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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Real Number (OG13, p,202, Q51)

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 7:59 am
Location: New Zealand
by schao » Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:53 am
The question says: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5y| is
A)1 B)2 C)3 D)4 E)5

Can somebody please tell me what does the question want me to do? Because 23-5y canno equal to 0 if y is an integer right?

Thanks
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:47 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 3 times

by gander123 » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:37 am
Hey Schao,

I assume that you know what the absolute value means ?!

If y is an integer, deduct a multiple of 5 from 23, look at the absolute value of this expression and decide whether you have reached the smallest possible value.

Try this for y = 4 and y = 5:

|23-5*4|= |23-20| = |3| = 3

|23-5*5| = |23-25| = |-2| = 2

You will never arrive at a difference of 1 by deducting multiples of 5 from 23.

Cheers,

Tobi
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 645
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:42 pmFollowed by: 227 members
Location: US
Thanked: 527 times

by e-GMAT » Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:16 pm
schao wrote:The question says: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5y| is
A)1 B)2 C)3 D)4 E)5

Can somebody please tell me what does the question want me to do? Because 23-5y canno equal to 0 if y is an integer right?

Thanks
The least possible value of an absolute expression would always be '0'. So let's equate 23-5y=0. This gives y=4.6. But given in the question is- y is an integer. So the nearest value of y could be 4 or 5. With y=4, 23-5y gives 3, & with y=5, 23-5y gives 2. Since 2 being the lowest, So 2 is the answer.

-Shalabh
Last edited by e-GMAT on Mon Jan 14, 2013 9:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:19 am

by mani639 » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:43 am
Hi Shalabh,

Y=5 is not the answer.
Question asks the value for |23-5y| and NOT for y.

The value of |23-5y| will be least (2) if y = 5.
So the answer would be 2. Option B.

- Mani
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1