Math questions from any Manhattan Prep GMAT Computer Adaptive Test.
furtadovinod
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If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by furtadovinod Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:27 am

Hi,

A minor issue in the answer explanation to this problem. I am not copying out the entire explanation.

If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x - y?

(1) (x + y)(x - y) = 5
(2) xy = 6

Part of the explanation given is

As you can see, the difference between squares grows as the squares themselves get larger. The only difference between two squares that equals 5 is the difference between 4 and 9. Since x and y are both negative, this tells us that x = -3 and y = -2; therefore, x - y = -5.

The bolded portion should be
x - y = (-3) - (-2) = (-3) + 2 = -1
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by www.mbachase.com Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:27 am

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Last edited by www.mbachase.com on Thu Aug 20, 2009 12:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by Ben Ku Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:23 pm

Hi furtadovinod,

Thanks for the correction. I'll be sure to forward this to the right people so that it gets corrected on our explanations.
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by heydharini Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:13 am

Hi,

I came across the same question in my Manhattan test today and I felt that the answer could be D


If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x - y?

(1) (x + y)(x - y) = 5
(2) xy = 6

Considering B alone here, [according to this question A is the answer and the explanation is provided - only correction needed x - y = -1]

xy = 6
The options here are -3 and -2
Since we know x<y<0 , x= -3 and y=-2

x - y = -3 - (-2) = -1

which means D should be the correct answer. Manhattan Staff, please let me know if am right?

Thanks,
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by mkorrapati Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:57 am

Hey heydharini,

What about x = -6 and y = -1?

This makes xy = 6 as well.

Now you have two different solutions for x-y. So B and D can not be the answers.
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by RonPurewal Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:23 pm

mkorrapati Wrote:Hey heydharini,

What about x = -6 and y = -1?

This makes xy = 6 as well.

Now you have two different solutions for x-y. So B and D can not be the answers.


correct.
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by lancequas Tue May 25, 2010 11:32 pm

I got the answer right by accident I guess; I surmized that x^2-y^2 =5 thus x-y= +/- sq. root 5. Knowing x and y are both negative and x is farther away from zero x-y must = neg. sq. root 5. I'm still not seeing why this is wrong. Please correct me and explain the answer
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by adiagr Sun Jun 06, 2010 3:09 pm

The term is [(x^2) - (y^2)] and not (x-y)^2.

You cannot take square root for the left hand side i.e. for

[(x^2) - (y^2)].

I hope that helps.

Aditya.
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by RonPurewal Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:30 am

adiagr Wrote:The term is [(x^2) - (y^2)] and not (x-y)^2.

You cannot take square root for the left hand side i.e. for

[(x^2) - (y^2)].

I hope that helps.

Aditya.


yes.

this confusion is going to be a very bad thing on the test, if it persists. therefore, you should probably pick up an algebra book -- or surf the internet -- and look up "difference of squares" and "perfect square trinomials"; these are the two factoring patterns that you are confusing.

you may also want to check out the uses of the distributive property; you are mistakenly applying it to square roots, when in fact it only applies to multiplication and division.
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by yousuf_azim Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:38 am

What is the ans?

BR
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by jnelson0612 Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:40 pm

yousuf_azim Wrote:What is the ans?

BR


The answer is A.
Jamie Nelson
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by HIK Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:23 am

Hi Guys,

Is there any way of finding out a solution algebrically?

During the exam testing numbers, always makes one wonder if there may be more solutions?

I understand that x and y are integers so the options for testing numbers is less, but still if there is an algebric solution, it'll be great.

Thanks,
Hassan
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by tim Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:35 pm

Hassan, if you are interested in a solution that uses more algebra than what you've already seen in the posts above, that is probably not a good idea. The fact that x and y are integers means that you should factor that into your solution method in order to make things easier. A purely algebraic solution that only restricts x and y to integers at the end would be much less efficient..
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by chughbrajesh Wed Jan 29, 2014 3:32 am

(x-y)(x+y)=5

We need to figure out the value for x-y. Couldn't x-y= 1 or 5? So we are not sure about the (x-y) value?

Also if x is smaller than y and y is smaller than 0 then it means that
x must be -4 and y must be -1 to make (x-y)=-5. The question says "x < y < 0".
Then (x+y) will not equal -1 to make a positive 5. This will not happen because one -4 and other is -1. no way, it will equal -1.
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Re: If x and y are integers such that x < y < 0, what is x – y?

by RonPurewal Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:32 am

chughbrajesh Wrote:(x-y)(x+y)=5

We need to figure out the value for x-y. Couldn't x-y= 1 or 5? So we are not sure about the (x-y) value?

Also if x is smaller than y and y is smaller than 0 then it means that
x must be -4 and y must be -1 to make (x-y)=-5. The question says "x < y < 0".
Then (x+y) will not equal -1 to make a positive 5. This will not happen because one -4 and other is -1. no way, it will equal -1.


You're correct that x - y doesn't equal -5. Both numbers are negative, so x + y will be more negative (= farther to the left on the number line) than x - y.

Since everything is in terms of integers, that leaves only one possibility: x - y = -1 and x + y = -5. So, sufficient.

(You'll get x = -3 and y = -2, although, as long as you know it guarantees a unique answer, it's unnecessary to solve the system once you've found it).