Vincen wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 16, 2021 12:24 pm

If \(5^x-5^{x-3}=124\cdot 5^y,\) what is \(y\) in terms of \(x?\)

A. \(x\)
B. \(x - 6\)
C. \(x - 3\)
D. \(2x + 3\)
E. \(2x + 6\)

Answer: C

Source: GMAT Prep

One option is to rewrite the left side of the equation by factoring out 5^(x-3)
So, we get: 5^(x-3)[5^3 - 1] = (124)(5^y)
Evaluate to get: 5^(x-3)[125 - 1] = (124)(5^y)
Simplify to get: 5^(x-3)[124] = (124)(5^y)
Divide both sides by 124 to get: 5^(x-3) = 5^y
So, x-3 = y

Answer: C

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ASIDE: A lot of students struggle to see how we can factor 5^x - 5^(x-3) to get 5^(x-3)[5^3 - 1]
Sure, they may be okay with straightforward factoring like these examples:
k^5 - k^3 = k^3(k^2 - 1)
m^19 - m^15 = m^15(m^4 - 1)
But they have problems when the exponents are variables.

IMPORTANT: Notice that, each time, the greatest common factor of both terms is the term with the smaller exponent.

So, in the expression 5^x - 5^(x-3), the term with the smaller exponent is 5^(x-3, so we can factor out 5^(x-3)

Likewise, w^x + x^(x+5) = w^x(1 + w^5)
And 2^x - 2^(x-2) = 2^(x-2)[2^2 - 1]
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Cheers,
Brent