Equation

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 233
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:51 pm
Location: New York
Thanked: 7 times
Followed by:2 members

Equation

by yellowho » Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:36 am
What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


OA is E. What?
Source: — Problem Solving |

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 436
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:07 am
Thanked: 72 times
Followed by:6 members

by manpsingh87 » Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:52 am
yellowho wrote:What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


OA is E. What?
1) can be written as x^2+y^2-2xy=1;

(x-y)^2=1; from here two different cases are possible;------------a)
x-y=1; x-y= -1;

2) x^2+y^2+2xy= 4;
(x+y)^2 = 2^2; similarly as a) we have;

x+y=2; x+y=-2;

By using 1 and 2 alone we cannot find the value of x^2+y^2 by combining 1 and 2 also we will have different possible combination and hence different values.

Hence the value x^2+y^2 cannot be found uniquely by using given conditions.

i hope it helps..!!!
O Excellence... my search for you is on... you can be far.. but not beyond my reach!

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3650
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:27 am
Location: India
Thanked: 267 times
Followed by:80 members
GMAT Score:760

by sanju09 » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:00 am
yellowho wrote:What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


OA is E. What?

(1) If x^2 + y^2 = 2 x y + 1 then (x - y) ^2 = 1 or x - y = ±1, which cannot give us the value of x^2 + y^2. Insufficient

(2) If x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2 x y then (x + y) ^2 = 4 or x + y = ±2, which cannot give us the value of x^2 + y^2. Insufficient

Taken together, we have different systems of linear equations in two variables, so [spoiler]no exclusive x and/or y could be determined that could answer x^2 + y^2 exclusively.

E
[/spoiler]
The mind is everything. What you think you become. -Lord Buddha



Sanjeev K Saxena
Quantitative Instructor
The Princeton Review - Manya Abroad
Lucknow-226001

www.manyagroup.com

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 233
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:51 pm
Location: New York
Thanked: 7 times
Followed by:2 members

by yellowho » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:01 am
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1 => x^2+y^2-1= 2xy
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy => x^2+y^2-4=-2xy=> -x^2-y^2+4=2xy

Set them equal:

x^2+y^2-1=-x^2-y^2+4

2(X^2+y^2)=5

x^2+y^2=5/2

Since it deals with quadratic there could be other solutions? is that why its e?

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 233
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:51 pm
Location: New York
Thanked: 7 times
Followed by:2 members

by yellowho » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:03 am
Sanju,

Can you explain this a little more:

"Taken together, we have different systems of linear equations in two variables, so [spoiler][b]no exclusive x and/or y could be determined that could answer x^2 + y^2 exclusively."

I'm not familiar with math language.


[quote="sanju09"][quote="yellowho"]What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


OA is E. What?[/quote]


(1) If x^2 + y^2 = 2 x y + 1 then (x - y) ^2 = 1 or x - y = ±1, which cannot give us the value of x^2 + y^2. Insufficient

(2) If x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2 x y then (x + y) ^2 = 4 or x + y = ±2, which cannot give us the value of x^2 + y^2. Insufficient

Taken together, we have different systems of linear equations in two variables, so [spoiler][b]no exclusive x and/or y could be determined that could answer x^2 + y^2 exclusively.

E[/b][/spoiler][/quote]

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:22 am
yellowho wrote:What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


OA is E. What?
The OA is incorrect.

Combining the 2 statements:
x-y = ±1.
x+y = ±2.

Solving for x-y = 1 and x+y = 2, we get x=3/2, y=1/2.
Solving for x-y = 1 and x+y = -2, we get x=-1/2, y=-3/2.
Solving for x-y = -1 and x+y = 2, we get x=1/2, y=3/2.
Solving for x-y = -1 and x+y = -2, we get x=-3/2, =-1/2.

In each case, x²+y² = 10/4 = 5/2.
Sufficient.

Alternatively, we could solve as yellowho correctly did above.

