Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:26 am
Is |X|= A-B?

1) X=A-B
2) X=B-A

As a general Rule of thumb, we know that | x| = x when x >=0 and | x| = - x when x < 0.

So, let's look at the 1st statement
X=A-B
We don't know whether A- B is +ve or -ve.
So, if A-B is +ve then X = A-B
if A- B is -ve then X = B-A

Now, let's look at the 2nd statement
X= B-A
if B-A is +ve then X = B-A
if B-A is -ve then X= A-B

So, individually neither of the statement can answer the question.

Now let's combine them....
So, X= A-B = B-A can only happen if A =B OR X= 0
which means |x| = 0 and A-B = 0
So, together they satisfy the main question or argument.

So, the answer is 'C'.
Manoj K
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by mcdesty » Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:11 pm
[x] = A-B?; Rephrase

Is +-X = A - B ?;
is -X = A - B and is X = A - B?
is X = B - A and is X = A - B?

I think you got it from here....
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by Ganesh hatwar » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:42 am
Mod x = A - B

when x > 0

x = A-B

when x < 0

x = B-A

so C !
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by chris558 » Sun Sep 09, 2012 9:28 am
C!

Because a>b or b<a, both a and b are insufficient. But both together would be sufficient.
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by rajeshsinghgmat » Tue Mar 19, 2013 3:55 am
E in answer.
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by J N » Wed Mar 20, 2013 4:43 pm
Anyone have official answer???

I think it is E

X= a-b OR x = b-a

if we take both statements together it implies both must be true at the same time which can't happen
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by GMATGuruNY » Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:32 pm
gmatusa2010 wrote:Is |X|= A-B?

1) X=A-B
2) X=B-A
Statement 1:
If X = A-B = 1, then |X| = |1| = 1 and A-B = 1, so |X| = A-B.
If X = A-B = -1, then |X| = |-1| = 1 and A-B = -1, so |X| ≠ A-B.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2:
If X = B-A = 1, then |X| = |1| = 1 and A-B = -1, so |X| ≠ A-B.
If X = B-A = -1, then |X| = |-1| = 1 and A-B = 1, so |X| = A-B.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statements combined:
Adding together X = A-B and X = B-A, we get:
X + X = (A-B) + (B-A)
2X = 0
X = 0.

Since X = A-B and X=0, A-B = 0.
Thus, |X| = A-B.
SUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is C.
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