Last visit was: 24 Apr 2024, 19:11 It is currently 24 Apr 2024, 19:11

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
SORT BY:
Date
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
Posts: 7
Own Kudos [?]: 111 [56]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Most Helpful Reply
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92900
Own Kudos [?]: 618824 [60]
Given Kudos: 81588
Send PM
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92900
Own Kudos [?]: 618824 [7]
Given Kudos: 81588
Send PM
General Discussion
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 14 Apr 2012
Posts: 9
Own Kudos [?]: 17 [1]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Absolute number. [#permalink]
1
Bookmarks
This I solved by trial and error...with a logic that what RHS has (a - b) and LHS has addition of the same terms. So for this to be true one has to be be zero hence answer will be zero.

Regards,
Tushar
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 245
Own Kudos [?]: 441 [6]
Given Kudos: 7
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V46
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
5
Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Clearly if \(a\) or \(b\) equal zero, \(ab = 0\)

so, let \(b\neq{0}\)
Distance of \(a\) from \(b\), equals the distance of \(a\) from -\(b\)
Draw this on a number line, \(a\) must equal zero

same logic holds for \(a\neq{0}\)

So either \(a\) or \(b\) = 0, \(ab = 0\)

or just solve using our normal absolute value method, two cases:

\((a+b) = (a-b)\)
\(b = 0\)

\(-(a+b) = (a-b)\)
\(-a-b = a-b\)
\(a = 0\)

so \(ab = 0\)
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 4
Own Kudos [?]: 32 [0]
Given Kudos: 8
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
Bunuel,

Can you always just square absolute values like you did on this problem?
I am wondering if squaring is a valid operation on absolute values.
User avatar
Director
Director
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Posts: 520
Own Kudos [?]: 2136 [3]
Given Kudos: 43
WE:Science (Education)
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
2
Kudos
1
Bookmarks
SergeNew wrote:
If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to:

A. 1
B. -1
C. 0
D. 2
E. -2


If \(b=0\), the equality obviously holds.
\(|a+b|=|a-b|\) means the distance between \(a\) and -\(b\) is the same as the distance between \(a\) and \(b\).
For \(b\neq0,\) it means that \(a\) is the average of -\(b\) and \(b\) (or the midpoint between -\(b\) and \(b\)), so necessarily \(a=0.\)
Altogether, the product \(ab\) must be \(0.\)

Answer C
User avatar
Director
Director
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Posts: 520
Own Kudos [?]: 2136 [0]
Given Kudos: 43
WE:Science (Education)
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
honggil wrote:
Bunuel,

Can you always just square absolute values like you did on this problem?
I am wondering if squaring is a valid operation on absolute values.


Absolute value is always non-negative, so if you have an equality between two absolute values, either they are both 0 or they are equal to the same positive number. Squared, they still remain equal.
Manager
Manager
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Posts: 129
Own Kudos [?]: 23 [3]
Given Kudos: 18
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V40
GMAT 2: 740 Q48 V44
GPA: 3.48
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
3
Kudos
SergeNew wrote:
If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to:

A. 1
B. -1
C. 0
D. 2
E. -2


I did this problem a little differently. Since both sides have absolute values, I used positives and negatives to get the following four possibilities:

a+b = a-b
a+b = -(a-b)
-(a+b) = a-b
-(a+b) = -(a-b)

Simplifying each equation gets:

b = -b
a = -a
-a = a
-b = b

From there, I concluded that a*b must be zero since the only way a = -a is if a = 0 and the only way b = -b is if b = 0. Did I do this problem incorrectly?
User avatar
Director
Director
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Posts: 520
Own Kudos [?]: 2136 [0]
Given Kudos: 43
WE:Science (Education)
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
HImba88 wrote:
SergeNew wrote:
If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to:

A. 1
B. -1
C. 0
D. 2
E. -2


I did this problem a little differently. Since both sides have absolute values, I used positives and negatives to get the following four possibilities:

a+b = a-b
a+b = -(a-b)
-(a+b) = a-b
-(a+b) = -(a-b)

Simplifying each equation gets:

b = -b
a = -a
-a = a
-b = b

From there, I concluded that a*b must be zero since the only way a = -a is if a = 0 and the only way b = -b is if b = 0. Did I do this problem incorrectly?


It is absolutely correct.
Good job!
Manager
Manager
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Posts: 129
Own Kudos [?]: 23 [0]
Given Kudos: 18
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V40
GMAT 2: 740 Q48 V44
GPA: 3.48
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
EvaJager wrote:
HImba88 wrote:
SergeNew wrote:
If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to:

A. 1
B. -1
C. 0
D. 2
E. -2


I did this problem a little differently. Since both sides have absolute values, I used positives and negatives to get the following four possibilities:

a+b = a-b
a+b = -(a-b)
-(a+b) = a-b
-(a+b) = -(a-b)

Simplifying each equation gets:

b = -b
a = -a
-a = a
-b = b

From there, I concluded that a*b must be zero since the only way a = -a is if a = 0 and the only way b = -b is if b = 0. Did I do this problem incorrectly?


