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Absolute values - Cant understand explanation

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by KK9_GMAT » Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:06 am
Hi,

I came upon this data sufficiency problem in the Manhattan GMAT Cat 2.
I am trying to understand the explanation provided but no luck so far. Can anyone help me out? Is this some basic concept I have missed out on?

Thanks! Here is the question....The underlined sentence is what confuses me and is something I cannot understand.

Q What is the value of y?
(1) 3|x^2 -4| = y - 2
(2) |3 - y| = 11

A (1) INSUFFICIENT: Since this equation contains two variables, we cannot determine the value of y. We can, however, note that the absolute value expression |x^2 -4| must be greater than or equal to 0. Therefore, 3|x^2 -4| must be greater than or equal to 0, which in turn means that y - 2 must be greater than or equal to 0. If y - 2 > 0, then y > 2.[/b]
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Source: — Data Sufficiency |
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by JJJooe » Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:52 am
the explanation means that because |x| is greater than or equal to 0 for any real number x, S1:y - 2= 3|x^2 -4|is greater than or equal to 0. so, y is greater than or equal to 2. but as we don't know the value of x, we cannot know the exact value of y.
insufficient

S2: |3 - y| = 11
so
3-y=11 or -11
y=-8 or 14

can't determine which one is the value of y
insufficient

S1S2
toghther:
y=-8 or 14
and y is greater than or equal to 2

so y=14
sufficient

choose C
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by pradeepsarathy » Thu Aug 27, 2009 6:10 am
Excellent question....
Initially i went for E...but JJJooe's expl seems to be perfect.
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Re: Absolute values - Cant understand explanation

by vikram_k51 » Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:54 pm
KK9_GMAT wrote:Hi,

I came upon this data sufficiency problem in the Manhattan GMAT Cat 2.
I am trying to understand the explanation provided but no luck so far. Can anyone help me out? Is this some basic concept I have missed out on?

Thanks! Here is the question....The underlined sentence is what confuses me and is something I cannot understand.

Q What is the value of y?
(1) 3|x^2 -4| = y - 2
(2) |3 - y| = 11

A (1) INSUFFICIENT: Since this equation contains two variables, we cannot determine the value of y. We can, however, note that the absolute value expression |x^2 -4| must be greater than or equal to 0. Therefore, 3|x^2 -4| must be greater than or equal to 0, which in turn means that y - 2 must be greater than or equal to 0. If y - 2 > 0, then y > 2.[/b]
This will be E
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Re: Absolute values - Cant understand explanation

by fruti_yum » Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:54 am
vikram_k51 wrote:
KK9_GMAT wrote:Hi,

I came upon this data sufficiency problem in the Manhattan GMAT Cat 2.
I am trying to understand the explanation provided but no luck so far. Can anyone help me out? Is this some basic concept I have missed out on?

Thanks! Here is the question....The underlined sentence is what confuses me and is something I cannot understand.

Q What is the value of y?
(1) 3|x^2 -4| = y - 2
(2) |3 - y| = 11

A (1) INSUFFICIENT: Since this equation contains two variables, we cannot determine the value of y. We can, however, note that the absolute value expression |x^2 -4| must be greater than or equal to 0. Therefore, 3|x^2 -4| must be greater than or equal to 0, which in turn means that y - 2 must be greater than or equal to 0. If y - 2 > 0, then y > 2.[/b]
This will be E
1 more for E
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