BTGmoderatorDC wrote:

In the rectangular coordinate system above, if the coordinates of point P are (5,y), what is the value of y?

(1) The coordinates of point M are (5,0).
(2) The coordinates of point N are (0,−4).
Source: Princeton Review

Trivial problem, but nice to present the GEOMETRIC BIFURCATION (of statement (1)):
$$? = y$$
$$\left( 1 \right)\,\,M\,\,{\rm{and}}\,\,P\,\,{\rm{same}}\,\,{\rm{abscissa}}\,\,\left( { = 5} \right)$$


$$\left( 2 \right)\,\,\,N = \left( {0, - 4} \right)\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,? = y = - 4\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left( {P\,\,{\rm{and}}\,\,N\,\,{\rm{same}}\,\,{\rm{ordinate}}} \right)\,\,$$




This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.

Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote: I think that, if this were an official GMAT question, the correct answer would be E (not B), because we aren't specifically told that the dotted lines are parallel to the x-axis and the y-axis.
If those dotted lines aren't parallel to those axes, the we can't determine the value of y.

I respectfully disagree:

We are told we are in the rectangular coordinate system, we are told about coordinates of points in this rectangular system.

In short: we may implicitly assume the dotted lines are parallel to the x-axis and the y-axis.

Regards,
Fabio.