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DS Geometry

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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by Anurag@Gurome » Sun Sep 30, 2012 6:20 pm
avada wrote:From OG practice

In the xy plane, at what two points does the graph of y=(x+a)(x+b) intersect the x axis?

1. a+b=-1
2. Graph intersects y axis at 0,-6

og: c
When the graph intersects the x-axis, the intersection point will be (x, 0). This implies (x + a)(x + b) = 0 or x^2 + (a + b)x + ab = 0.

(1) a + b = -1 does not gives us the values of a and b.
So, (1) is NOT SUFFICIENT.

(2) When the graph intersects the y-axis, the intersection point is (0, y). So, -6 = (0 + a)(0 + b) implies ab = -6. Again we don't get a unique answer.
So, (2) is NOT SUFFICIENT.

Combining (1) and (2), a + b = -1 and ab = -6 implies x^2 - x - 6 = 0 or (x - 3)(x + 2) = 0 or x -2, 3
So, the graph intersects at (-2, 0) and (3, 0). Assuming that it is two points, the correct answer is C.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

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