If c is a constant such that the system of equations given a

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GMATH practice exercise (Quant Class 10)

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Answer: [spoiler]_____(E)__[/spoiler]
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by fskilnik@GMATH » Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:33 pm
fskilnik@GMATH wrote:GMATH practice exercise (Quant Class 10)

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$$?\,\,\,:\,\,\,c\,\,\,{\rm{for}}\,\,{\rm{unique}}\,\,{\rm{solution}}\,\,\left( {x,y} \right)$$
$$c = 0\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x = 1 \hfill \cr
\, - 4y = 0 \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\left( {x,y} \right) = \left( {1,0} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,{\rm{refutes}}\,\,\left( A \right),\left( B \right),\left( D \right)$$
$$c = 3\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - 3y = 1 \hfill \cr
\,3x - 4y = 3 \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - 3y = 1 \hfill \cr
\,x - {4 \over 3}y = 1 \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - 3y = 1 \hfill \cr
\,\left( {1 + 3y} \right) - {4 \over 3}y = 1 \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,{\rm{unique}}\,\,{\rm{solution!}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,{\rm{refutes}}\,\,\left( C \right)$$

The correct answer is (E), by exclusion.


We follow the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.


POST-MORTEM:

$$\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - cy = 1 \hfill \cr
\,cx - 4y = c \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\, \cong \,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - 1 = cy \hfill \cr
\,cx - c = 4y \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \cong \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - 1 = cy \hfill \cr
\,c\left( {x - 1} \right) = 4y \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \cong \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - 1 = cy \hfill \cr
\,c \cdot cy = 4y \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \cong \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,x - 1 = cy \hfill \cr
\,y\left( {{c^2} - 4} \right) = 0 \hfill \cr} \right.$$
$$\left| c \right| = 2\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,{c^2} - 4 = 0\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,{\rm{infinite}}\,\,{\rm{solutions}}\,\,\,\left( {x,y} \right) = \left( {1 + cy,y} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {y\,\,{\rm{free}}} \right]$$
$$\left| c \right| \ne 2\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,{c^2} - 4 \ne 0\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,\,y = 0\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {y\left( {{c^2} - 4} \right) = 0} \right] \hfill \cr
\,\,x = 1\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {x - 1 = cy} \right] \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\left( {x,y} \right){\rm{ = }}\left( {1,0} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,{\rm{unique}}\,\,{\rm{solution!}}\,\,$$
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
English-speakers :: https://www.gmath.net
Portuguese-speakers :: https://www.gmath.com.br