If x and y are positive integers, what is the value of √x + √y?
(1) x + y = 15
(2) √(xy) = 6
Official Guide question
Answer: C
If x and y are positive integers, what is
This topic has expert replies
-
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 8:16 am
- Followed by:1 members
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
- Followed by:1268 members
- GMAT Score:770
Timer
00:00
Your Answer
A
B
C
D
E
Global Stats
Target question: What is the value of √x + √y?jjjinapinch wrote:If x and y are positive integers, what is the value of √x + √y?
(1) x + y = 15
(2) √(xy) = 6
Official Guide question
Answer: C
Statement 1: x + y = 15
This statement doesn't FEEL sufficient, so I'll TEST some values.
There are several values of x and y that satisfy statement 1. Here are two:
Case a: x = 14 and y = 1, in which case √x + √y = √14 + √1 = √14 + 1
Case b: x = 9 and y = 6, in which case √x + √y = √9 + √6 = 3 + √6
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Aside: For more on this idea of plugging in values when a statement doesn't feel sufficient, read my article: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/articles/dat ... lug-values
Statement 2: √(xy) = 6
In other words xy = 36
This statement doesn't FEEL sufficient either, so I'll TEST some values.
There are several values of x and y that satisfy statement 2. Here are two:
Case a: x = 1 and y = 36, in which case √x + √y = √1 + √36 = 1 + 6 = 7
Case b: x = 4 and y = 9, in which case √x + √y = √4 + √9 = 2 + 3 = 5
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Statements 1 and 2 combined
Statement 1 tells us that x + y = 15
Statement 2 tells us that √(xy) = 6
Recognize that (√x + √y)² = x + 2√(xy) + y
Rearrange to get: (√x + √y)² = 15 + 2(6)
Evaluate: (√x + √y)² = 27
So, √x + √y = √27
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, the combined statements are SUFFICIENT
Answer: C
Cheers,
Brent
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Jeff@TargetTestPrep
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 1462
- Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:34 am
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 39 times
- Followed by:22 members
Timer
00:00
Your Answer
A
B
C
D
E
Global Stats
We need to determine the value of √x + √y.jjjinapinch wrote:If x and y are positive integers, what is the value of √x + √y?
(1) x + y = 15
(2) √(xy) = 6
Official Guide question
Answer: C
Statement One Alone:
x + y = 15
If x = 1 and y = 14, then √x + √y = 1 + √14. However, if x = 4 and y = 11, then √x + √y = 2 + √11. We see that we don't have enough information to determine a unique value of √x + √y.
Statement one alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statement Two Alone:
√(xy) = 6
If x = 6 and y = 6, then √x + √y = 2√6. However, if x = 4 and y = 9, then √x + √y = 5. We see that we don't have enough information to determine a unique value of √x + √y.
Statement two alone is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statements One and Two Together:
Notice that (√x + √y)^2 = x + y + 2√(xy). From the two statements, we are given that x + y = 15 and √(xy) = 6, and thus (√x + √y)^2 = 15 + 2(6) = 27. Now, if we take the square root of both sides of the equation (√x + √y)^2 = 27, we have √x + √y = √27 = 3√3.
Answer: C
Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]
See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews