can someone explain me how to solve the below problem

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jun 27, 2015 6:51 pm
Location: London
What is the perimeter of the triangle in the figure above?

1. The side across from interior angle z measures 2
2. 2x > y
Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked
Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked
Both statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked; but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient
EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked
Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed
Attachments
Q13.png
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1100
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 11:34 pm
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 205 times
Followed by:24 members

by GMATinsight » Mon Nov 30, 2015 7:59 am
NarendraSure wrote:What is the perimeter of the triangle in the figure above?

1. The side across from interior angle z measures 2
2. 2x > y
Question : Perimeter = ?

Statement 1:The side across from interior angle z measures 2
From the figure we can see that
y = z and y = x
i.e. three angles of triangle are x - x - 2x
i.e. x+x+2x = 90
i.e. x = 45
in which one side is 2 i.e. other sides will be 2 and 2(root2)
i.e. Perimeter = 2+2+2(root2) = 4+2root2

SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: 2x > y
None of the sides of triangle is known hence
NOT SUFFICIENT



Answer: option A
"GMATinsight"Bhoopendra Singh & Sushma Jha
Most Comprehensive and Affordable Video Course 2000+ CONCEPT Videos and Video Solutions
Whatsapp/Mobile: +91-9999687183 l [email protected]
Contact for One-on-One FREE ONLINE DEMO Class Call/e-mail
Most Efficient and affordable One-On-One Private tutoring fee - US$40-50 per hour

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 3991
Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2015 2:28 am
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:37 members

by Max@Math Revolution » Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:45 am
Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solution.

What is the perimeter of the triangle in the figure above?

1. The side across from interior angle z measures 2
2. 2x > y

We get from y=z=x, x+x+2x=180, x=45 and 2x=90, forming a right isosceles triangle.
Hence, a:a:root(2)a.
There is one variable (a) and 2 equations are given by the 2 conditions, so there is high chance (D) will be the answer.
For condition 1, perimeter=2+2+2root2. This is sufficient
For condition 2, from 2x>y, 2x>x, x>0 and we cannot determine a unique value of the perimeter, so the condition is insufficient and the answer becomes (A).

For cases where we need 1 more equation, such as original conditions with "1 variable", or "2 variables and 1 equation", or "3 variables and 2 equations", we have 1 equation each in both 1) and 2). Therefore, there is 59 % chance that D is the answer, while A or B has 38% chance and C or E has 3% chance. Since D is most likely to be the answer using 1) and 2) separately according to DS definition. Obviously there may be cases where the answer is A, B, C or E.