If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
OAB
least possible value of |23 - 5y|
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|a-b| = the DISTANCE between a and b.If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5y| is
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5
Thus, |23-5y| = the distance between 23 and 5y.
To minimize this distance, the value of 5y must be AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to 23.
Options:
If y=4, then 5y = 20.
If y=5, then 5y = 25.
If y=6, then 5y = 30.
The LEAST possible distance between 23 and 5y will be yielded by the option in red.
If y=5, then |23-5y| = |23-25| = 2.
The correct answer is B.
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To minimize |23-5y|, we need to find the value of y such that 23-5y is as close to zero as possible.If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
Try some values.
y=3: |23-5y| = |23-15| = |8| = 8
y=4: |23-5y| = |23-20| = |3| = 3
y=5: |23-5y| = |23-25| = |-2| = 2
y=6: |23-5y| = |23-30| = |-7| = 7
The least possible value of |23-5y| is 2.
Answer: B
Cheers,
Brent
Last edited by Brent@GMATPrepNow on Mon Feb 06, 2017 9:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Can you please clarify the line of reasoning?We can just test each answer choice:
A) 1. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(1)| = 18
B) 2. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(2)| = 13
C) 3. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(3)| = 8
D) 4. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(4)| = 3
E) 5. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(5)| = 2
So, when y = 5, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(5)| = |-2| = 2 (and 2 is the smallest possible value of |23 - 5y|)
The question asks, "What is the least possible value of |23 - 5y|?
So, the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is 2 (and this occurs when y = 5)
The answer choices represent the value of |23-5y|, but in the solution above they are being substituted for y.
If the answer choices were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, this approach would seem to proceed as follows:
However the least possible value of |23-5y| is not 3 but 2.A) 0, So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(0)| = 23
B) 1. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(1)| = 18
C) 2. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(2)| = 13
D) 3. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(3)| = 8
E) 4. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(4)| = 3
So, when y = 4, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(4)| = |3| = 3 (and 3 is the smallest possible value of |23 - 5y|).
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YIKES!GMATGuruNY wrote:Can you please clarify the line of reasoning?We can just test each answer choice:
A) 1. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(1)| = 18
B) 2. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(2)| = 13
C) 3. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(3)| = 8
D) 4. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(4)| = 3
E) 5. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(5)| = 2
So, when y = 5, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(5)| = |-2| = 2 (and 2 is the smallest possible value of |23 - 5y|)
The question asks, "What is the least possible value of |23 - 5y|?
So, the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is 2 (and this occurs when y = 5)
The answer choices represent the value of |23-5y|, but in the solution above they are being substituted for y.
If the answer choices were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, this approach would seem to proceed as follows:
However the least possible value of |23-5y| is not 3 but 2.A) 0, So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(0)| = 23
B) 1. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(1)| = 18
C) 2. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(2)| = 13
D) 3. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(3)| = 8
E) 4. So, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(4)| = 3
So, when y = 4, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5(4)| = |3| = 3 (and 3 is the smallest possible value of |23 - 5y|).
I was plugging in the answer choices as though they were the y-values!
Dumb, dumb, dumb!
I have edited my answer and am going back to bed!
Cheers,
Brent
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rsarashi wrote:If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
OAB
Another approach is to check each answer choice to see if it COULD be the smallest possible value of |23 - 5y|
Let's start with answer choice A, since it is the smallest answer.
A) 1
Is it possible that |23 - 5y| = 1 if y MUST BE AN INTEGER?
Let's solve it.
If |23 - 5y| = 1, then 23 - 5y = 1 or 23 - 5y = -1
Take 23 - 5y = 1 and subtract 23 from both sides to get: -5y = -22
Solve to get: y = 4.4 NOT an integer
Take 23 - 5y = -1 and subtract 23 from both sides to get: -5y = -24
Solve to get: y = 4.8 NOT an integer
So, if y is an INTEGER, it's IMPOSSIBLE for |23 - 5y| to equal 1
ELIMINATE A
B) 2
Is it possible that |23 - 5y| = 2 if y MUST BE AN INTEGER?
Let's solve it.
If |23 - 5y| = 2, then 23 - 5y = 2 or 23 - 5y = -2
Take 23 - 5y = 2 and subtract 23 from both sides to get: -5y = -21
Solve to get: y = 4.2 NOT an integer
Take 23 - 5y = -2 and subtract 23 from both sides to get: -5y = -25
Solve to get: y = 5 AN INTEGER
AHA! It IS POSSIBLE for |23 - 5y| to equal 2
Answer: B
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To solve this question, we must make sure we interpret it correctly. We are not finding the least possible value of y, but rather the least possible value of |23-5y| (the absolute value of 23 - 5y). Remember that the smallest value that can result from taking the absolute value is zero. Thus we need to make 23 - 5y as close to zero as possible.rsarashi wrote:If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
We know that 5y is a multiple of 5, so let's first look at the multiples of 5 closest to 23. We have "20" and "25". Let's subtract both of these from 23 and see which one produces the smallest result. When 5y = 20, y is 4 and when 5y = 25, y is 5. Let's start with letting y = 4.
|23-5(4)|
|23-20|
|3| = 3
Next, let's let y equal 5.
|23-5(5)|
|23-25|
|-2| = 2
We see that the smallest possible value of |23-5y| is 2.
