Choice 1 says that x has to be negative.
so suppose x = -1
-(-1)*|-1| > 0
so[ (-6)^2 ] ^ (1/2) = 36^(1/2) = 6 which equals 5 - (-1)
So choice 1 is sufficient.
Choice 2 states that x has to be a number less than 5.
so we can pick x = 3
[(3-5)^2]^(1/2) = (-2)^2 = 4^(1/2) = 2 which equals 5 - 3 = 2
So Choice 2 is also sufficient.
Therefore it is D
BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course
Redeem
Featured Course
Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand
Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.
- 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
- 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
- 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
- 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
- 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
- TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
- 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
- OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
- Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
- MBA Admissions Consulting now available
- 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
- 200,000+ students served
- 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★
5.0
(559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start
then $127/mo
GMAT Prep ques
Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency |
i could solve this ques using stmt 1. but as PAB asked why are we not takin root of a no. as -??
(-2^2)^0.5 --> -2
and 5-3 = 2??
(-2^2)^0.5 --> -2
and 5-3 = 2??
The question asks if sqrt(x-5)2 = 5-x
GMAT refers to all given sqrt values as +ve values, and if this is true then the question translates to Is 5-x > 0
(Note: I am NOT a 100% if this is TRUE here, it if is then it is a piece of cake)
1. -x|x| > 0
|x| is always positive, so for the above to be positive -x should be positive, i.e. x is negative
If x is negative, then 5>x or 5-x>0
Sufficient
2. 5-x > 0 is what is being asked hence Sufficient.
Answer: D
GMAT refers to all given sqrt values as +ve values, and if this is true then the question translates to Is 5-x > 0
(Note: I am NOT a 100% if this is TRUE here, it if is then it is a piece of cake)
1. -x|x| > 0
|x| is always positive, so for the above to be positive -x should be positive, i.e. x is negative
If x is negative, then 5>x or 5-x>0
Sufficient
2. 5-x > 0 is what is being asked hence Sufficient.
Answer: D
in this question you can use the following equivalence
(x ^ 2) ^(1/2) = |X| and therefore ((x-5)^2)^(1/2) = |X-5|
rephrasing the question is |X-5| = 5 - X?
now split the absolute value in intervals
X > 5 |X-5| = X -5 which is not equal to 5 - X
0 < X < 5 |X-5| = 5 -X which is equal to 5 - X
X < 0 |X-5| = 5 + X because X is negative the expression is
|X-5| = 5 - (-X) ---> 5 + X = 5 + X true
so the expression is true for X<=5
now take the statements
1 ) X is negative so the expression is true sufficient
2 ) X < 5 the expression is true sufficient.
(x ^ 2) ^(1/2) = |X| and therefore ((x-5)^2)^(1/2) = |X-5|
rephrasing the question is |X-5| = 5 - X?
now split the absolute value in intervals
X > 5 |X-5| = X -5 which is not equal to 5 - X
0 < X < 5 |X-5| = 5 -X which is equal to 5 - X
X < 0 |X-5| = 5 + X because X is negative the expression is
|X-5| = 5 - (-X) ---> 5 + X = 5 + X true
so the expression is true for X<=5
now take the statements
1 ) X is negative so the expression is true sufficient
2 ) X < 5 the expression is true sufficient.
sorry way late reply here...I am sure the others have cleared up the doubts.PAB2706 wrote:hey ssmiles...why didnt you take 36^1/2= +6 or -6 ?
but essentially, when you take a square root of a number, the result is always positive, otherwise it results in a complex number.
I think we always see a number such as x^2 = 36 and x = (-6)^2 or (6)^2 but the reverse process(^1/2) only holds true for positive values
