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DS Plz. help

Expert replies
by gmat009 » Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:43 pm
Can someone plz. explain[/img]
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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by cramya » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:00 pm
I am getting D) . OA please.

Will post the explanation if its right.
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by logitech » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:11 pm
cramya wrote:I am getting D) . OA please.

Will post the explanation if its right.
Come on! Lets hear it. Don't be shy. Nobody, but me, will would make fun of you if you did something wrong :D

Let me try:

X^n = X^(n+2)

X^n=X^n X ^2

So X^2 = 1 .......... x ( -1, +1)

question is whether x > 0

( I feel like I am missing something here but..)

Statement I)

X^2-X-2=0 ........x(-1, 2)

So should we say, yes it is sufficient because one of the roots is -1 ?

Statement II)

2X-X^5 < 0
X(2-X^4) < 0

So X <0 or X > 2^(1/4)

oh well -1 and + 1 can be part of these two solutions but...it is not certain and it seems to be insufficient to me

( My confusion still goes on)

I would say A, and I am not 100 % sure

Any more takers ?

Cramya, do I miss something in Statement II ?
LGTCH
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"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
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by cramya » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:05 pm
Logitech,
I still stick to D) with x=-1. However I did not consider fractions when choosing values for x(as it would have got too complicated).This is where I think if I missed something....


I am not sure if 1 will satisfy statement II like u said since its given 2x<x^5 with x=1

2(1) > 1 ^ 5

I am sure the experts here can provide us with a generic approach to this problem.

Regards,
Cramya
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by cramya » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:28 pm
x^n = x^(n+2)

x^n = x^n x^2

Divide by x^n

1 = x^2
x= +1 or -1

Now -1 is the only value that satisfy both statements when evaluating it independently.
Hence D)

Hope I have not missed something here.
Comments, suggestions or positive critique welcome! :-)
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by logitech » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:38 pm
cramya wrote:x^n = x^(n+2)

x^n = x^n x^2

Divide by x^n

1 = x^2
x= +1 or -1

Now -1 is the only value that satisfy both statements when evaluating it independently.
Hence D)

Hope I have not missed something here.
Comments, suggestions or positive critique welcome! :-)
How about 2 ? :!:
LGTCH
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"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
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by cramya » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:48 pm
How about 2
I dont understand. Are u saying x=2?
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by logitech » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:12 pm
cramya wrote:
How about 2
I dont understand. Are u saying x=2?
Hmm, today is not my day. Well 2 makes both statement valid..but I guess I am confused here. We are only checking two X values right ?

-1 and + 1

We can find -1 from statement 1 hmm I think it is D .

You are correct Cramya.
LGTCH
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"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
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by gmat009 » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:21 pm
OA is D
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by vishubn » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:35 pm
NICE Discussion !!

Vishu
KILL !! DIE !! or BEAT my FEAR !!! de@D END!!
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by nishanttheone » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:10 pm
x^n = x^(n+2) is valid even for x = 0.

Wouldnt it make A the correct answer?
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by logitech » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:22 pm
nishanttheone wrote:x^n = x^(n+2) is valid even for x = 0.

Wouldnt it make A the correct answer?
what if n = 0 ?
LGTCH
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"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
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by jimmiejaz » Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:43 am
logitech wrote:
nishanttheone wrote:x^n = x^(n+2) is valid even for x = 0.

Wouldnt it make A the correct answer?
what if n = 0 ?
Let me complete the discussion...
According to the equation given
x^n = x^n+2
It is possible only for 3 values
x=-1,0,1
Now we need to find is x<0?

According to 1.
x^2-x-2=0
we get x=-1 and x=2.
So, x=2 does not satisfy original euantion hence x=-1 which is one of the values which we have from the original equation.
Hence, stmt 1 is suff. Eliminate B,C,E

Now according to 2.
2x<x^5
subsitute values
we will see that only on x=-1 this equation holds true.
Now u may feel that x=-1/2 also satisy this equation but, it will not hold true for the equation given in the question.
hope it helps...
i guess this is where u guys were confused....
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by Fab » Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:57 pm
For statement 2, I got:

X(2-x^4) < 0
2 OPTIONS: X<0 or 2 < x^4 ---->X= +/- 1.2

So why D is OK?

THANKS.
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by EricLien9122 » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:45 am
Since the only numbers that can be x are -1,0, and 1, we can rephrase this question as....

If x=-1,0,1 is x=1?


statement 1:

when solve for x, x=-1 or 2, therefore the answer is no, x is not equal to 1.

Sufficient

Statement 2:

2x<x^5
If x=-1,0,1, only x=-1 works here, therefore, x is not equal to 1.

Sufficient


(I am so temped to subtract 2x from both sides...but I think that way is wrong, I am not 100% sure)

Please correct me if I made a mistake.

I am pretty sure that you can reword the question as is x=-1? both statements give the same answer too. A very tricky question.
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