Answer: B
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|23-5y| is always greater than or equal to 0rsarashi wrote:If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
OAB
-> hence 23-5y = 0 -> y = 23/5 = 4+3/5
so we can have minimum value at either y = 4 or 5 since 4<4+3/5 <5
At y = 4, |23-5y| = 3
At y = 5, |23-5y| = 2
So least possible value of |23-5y| = 2. Answer B
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The least possible value of a number in modulus is 0.rsarashi wrote:If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
OAB
Thus, the least possible value of |23 - 5y| = 0 => y = 23/5 = 4.6.
y = 4.6 is not possible since y is an integer, thus y can be either 4 or 5. Since '4.6' is relatively closer to '5' than to '4', |23 - 5y| would be least @y=5.
@y=4, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5*4| = 3
@y=5, |23 - 5y| = |23 - 5*5| = 2 (Least possible value).
The correct answer: B
Relevant book: Manhattan Review GMAT Number Properties Guide
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One approach is to try to make each answer.
|23 - 5y| = 1
Won't work if 23 - 5y = 1, since y isn't an integer, and won't work if 23 - 5y = -1, since y isn't an integer.
|23 - 5y| = 2
Won't work if 23 - 5y = 2. Will work if 23 - 5y = -2, since this gives us a solution of y = 5.
Since 2 is the smallest answer left, it must be right, and we're done!
|23 - 5y| = 1
Won't work if 23 - 5y = 1, since y isn't an integer, and won't work if 23 - 5y = -1, since y isn't an integer.
|23 - 5y| = 2
Won't work if 23 - 5y = 2. Will work if 23 - 5y = -2, since this gives us a solution of y = 5.
Since 2 is the smallest answer left, it must be right, and we're done!
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Another approach is solving conceptually.
|23 - 5y| =
|25 - 5y + 2| =
|5(5 - y) + 2|
5(5 - y) must be some multiple of 5, so we've got (some multiple of 5) + 2. The | |s force the answer to be positive, so our smallest multiple of 5 here will be 0. (If we use a negative multiple of 5, it will become positive due to the absolute value.) That gives us 5(5 - y) = 0, y = 5, and a minimum of |23 - 5*5| or |-2| or 2.
|23 - 5y| =
|25 - 5y + 2| =
|5(5 - y) + 2|
5(5 - y) must be some multiple of 5, so we've got (some multiple of 5) + 2. The | |s force the answer to be positive, so our smallest multiple of 5 here will be 0. (If we use a negative multiple of 5, it will become positive due to the absolute value.) That gives us 5(5 - y) = 0, y = 5, and a minimum of |23 - 5*5| or |-2| or 2.
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Hi rsarashi,
When a question involves basic arithmetic, sometimes the fastest way to get to the correct answer is just to use 'brute force' (and it's important to think in those terms - however you choose to approach a question, was "your way" the "fast way?") If you have a pacing issue, then you need to consider how you're handling ALL the questions - including the ones that you answered correctly.
Here, we're told that Y is an INTEGER and we're asked for the LEAST possible value of |23 - 5Y|. Be honest - how long would it really take you to plug in increasing integer values of Y until you found the LEAST value for that inequality? 15 seconds? 20 seconds? So put the pen on the pad and get to work...
Y = 1.... |23 - 5| = 18
Y = 2.... |23 - 10| = 13
Y = 3.... |23 - 15| = 8
Y = 4.... |23 - 20| = 3
Y = 5.... |23 - 25| = 2
Y = 6.... |23 - 30| = 7
Once you increase Y past Y = 5, the value of the absolute value increases, so we can stop working. The least value is 2.
Final Answer: B
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
When a question involves basic arithmetic, sometimes the fastest way to get to the correct answer is just to use 'brute force' (and it's important to think in those terms - however you choose to approach a question, was "your way" the "fast way?") If you have a pacing issue, then you need to consider how you're handling ALL the questions - including the ones that you answered correctly.
Here, we're told that Y is an INTEGER and we're asked for the LEAST possible value of |23 - 5Y|. Be honest - how long would it really take you to plug in increasing integer values of Y until you found the LEAST value for that inequality? 15 seconds? 20 seconds? So put the pen on the pad and get to work...
Y = 1.... |23 - 5| = 18
Y = 2.... |23 - 10| = 13
Y = 3.... |23 - 15| = 8
Y = 4.... |23 - 20| = 3
Y = 5.... |23 - 25| = 2
Y = 6.... |23 - 30| = 7
Once you increase Y past Y = 5, the value of the absolute value increases, so we can stop working. The least value is 2.
Final Answer: B
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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Simple fact,
For making something least , make other one as max ,and vice versa.
to get max answer make Y max : It can be 4 or 5 : So let us test 4
|23-5*4| = 3,
|23-5*5 | = |-2| =2
B is answer
although on first go you may seem to get with 3 as an option but do always check 1 factor above and below it, as Mode ques are likely to trick in this.
For making something least , make other one as max ,and vice versa.
to get max answer make Y max : It can be 4 or 5 : So let us test 4
|23-5*4| = 3,
|23-5*5 | = |-2| =2
B is answer
although on first go you may seem to get with 3 as an option but do always check 1 factor above and below it, as Mode ques are likely to trick in this.