must be true?

This topic has expert replies
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

must be true?

by sanju09 » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:54 am
If x y + z =x (y + z), which of the following must be true?

A. x = 0 and z = 0

B. x = 1 and y = 1

C. y = 1 and z = 0

D. x = 1 or y = 0

E. x = 1 or z = 0



OA E
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
Source: — Problem Solving |

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:13 pm
Thanked: 10 times

by moutar » Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:14 am
xy + z = x(y + z)

xy + z = xy + xz

z = xz

z - xz = 0

z(1 - x) = 0

Therefore z = 0 or x = 1.

Answer E.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:59 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1 times

by odod » Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:56 am
Can anyone disprove B?

I am trying to sub in the answer choices and I see B being correct as well.

Thanks for your help
ODOD

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:13 pm
Thanked: 10 times

by moutar » Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:04 am
"which of the following must be true?"

All of B doesn't have to be true because y can take any value if x = 1.
Last edited by moutar on Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:59 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1 times

by odod » Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:08 am
I dont understand your post.......


If X = 1 and Y = 1

Then I get the followiing by substituting in..

(1)(1) + Z = 1(1+Z)
1 + Z = 1+Z

They both equal each othe so wouldn't that make B correct?
ODOD

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:59 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1 times

by odod » Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:09 am
I dont understand your post.......


If X = 1 and Y = 1

Then I get the followiing by substituting in..

(1)(1) + Z = 1(1+Z)
1 + Z = 1+Z

They both equal each othe so wouldn't that make B correct?
ODOD

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:13 pm
Thanked: 10 times

by moutar » Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:18 am
The question is what has to happen. If x is 1, y doesn't have to be 1, it can be anything. It's asking for the exact situation where the equation is true.

The way you are thinking all of the options would work.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:48 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by GID09 » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:06 pm
Why not A?

If X is 0, Z must be 0...

For rest of the equations you get one or two variables i.e x=x or y+z = y+z(so variables could be of any value, not necessarily the value given in choices).

Correct me if I am wrong.

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 » Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:18 am
GID09 wrote:Why not A?

If X is 0, Z must be 0...

For rest of the equations you get one or two variables i.e x=x or y+z = y+z(so variables could be of any value, not necessarily the value given in choices).

Correct me if I am wrong.
We should always read the question with full care, "a and b" and "a or b" are not same things. In "must be true" kind of questions, the implications from the question stem form the answer, pick n plug policy is sometimes risky here. The work by moutar is genuine in this case.
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

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:06 am
Thanked: 6 times

by lav » Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:01 am
the point is , question MUST be read first and then the answer
not the other way round
Kid in Verbal :(

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 92
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:13 pm
Thanked: 10 times

by moutar » Fri Apr 10, 2009 4:07 am
GID09 wrote:Why not A?

If X is 0, Z must be 0...

For rest of the equations you get one or two variables i.e x=x or y+z = y+z(so variables could be of any value, not necessarily the value given in choices).

Correct me if I am wrong.
You are wrong because if z = 0, then x can equal anything.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:48 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by GID09 » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:31 am
Thanks all!