The correct answer is C.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3650
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:27 am
Location: India
Thanked: 267 times
Followed by:80 members
GMAT Score:760

by sanju09 » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:24 am
yellowho wrote:Sanju,

Can you explain this a little more:

"Taken together, we have different systems of linear equations in two variables, so [spoiler]no exclusive x and/or y could be determined that could answer x^2 + y^2 exclusively."

I'm not familiar with math language.


I have worked these out separately and got the same answer for x^2 + y^2.


[spoiler]C[/spoiler]
Last edited by sanju09 on Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
The mind is everything. What you think you become. -Lord Buddha



Sanjeev K Saxena
Quantitative Instructor
The Princeton Review - Manya Abroad
Lucknow-226001

www.manyagroup.com

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 233
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:51 pm
Location: New York
Thanked: 7 times
Followed by:2 members

by yellowho » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:28 am
GMATGuruNY,

Is my method correct? With quadratic, I'm always afraid of weird things that makes regular algebra illegal.
Or is your method the only way we know for sure?
[quote="GMATGuruNY"][quote="yellowho"]What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


OA is E. What?[/quote]

The OA is incorrect.

Combining the 2 statements:
x-y = ±1.
x+y = ±2.

Solving for x-y = 1 and x+y = 2, we get x=3/2, y=1/2.
Solving for x-y = 1 and x+y = -2, we get x=-1/2, y=-3/2.
Solving for x-y = -1 and x+y = 2, we get x=1/2, y=3/2.
Solving for x-y = -1 and x+y = -2, we get x=-3/2, =-1/2.

In each case, x²+y² = 10/4 = 5/2.
Sufficient.

Alternatively, we could solve as yellowho correctly did above.

The correct answer is [spoiler]C[/spoiler].[/quote]

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon Feb 28, 2011 2:33 am
yellowho wrote:GMATGuruNY,

Is my method correct? With quadratic, I'm always afraid of weird things that makes regular algebra illegal.
Or is your method the only way we know for sure?
GMATGuruNY wrote:
yellowho wrote:What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


OA is E. What?
The OA is incorrect.

Combining the 2 statements:
x-y = ±1.
x+y = ±2.

Solving for x-y = 1 and x+y = 2, we get x=3/2, y=1/2.
Solving for x-y = 1 and x+y = -2, we get x=-1/2, y=-3/2.
Solving for x-y = -1 and x+y = 2, we get x=1/2, y=3/2.
Solving for x-y = -1 and x+y = -2, we get x=-3/2, =-1/2.

In each case, x²+y² = 10/4 = 5/2.
Sufficient.

Alternatively, we could solve as yellowho correctly did above.

The correct answer is C.
Your methodology is fine. We can always add two equations together, whether the equations are linear or quadratic.

If the question had asked for the values of x and y individually, the correct answer would be E. But since the question asks only for the value of x²+y², the correct answer is C.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1101
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:26 am
Thanked: 47 times
Followed by:13 members
GMAT Score:640

by HSPA » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:09 pm
What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


IMO C
Using both....
Here 2xy+1 = 4-2xy => 2xy = 1.5
So I got x^2+y^2 = 1.5+1 or (4-1.5)

Ans: 2.5

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3650
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:27 am
Location: India
Thanked: 267 times
Followed by:80 members
GMAT Score:760

by sanju09 » Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:59 pm
HSPA wrote:What is the value of x^2 + y^2 ?
(1) x^2 + y^2 = 2xy + 1
(2) x^2 + y^2 = 4 - 2xy


IMO C
Using both....
Here 2xy+1 = 4-2xy => 2xy = 1.5
So I got x^2+y^2 = 1.5+1 or (4-1.5)

Ans: 2.5
superb
The mind is everything. What you think you become. -Lord Buddha



Sanjeev K Saxena
Quantitative Instructor
The Princeton Review - Manya Abroad
Lucknow-226001

www.manyagroup.com