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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach Starts Oct 17
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Chris Peckover, 100th-Percentile GMAT Scorer

Oct 17 · Chris Peckover
Sat · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET
Oct 20 · Chris Peckover
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Oct 25 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemand 5 seats left Start anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Point P is the point of the circle x^2 + y^2 -2x -4y = 4 wit

Expert replies
by fskilnik@GMATH » Fri Sep 14, 2018 8:42 am

Timer

00:00

Answers

A

B

C

D

E

Stats

Difficulty—

[GMATH practice question]

Point P is the point satisfying x^2 + y^2 -2x -4y = 4 with maximum possible vertical coordinate. What is the sum of the coordinates of P?

(A) 5
(B) 5.5
(C) 6
(D) 6.5
(E) 7

Answer: [spoiler]__(C)____[/spoiler]
Last edited by fskilnik@GMATH on Fri Sep 14, 2018 8:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
English-speakers :: https://www.gmath.net
Portuguese-speakers :: https://www.gmath.com.br
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |

fskilnik wrote: [GMATH practice question]

Point P is the point satisfying x^2 + y^2 -2x -4y = 4 with maximum possible vertical coordinate. What is the sum of the coordinates of P?

(A) 5
(B) 5.5
(C) 6
(D) 6.5
(E) 7
\[P = \left( {{x_P}\,,\,\,{y_P}} \right)\,\,\, \in \,\,\,\,\left\{ {\,\left( {x,y} \right)\,\,\,:\,\,\,{x^2} - 2x + {y^2} - 4y = 4\,} \right\}\]
\[{y_P}\,\,\max \,\,\,,\,\,\,\,\,? = {x_P} + {y_P}\]

Let´s apply the "filling the squares" technique presented in our course!

\[{x^2} - 2x + {y^2} - 4y = 4\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\underbrace {{x^2} - 2x + \underline 1 }_{{{\left( {x - 1} \right)}^{\,2}}} + \underbrace {{y^2} - 4y + \underline 4 }_{{{\left( {y - 2} \right)}^{\,2}}} = \underbrace {4 + \underline 1 + \underline 4 }_9\]
\[P\,\, \in \,\,\,\left\{ {\,\,\left( {x,y} \right)\,\,:\,\,\,{{\left( {x - 1} \right)}^2} + {{\left( {y - 2} \right)}^2} = {3^2}} \right\}\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Leftrightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,P\,\, \in \,\,\,\, \odot \,\,\left\{ \begin{gathered}
\,{\text{Centre}}\, = \left( {1,2} \right) \hfill \\
{\text{Radius}} = 3 \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right.\]
\[\left. \begin{gathered}
P = \left( {{x_P}\,,\,\,{y_P}} \right)\,\, \in \,\,\,\, \odot \,\, \hfill \\
{y_P}\,\,\max \,\, \hfill \\
\end{gathered} \right\}\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{{\text{geometrically}}\,\,{\text{evident}}\,!} \,\,\,\,\,P = \left( {1,2 + 3} \right) = \left( {1,5} \right)\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,? = 6\]
Image

This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.
Last edited by fskilnik@GMATH on Sat Sep 15, 2018 4:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
English-speakers :: https://www.gmath.net
Portuguese-speakers :: https://www.gmath.com.br
Join the discussion

fskilnik wrote:[GMATH practice question]

Point P is the point satisfying x^2 + y^2 -2x -4y = 4 with maximum possible vertical coordinate. What is the sum of the coordinates of P?

(A) 5
(B) 5.5
(C) 6
(D) 6.5
(E) 7

Answer: [spoiler]__(C)____[/spoiler]
Reorganizing the problem: y^2 - 4y +x^2- 2x = 4

To maximize the vertical is to maximize y. To maximize y, we need to minimize the expression x^2 - 2x since to the extent it is positive will reduce the right side, 4, available for the y expression to satisfy.

Looking at x^2 - 2x it is tempting to believe the minimum value is 0, but can we do better than that ?

If we set x=1, then the expression reduces to -1, that's better than 0. If we set x=2, the expression = 0, so headed in the wrong direction.

If we set x = 0, the expression = 0 , again the wrong direction. Testing x=-1 the expression = 3.

So x = 1 minimizes the expression. Plugging x=1 into the expression and solving for y:

y^2-4y + 1 - 2 = 4 > y^2-4y - 5 =0

Solving for Y: (y+1)(y-5) = 0 so y = -1, 5. The maximum is 5.

So the coordinates of the point P where y is a maximum, 5, are (1,5) so the sum of the coordinates is 6, C
Join the discussion

fskilnik wrote: [GMATH practice question]

Point P is the point satisfying x^2 + y^2 -2x -4y = 4 with maximum possible vertical coordinate. What is the sum of the coordinates of P?

(A) 5
(B) 5.5
(C) 6
(D) 6.5
(E) 7
Alternate solution (adapted from the very nice idea of regor60, posted above. Thank you for your contribution!):

\[P = \left( {{x_P}\,,\,\,{y_P}} \right)\,\,\, \in \,\,\,\,\left\{ {\,\left( {x,y} \right)\,\,\,:\,\,\,{x^2} - 2x + {y^2} - 4y = 4\,} \right\}\]
\[{y_P}\,\,\max \,\,\,,\,\,\,\,\,? = {x_P} + {y_P}\]
\[{x^2} - 2x + {y^2} - 4y = 4\,\,\,\,\, \Leftrightarrow \,\,\,\,{y^2} - 4y = 4 - \left( {{x^2} - 2x + \underline 1 } \right) + \underline 1 = 5 - {\left( {x - 1} \right)^2}\]
\[{y^2} - 4y = 5 - {\left( {x - 1} \right)^2} \leqslant 5\]
\[y\,\,\max \,\,\,\,\,\, \Leftrightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}
{x = {x_p} = 1} \\
{{y_p}^2 - 4{y_p} = 5}
\end{array}\begin{array}{*{20}{c}}
{} \\
{\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{S = 4\,,\,P = - 5} \,\,\,\,{y_p} = \max \left\{ {5, - 1} \right\}\,\, = 5\,\,\,\,}
\end{array}} \right.\]
\[? = 1 + 5 = 6\]


This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.
Last edited by fskilnik@GMATH on Fri Sep 14, 2018 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator ( Math for the GMAT)
English-speakers :: https://www.gmath.net
Portuguese-speakers :: https://www.gmath.com.br
Join the discussion

by GMATGuruNY » Fri Sep 14, 2018 12:36 pm
fskilnik wrote:[GMATH practice question]

Point P is the point satisfying x^2 + y^2 -2x -4y = 4 with maximum possible vertical coordinate. What is the sum of the coordinates of P?

(A) 5
(B) 5.5
(C) 6
(D) 6.5
(E) 7
(x-h)² + (y-k)² = r² is a circle with a center at (h, k) and a radius of r.

x² + y² - 2x - 4y = 4

x² - 2x + y² - 4y = 4

x² - 2x + 1 + y² - 4y + 4 = 4 + 1 + 4

(x-1)² + (y-2)² = 9

(x-1)² + (y-2)² = 3³

The equation above constitutes a circle with a center at (1, 2) and a radius of 3.
Since r=3, the highest point is located exactly 3 units above the center:Image
As shown in the figure above, the highest point is at (1, 5).
Sum of the coordinates = 1+5 = 6.

The correct answer is C.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Join the discussion