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# If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ?

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If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  01 Oct 2011, 18:05
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Question Stats:

49% (01:46) correct 51% (00:40) wrong based on 683 sessions
If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ?

A. 1
B. 1/2
C. 1 and 1/2
D. -1/2
E. -1

Soln
[Reveal] Spoiler:
When we proceed to solve this we get two eq:
x = 3x - 2 .... (i) when x > 0
-x = 3x - 2 .... (ii) when x < 0

Therefore we get two results x = 1 and x = 1/2 from (i) and (ii) resp.
Lets plug the values back into the eq.

|1| = 3*1 - 2
==> 1 = 1
so (i) holds good.

|1/2| = 3*(1/2) - 2
==> 1/2 = -1/2 this is incorrect, hence soln from eq (ii) does not hold good.

The soln to the eq |x| = 3x - 2 is 1 only.

Quant guru's let me know if there is a flaw in my calculation method.

Thanks!
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  01 Oct 2011, 19:04
Its Both 1 and 1/2

as |x|=3x-2

It cab be x= 3x-2 or x= -(3x-2) so

when x= 3x-2 we get x=1
when x=-(3x-2) we get x= 1/2

so It is both 1 and 1/2
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  01 Oct 2011, 23:09
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There is no big flaws, but it is not fully mathematically correct. When opening the absolute value you should add constraints which you use. In other words, $$|x|=x$$ if $$x>=0$$

So, the precise solution is as follows:

$$|x|=3x-2$$

$$x=3x-2 , x>=0$$
$$-x=3x-2, x<0$$

$$2x=2, x>=0$$
$$4x=2, x<0$$

$$x=1, x>=0$$
$$x=0.5, x<0$$

So, the only answer is x=1.
Good luck! Try to solve some more problems with absolute values (both equations and inequalities)
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  02 Oct 2011, 05:54
kotela wrote:
Its Both 1 and 1/2

as |x|=3x-2

It cab be x= 3x-2 or x= -(3x-2) so

when x= 3x-2 we get x=1
when x=-(3x-2) we get x= 1/2

so It is both 1 and 1/2

No x = 1/2 is not the solution, i have proved it, you can also read the message below yours, it too proves the same thing..
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  02 Oct 2011, 23:12
2
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I think one other point is that visually we should know this has only one solution.

Visualize y = |x|

Visualize y = 3x - 2

These will only intersect once!

On the other hand, consider:

|2x – 3| – 4 = 3
|2x – 3| = 7

We can see straight away this has two solutions. Visualize the left hand side and the right hand side:

Last edited by pike on 03 Oct 2011, 00:47, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  02 Oct 2011, 23:33
silly me . i have answered C. I must be burned and buried deeply for such a stupid mistake hehe
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  03 Oct 2011, 03:22
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Expert's post
mave23 wrote:
Hi All,

Came across this rather interesting quant question, and thought of sharing it with folks here:

|x| = 3x - 2

a. 1
b. 1/2
c. 1 and 1/2
d. -1/2
e. -1

I know it's fun to solve when you know what you are doing (and more importantly, why you are doing it) and the graph method is especially satisfying but don't forget a very basic trick in such questions. When you have values for x in the options, and an equation in the question, we could just plug the values in. Since x = 1 satisfies the equation and x = 1/2 doesn't, answer has to be (A).
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Intern Joined: 16 Jun 2011 Posts: 19 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 11 [0], given: 9 Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink] 03 Oct 2011, 09:44 VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: I know it's fun to solve when you know what you are doing (and more importantly, why you are doing it) and the graph method is especially satisfying but don't forget a very basic trick in such questions. When you have values for x in the options, and an equation in the question, we could just plug the values in. Since x = 1 satisfies the equation and x = 1/2 doesn't, answer has to be (A). Wow thanks, you are correct i had overlooked this option.. do you think such questions will come in the real gmat, where plugging the value may reveal the answer? Thanks. Intern Joined: 26 May 2011 Posts: 19 Location: United States Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 56 [0], given: 0 Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink] 03 Oct 2011, 18:35 mave23 wrote: VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: I know it's fun to solve when you know what you are doing (and more importantly, why you are doing it) and the graph method is especially satisfying but don't forget a very basic trick in such questions. When you have values for x in the options, and an equation in the question, we could just plug the values in. Since x = 1 satisfies the equation and x = 1/2 doesn't, answer has to be (A). Wow thanks, you are correct i had overlooked this option.. do you think such questions will come in the real gmat, where plugging the value may reveal the answer? Thanks. depends on how you are doing in the exam Intern Joined: 10 May 2011 Posts: 22 Location: India Concentration: Strategy, General Management GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V32 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 6 [0], given: 0 Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink] 03 Oct 2011, 20:41 Just another simple approach. Since |x| is always positive so 3x - 2 should always be positive for this equation to be true. You can simply rule out options (D) and (E), as any negative values of x will make 3x-2 negative. For 1/2, again 3x-2 becomes negative. So only option left is (A). Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 5758 Location: Pune, India Followers: 1449 Kudos [?]: 7640 [0], given: 186 Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink] 04 Oct 2011, 03:03 Expert's post mave23 wrote: Wow thanks, you are correct i had overlooked this option.. do you think such questions will come in the real gmat, where plugging the value may reveal the answer? Thanks. Sure it is possible. That is why it is good to keep this in mind since a relatively tricky question can be easily solved this way. Though, GMAC is wise to such tricks and since these questions don't involve much work on your part, don't expect the options to help you often (nevertheless, you should always keep one eye on the options), at least not right in the beginning. If you do get such a question, it may not be a very high level question. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  06 Oct 2011, 02:53

