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by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Fri May 03, 2013 7:27 am
Manpreet Singh wrote:If xy+z = x(y+z) which of the following must be true

A. x = 0 and Z = 0
B. x = 1 and y = 1
B. y = 1 and z = 0
D. x = 1 or y = 0
E. x = 1 or Z = 0

Except D every option is true.
The key word here is must.
So, for example, consider answer choice A. While it's possible that x = 0 and z = 0, it need not be the case.
For example, x=1, y=1 and z=1 is a solution to the equation. So, this eliminates A.

The solution . . .
Given: xy+z = x(y+z)
Expand: xy+z = xy + xz
Subtract xy from both sides: z = xz
Rearrange: xz - z = 0
Factor: z(x-1) = 0

This tells us that z = 0 or x = 1
Answer: E

Cheers,
Brent
Last edited by Brent@GMATPrepNow on Sat May 04, 2013 5:27 am, edited 2 times in total.
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by GMATGuruNY » Sat May 04, 2013 3:40 am
Manpreet Singh wrote:If xy+z = x(y+z) which of the following must be true

A. x = 0 and Z = 0
B. x = 1 and y = 1
B. y = 1 and z = 0
D. x = 1 or y = 0
E. x = 1 or Z = 0
Try to show that four of the five answer choices DON'T have to be true.

Answer choice A states that BOTH x and z must be equal to 0.
If we substitute z=0 into xy+z = x(y+z), we get:
xy + 0 = x(y+0)
xy = xy.
The resulting equation suggests that -- if z=0 -- then x and y can be ANY VALUES.
Thus, the following combination satisfies xy+z = x(y+z):
x=2, y=2, z=0.

Eliminate A, since it doesn't have to be true that x=0 and z=0.
Eliminate B, since it doesn't have to be true that x=1 and y=1.
Eliminate C, since it doesn't have to be true that y=1 and z=0.
Eliminate D, since it doesn't have to be true that x=1 or y=0.

The correct answer is E.
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