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HELP: Question about system of equstions

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by and1ms238 » Sun Feb 14, 2010 6:55 pm
Just have a quick questions concerning one of the free BTG Flash cards posted to the site.
Image

I don't understand the second and third points.

When would you be asked to solve for 'part of the system'. Quick Example?

Same thing with 'solve for a relationship'... what does relationship mean as far as algebra goes? Quick Example as well?
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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by Ian Stewart » Mon Feb 15, 2010 12:47 am
and1ms238 wrote:Just have a quick questions concerning one of the free BTG Flash cards posted to the site.
Image

I don't understand the second and third points.

When would you be asked to solve for 'part of the system'. Quick Example?

Same thing with 'solve for a relationship'... what does relationship mean as far as algebra goes? Quick Example as well?
I've commented on "n equations/n unknowns rules" in a few threads, so I'll just post links. In the first thread linked below, in the first example provided, the question only asks for the value of one unknown (the unknown 'c') which I take it is what the flashcard means by 'part of a system'. Three examples later, I've provided an example where you are asked to solve for a relationship between two unknowns (see the example which asks for the value of 'x/y'); you may be able to find x/y without knowing either x or y:

www.beatthegmat.com/n-variables-n-disti ... 20728.html

The examples in the thread above are intended to be very simple. If you're interested, I wrote about more mathematically interesting examples here:

www.beatthegmat.com/triangles-data-suff ... 49289.html
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com
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