Approach:
Substituted option A i.e x=1. Inequality satisfied.

This eliminates all options except option C. This is because only Option A & C carries x=1 which satisfies the inequality.

Substituted x=1/2. Inequality not satisfied. Hence Option C eliminated. Only remaining option A.
Selected Option A.

----------------------------------------------
P.S. - Thanks pike for the graphical solution. I loved your approach.
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  18 Sep 2013, 06:23
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  21 Sep 2013, 00:06
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Absolute values are easy. The hard part is remembering to substitute back into the original question to check if it satisfies the equation.

Here are some rules:
|x|>=0
|x| = sqrt(x)^2
|0| = 0
|-x|=|x|
|x|+|y|>= |x+y|

Absolute values can also be thought of as the distance between 2 points.

Remember to always always always check whether your solution satisfies the equation!!
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  26 Mar 2014, 08:40
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Here is the sol. I have attached a screenshot. HTH
Attachments

image.jpg [ 506.41 KiB | Viewed 2874 times ]

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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  18 Jun 2014, 20:51
email2vm wrote:
Here is the sol. I have attached a screenshot. HTH

As (3x-2)>0, x>2/3>0, then we do not need to consider the case x<0. Reduce the amount of caculation.
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  30 Aug 2014, 08:30
so what is the question here? I am not able to see it. is it to find value of X?

mave23 wrote:
|x| = 3x - 2

A. 1
B. 1/2
C. 1 and 1/2
D. -1/2
E. -1

Soln
[Reveal] Spoiler:
When we proceed to solve this we get two eq:
x = 3x - 2 .... (i) when x > 0
-x = 3x - 2 .... (ii) when x < 0

Therefore we get two results x = 1 and x = 1/2 from (i) and (ii) resp.
Lets plug the values back into the eq.

|1| = 3*1 - 2
==> 1 = 1
so (i) holds good.

|1/2| = 3*(1/2) - 2
==> 1/2 = -1/2 this is incorrect, hence soln from eq (ii) does not hold good.

The soln to the eq |x| = 3x - 2 is 1 only.

Quant guru's let me know if there is a flaw in my calculation method.

Thanks!

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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  01 Sep 2014, 00:26
Expert's post
sunita123 wrote:
so what is the question here? I am not able to see it. is it to find value of X?

mave23 wrote:
|x| = 3x - 2

A. 1
B. 1/2
C. 1 and 1/2
D. -1/2
E. -1

Soln
[Reveal] Spoiler:
When we proceed to solve this we get two eq:
x = 3x - 2 .... (i) when x > 0
-x = 3x - 2 .... (ii) when x < 0

Therefore we get two results x = 1 and x = 1/2 from (i) and (ii) resp.
Lets plug the values back into the eq.

|1| = 3*1 - 2
==> 1 = 1
so (i) holds good.

|1/2| = 3*(1/2) - 2
==> 1/2 = -1/2 this is incorrect, hence soln from eq (ii) does not hold good.

The soln to the eq |x| = 3x - 2 is 1 only.

Quant guru's let me know if there is a flaw in my calculation method.

Thanks!

Edited the stem. Thank you.
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  27 Dec 2014, 11:46
email2vm wrote:
Here is the sol. I have attached a screenshot. HTH

I also solved this way. is it right approach to solve this type of question?
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ? [#permalink]  28 Dec 2014, 04:36
Expert's post
Salvetor wrote:
email2vm wrote:
Here is the sol. I have attached a screenshot. HTH

I also solved this way. is it right approach to solve this type of question?

Yes, that approach is correct.
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Re: If |x| = 3x - 2, then x = ?   [#permalink] 28 Dec 2014, 04:36
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