BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Value of (x-y)^4

Expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by yogami » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:50 pm
IMO E

(1) tell sus that xy is 4. But if you expand (x - y)^4 it would give powers of x and y independently which cannot be solved as x and y can be anything, integers or decimalshence insuff
(2) tells us that x and y are integers. But does not give any values so insuff

combining we get x and y values to be either 1 and 7 or -1 and 0-7 and in either cases give the value so suff
200 or 800. It don't matter no more.
Join the discussion

by prax_us » Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:19 am
The answer is C.
1. The product of X & Y is 7. Not sufficient. As X=0.01, Y=700 or X=0.1, Y=70 producing different results for (X-Y)^4
2. X & Y are integers; Not sufficient to arrive at single results for (X-Y)^4.

Combinging both -
XY = 7
=> X = 1, Y =7
=> X = -1, Y = -7
=> X = 7, Y = 1
=> X = -7, Y = -1
All result into 6^4.
Thus answer is C.
Join the discussion

by vinayakdl » Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:24 am
IMO :C



Vinayak
Join the discussion

by ogbeni » Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:00 am
I'm kinda confused

How does (1-7)^4 = (-1-7)^4?

The answer should be E because combining both statements does not give one value for (x-y)^4. Please show me what I'm missing.
Join the discussion

by raghavsarathy » Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:17 am
ogbeni wrote:I'm kinda confused

How does (1-7)^4 = (-1-7)^4?

The answer should be E because combining both statements does not give one value for (x-y)^4. Please show me what I'm missing.
When both are negative , (-1 - (-7) )^4 which is 6^4


So we get the same value
Join the discussion

by ogbeni » Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:21 am
OMG you are so right!! Little mistakes such as mine could lower your score. Note taken! Thanks!!
Join the discussion