It is absolutely correct.
Good job!


Thanks Eva. I didn't even think initially to square both sides. That way seems much more efficient than the way I approached the problem. Guess my brain is wired differently
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Posts: 3
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
I found the right answer. But not sure if the procedure is right
|a+b| = |a-b|

|a| + |b| = |a| -|b|

|b| = -|b| this is possible only with 0. So it is possible in only 2 cases. 1 and 0. But if it is 1, a+b neq to a-b. so b=0 and a*b = 0. Please let me know if this is a right approach.
Manager
Manager
Joined: 25 Jun 2012
Posts: 129
Own Kudos [?]: 23 [0]
Given Kudos: 18
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 700 Q47 V40
GMAT 2: 740 Q48 V44
GPA: 3.48
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
ravipprasad wrote:
I found the right answer. But not sure if the procedure is right
|a+b| = |a-b|

|a| + |b| = |a| -|b|

|b| = -|b| this is possible only with 0. So it is possible in only 2 cases. 1 and 0. But if it is 1, a+b neq to a-b. so b=0 and a*b = 0. Please let me know if this is a right approach.


Not sure if you can split the absolute value that way. For example:

a = -5
b = 3

|a+b| gets you 2 while |a| + |b| gets you 8.

That approach does get you the correct answer though so I may be incorrect
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Posts: 3
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
Then definitely my approach is wrong. But looking at the answer choices we can find that it should be 0.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Posts: 336
Own Kudos [?]: 1821 [0]
Given Kudos: 11
Concentration: Marketing, Finance
GPA: 3.23
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
Solution 1: Distance perspective

|a-b| = |a+b| ==> The distance of a and b is equal to the distance of a and -b.

<=======(-b)=======0=======(b)======>

Only 0 is the value that has a distance equal to b and -b.

Solution 2:

|a-b| = |a+b| (square both)
a^2 -2ab + b^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2
4ab = 0
ab = 0

Answer: 0
User avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 13 Feb 2010
Status:Prevent and prepare. Not repent and repair!!
Posts: 146
Own Kudos [?]: 418 [0]
Given Kudos: 282
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GPA: 3.75
WE:Sales (Telecommunications)
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
Can we plug in nos here? when we plug in random nos we realize that this can be equal only when a*b=0
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92900
Own Kudos [?]: 618824 [0]
Given Kudos: 81588
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Bumping for review and further discussion*. Get a kudos point for an alternative solution!

*New project from GMAT Club!!! Check HERE

Theory on Abolute Values: math-absolute-value-modulus-86462.html

DS Abolute Values Questions to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=37
PS Abolute Values Questions to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=58

Hard set on Abolute Values: inequality-and-absolute-value-questions-from-my-collection-86939.html
Director
Director
Joined: 17 Dec 2012
Posts: 589
Own Kudos [?]: 1519 [1]
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
1
Kudos
Expert Reply
SergeNew wrote:
If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to:

A. 1
B. -1
C. 0
D. 2
E. -2


Think the equation without "a". We know that -b and +b are equal in magnitude. We are adding "a" to each. That still doesn't change the equality of the magnitude. That is possible only when 0 is added or "a" is 0. We can say the reverse also and say that to a , we add b and -b and the equality still holds. In this case b is 0. Either a or b is 0. So a*b must be equal to 0.
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 13 May 2013
Posts: 314
Own Kudos [?]: 565 [0]
Given Kudos: 134
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to:

|a+b|=|a-b|
(a+b)*(a+b) = (a-b)*(a-b)
a^2+2ab+b^2 = a^2-2ab+b^2
4ab=0
In other words, a or b must = 0, therefore, the product of a*b is 0 regardless of what a or b are...one of them is 0.

(C)
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 23 Aug 2013
Posts: 2
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 9
Send PM
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
I am very noob, please tell me whether this method is wrong or not

|a+b| = |a-b|

Think positive values
so,
a+b = a-b
2b=0 meaning b is 0

or

Think negative, then ,
a+b = - (a-b)
a+b= -a+b
2a=o
a=o

so a*b =0 either way
GMAT Club Bot
Re: If |a+b|=|a-b|, then a*b must be equal to: [#permalink]
 1   2   
Moderators:
Math Expert
92900 posts
Senior Moderator - Masters Forum
3137 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne