Saw a solution to this question on one of the posting but still don't understand how the person arrived to this answer???
For which of the following is f(a+b)= f(a) + f(b) for all positive numbers a and b?
A. f(x) = x^
B. f(x) = x+1
C. f(x) = radical x
D. f(x) = 2/x
E. f(x) = -3x
Please elaborate on this solution....??
GMAT PREP F(X)?
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- simplyjat
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I am not sure about what do you mean by these choices...
A. f(x) = x^
C. f(x) = radical x
For this question, the correct answer is
E. f(x) = -3x
The best way to solve is back-tracking...
D. f(x) = 2/x
f(a) = 2/a, f(b) = 2/b, f(a+b) = 2/(a+b), f(a)+f(b) = 2*(a+b)/(ab)
B. f(x) = x+1
f(a) = a+1, f(b) = b+1, f(a+b) = a+b+1, f(a)+f(b) = a+b+2
Similarly you can see the other solutions...
A. f(x) = x^
C. f(x) = radical x
For this question, the correct answer is
E. f(x) = -3x
The best way to solve is back-tracking...
D. f(x) = 2/x
f(a) = 2/a, f(b) = 2/b, f(a+b) = 2/(a+b), f(a)+f(b) = 2*(a+b)/(ab)
B. f(x) = x+1
f(a) = a+1, f(b) = b+1, f(a+b) = a+b+1, f(a)+f(b) = a+b+2
Similarly you can see the other solutions...
simplyjat
- Stuart@KaplanGMAT
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(a) should probably be x^2 and "radical x" probably means "root x".
Simplyjat has the right answer. Multiplication is distributive (in other words x(a+b) = xa + xb), whereas those other operations aren't.
Simplyjat has the right answer. Multiplication is distributive (in other words x(a+b) = xa + xb), whereas those other operations aren't.
Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto
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