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If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5|

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If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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01 Oct 2012, 04:58
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Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

59% (01:31) correct 41% (00:36) wrong based on 1297 sessions

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If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

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Question: 51
Page: 159
Difficulty: 600
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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01 Oct 2012, 04:58
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SOLUTION

If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

$$|23-5y|$$ represents the distance between 23 and $$5y$$ on the number line. Now, the distance will be minimized when $$5y$$, which is multiple of 5, is closest to 23. Multiple of 5 which is closest to 23 is 25 (for $$y=5$$), so the least distance is 2: $$|23-25|=2$$.

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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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01 Oct 2012, 05:10
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To find the value of y that yields that minimum for |23 - 5y|, I tested numbers (integers).

1: |23-5(1)| = 18
2: |23-5(2)| = 13
3: |23-5(3)| = 8
4: |23-5(4)| = 3
5: |23-5(5)| = 2
6: |23-5(6|| = 7
7: |23-5(7)| = 12

[Reveal] Spoiler:
The correct answer is B, 2.

This is a rather simple problem that can be figured out well under the 2 minute allowance - that said, it is a bit of a trap if you're not paying attention, and mark 5 instead of 2, as 5 is the value of y that yields the answer of 2.
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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01 Oct 2012, 08:10
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Bunuel wrote:
The Official Guide for GMAT® Review, 13th Edition - Quantitative Questions Project

If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

Practice Questions
Question: 51
Page: 159
Difficulty: 600

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$$|23-5y|$$ is the distance between $$23$$ and the integer multiple of $$5$$, $$5y$$.
So, the question is asking for the smallest distance between a multiple of $$5$$ and $$23$$.
Since $$20=4\cdot5<23<5\cdot5=25$$ and $$23$$ is closer to $$25$$ than to $$20$$, the answer is $$|23-25|=2$$.

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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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01 Oct 2012, 19:40
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If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

The integers which are multiple of 5 & closest to 23 on the number line are either 20 or 25.
Thus the minimum distance possible is 2 units
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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02 Oct 2012, 06:14
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Since absolute value stands for the distance on the number line. The question asks for a shortest distance between 23 and a multiple of 5. 25 is the multilple of 5 that is closest to 23 with a shortest distance of 2. 5 is the value of y that shall yield 25 and hence the answer is E
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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02 Oct 2012, 06:18
oops!! the question asks for value of Mod and not y...sorry my bad!! the answer should be B
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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02 Oct 2012, 12:31
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ratinarace wrote:
oops!! the question asks for value of Mod and not y...sorry my bad!! the answer should be B

Haha! see my post above about avoiding the fact this this question can be a trap depending on how you approach it.
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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04 Oct 2012, 00:59
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The two closest multiples of 5 that are closest to 23 are 20 and 25.

$$23 - 20 = -3$$ .....and $$|-3| = 3$$

$$23 - 25 = 2$$ ......and $$|2| = 2$$

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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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04 Oct 2012, 13:55
Expert's post
SOLUTION

If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23 - 5y| is

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

$$|23-5y|$$ represents the distance between 23 and $$5y$$ on the number line. Now, the distance will be minimized when $$5y$$, which is multiple of 5, is closest to 23. Multiple of 5 which is closest to 23 is 25 (for $$y=5$$), so the least distance is 2: $$|23-25|=2$$.

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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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10 Nov 2013, 00:29
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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24 Nov 2014, 10:22
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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17 Feb 2015, 20:16
for this question i just asked myself, what multiple of 5 is closest to 23, which would be 25 and that is 2 digits away from 23 hence the answer is 2 . when i see an abs() question i always think in terms of distance
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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26 May 2015, 05:50
When they asked least possible value, I was thinking of the value with the lowest probability and figured it could either be 1 4 and 5. Didnt think that they were asking what is the closest value
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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5| [#permalink]

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26 May 2015, 10:21
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Hi Psy881212,

GMAT writers are never trying to 'trick' you, so 'Probability' questions on the GMAT almost always include the word "probability" in the prompt. Here, the phrase "least possible value" means "smallest value that you can possibly end with given the restrictions in the prompt" (it does NOT mean "least likely value"). As you continue to practice with Official materials, you'll get a better sense of the 'style' that GMAT writers use (and that familiarity will lead to certain advantages on Test Day).

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Re: If y is an integer, then the least possible value of |23-5|   [#permalink] 26 May 2015, 10:21
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