GMAT Prep Question: What are they asking me to do???

[m_blooms]

From the GMATPrep Practice Exam-What is this asking? And the answer anyone?


For which of the following functions is f(a+b) = f(a) + f(b) for all positive numbers a and b?

a) f(x) =x^2
b) f(x) =x+1
c) f(x) =square root(x)
d) f(x) = 2/x
e) f(x) = -3x

[Musiq]

From the GMATPrep Practice Exam-What is this asking? And the answer anyone?


For which of the following functions is f(a+b) = f(a) + f(b) for all positive numbers a and b?

a) f(x) =x^2
b) f(x) =x+1
c) f(x) =square root(x)
d) f(x) = 2/x
e) f(x) = -3x

This is a tough tough question. Not because of the math involved, but because of the translation to normal language. Thats the part that test-takers find to be the toughest to master.

I will try explaining this as best as I can:

f(a+b) = f(a) + f(b) is a given condition that tells us whether we should retain an answer choice or not.

Let's try with Option A: f(x) =x^2 We have to test whether this function holds true for f(a+b) = f(a) + f(b)

Substitute a+b for X. Therefore, f(a+b) = (a+b) ^2.
Similarly, f(a) = a^2 ...........and................f(b) = b^2

We have to check now if f(a+b) = f(a) + f(b)
But, (a+b)^2 is clearly not equal to a^2 + b^ 2 ........this is a standard algebric rule.

Now that I have shown what the mathematical approach is, lets look at the test-smart way of doing this.

KAPLAN has a beautiful method for any question with "Which of the Following" as part of the question. Since this question has that phrase, we have to start looking from Option E upwards.

Lets do the same thing as I showed for Option A, except this time we'll do Option E: f(x) = -3x. We get the following from substituting a+b, a, AND b into this function.

f(a+b) = -3 (a+b)
f(a) = -3(a) ...................and f(b) = -3(b)

.
We see clearly that f(a+b) = f(a) + f(b) .............since -3(a+b) is indeed equal to -3(a) + -3(b)

Stop right here. Qa is E.............since its a MUST be true situation. We cannot have 2 answers for this. Saves you a bunch of trouble. Excellent Kaplan technique. Works most of the time.

Sorry for the long explanation, but I tried to really break it down for you, instead of just putting up an answer.

[mba.dude]

Great explanation by Musiq...