BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach Starts Oct 17
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Chris Peckover, 100th-Percentile GMAT Scorer

Oct 17 · Chris Peckover
Sat · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET
Oct 20 · Chris Peckover
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Oct 25 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemand 5 seats left Start anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

GMat Prep DS - Tough One!

Expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by limestone » Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:14 pm
Allow me to use "[" as absolute syntax.

sqrt((x-3)^2) = [x-3]. The absolute value can not be negative.
Then [x-3] = x-3 if x-3>=0
or [x-3] = 3-x if x-3<=0 (x-3<=0, thus 3-x>=0)
This case the given information cites that [x-3] = 3-x hence x-3<=0 or x<=3

Let's go to the choices.
1. x is not 3, this is insuff to determine whether x<=3
2. -x*[x]>0 so -x>0 or x<0.
If x<0 then surely x will <= 3. Then suff.
So pick B.
"There is nothing either good or bad - but thinking makes it so" - Shakespeare.
Join the discussion

by hi.itz.mani » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:46 pm
I am trying to explain the question first and then will go to the solution

sqrt ( x-3) ^2 = ( 3 - x ) will be true if x - 3 is negative because negative ^ 2 will be positive followed by a sqrt will return positive.

other way round if x- 3 is positive then sqrt of the square of x - 3 will be positive but 3 - x will be negative. hence to Answer whether sqrt ( x-3) ^2 = ( 3 - x ) is True or not. We need to simply find out the sign of x - 3 or in other words if x > 3 or x < 3

Now Statement 1: x not equal to 3 doesn't tell us any thing whether x > 3 or x < 3 ( Note if statement 1 was x = 3 .. this would have been sufficient)

Statement 2 - x | x| > 0 means x has to be negative and hence this tells us that x < 3. or x - 3 < 0.

Hence statement 2 is sufficient to answer the question

IMO B
Join the discussion

by uwhusky » Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:38 pm
Let me see if I can simplify this question a little bit more.

Since we know the equation to the left MUST end in a positive number or 0, then the question is really asking "Is (3 - X) ≥ 0", and we can deduce it down even further and say is 3 ≥ X?

(1) says that X is not 3, but it doesn't tell you anything else. Insufficient.

(2) X has to be negative, and therefore 3 must be greater than X. Sufficient.
Yep.
Join the discussion