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PS:Modulus shortcut clarification

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leonidas
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PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   26 Sep 2008, 20:28
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mod(x + 1) = 2 mod(x - 1)

When one solves this with 4 different conditions, one gets the value of x=3 and x=1/3. Is there a shorter way of identifying this equation and solving it only twice (instead of trying all 4 conditions) and get the two values?

I am trying to find some time saving strategies.
I tried the 4 conditions as:
(x+1) , (x-1)
-(x+1), -(x-1)
-(x+1), (x-1)
(x+1), -(x-1)

Hope I am making this clearer.



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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   26 Sep 2008, 22:05
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In many cases, the fastest way to analyze these equations is to interpret the absolute values as distances on the number line. Recall that |a-b| is the distance between a and b on the number line. So,

|x + 1| = 2 |x - 1|
|x-(-1)| = 2 |x-1|

which just says that x is twice as far from -1 as it is from 1. Clearly there will be one point between -1 and 1 which satisfies this (x = 1/3), and one point to the right of 1 (x=3).
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   26 Sep 2008, 23:48
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leonidas wrote:
mod(x + 1) = 2 mod(x - 1)

When one solves this with 4 different conditions, one gets the value of x=3 and x=1/3. Is there a shorter way of identifying this equation and solving it only twice (instead of trying all 4 conditions) and get the two values?

I am trying to find some time saving strategies.
I tried the 4 conditions as:
(x+1) , (x-1)
-(x+1), -(x-1)
-(x+1), (x-1)
(x+1), -(x-1)

Hope I am making this clearer.


essentially these 4 conditions are in fact the same as 2 conditions:

1: if lx+1l and lx-1l both are +ve;
x+1 = 2x-2
x = 3

2: if lx+1l and lx-1l both are -ve;
-x-1 = -2x+2
x = 3


1 & 2 yeild the same value because if we change the side of 2, it becomes 1. lets do it again with if lx+1l and lx-1l both are -ve;
-x-1 = -2x+2
change the side
2x - 2 = x+1 ........ it is the same as 1.

x = 3


3: if lx+1l is +ve and lx-1l is -ve;
x+1 = -2x+2
x = 1/3

4: if lx+1l is -ve and lx-1l is +ve;
-x-1 = 2x-2
x = 1/3

the same applies to 3 and 4 too.

so do only twice i.e one for +ve and another for -ve. 8-)
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   27 Sep 2008, 04:34
can you post the full question ?

Thanks
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   27 Sep 2008, 09:23
IanStewart- Thats one of the best ways of dealing with absolute value problems. I need more practice to think on those lines.
GMAT Tiger- I agree, I should try the equations just twice instead of all 4 conditions. This will save time.

Thanks guys....

Here is the complete problem:

Is |x|< 1?
(1) |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|
(2) |x - 3| ≠ 0
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   27 Sep 2008, 11:30
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leonidas wrote:
Is |x|< 1?
(1) |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|
(2) |x - 3| ≠ 0


I like Ian's approach. Definitely faster.

(1)
There is another technique. Square on both sides. This can be applied where there are chances of eliminating the Modulus like we have here in our statement 1

so |x + 1| = 2|x - 1| becomes (x+1)² = 4(x-1)²

x²+1+2x = 4x²+4-8x
3x²-10x+3=0
(3x-1)(x-3)=0

so x can be 1/3 or 3. so (1) is insufficient

(2)
|x-3|≠0 means x is not 3. But this does not tell what x is. So this is also insufficient.

(1) & (2)
(1) says x =1/3 or 3 and (2) says x≠3. So combining both gives x=1/3

So answer is C.
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   27 Sep 2008, 11:38
amitdgr wrote:
leonidas wrote:
Is |x|< 1?
(1) |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|
(2) |x - 3| ≠ 0


I like Ian's approach. Definitely faster.

(1)
There is another technique. Square on both sides. This can be applied where there are chances of eliminating the Modulus like we have here in our statement 1

so |x + 1| = 2|x - 1| becomes (x+1)² = 4(x-1)²

x²+1+2x = 4x²+4-8x
3x²-10x+3=0
(3x-1)(x-3)=0

so x can be 1/3 or 3. so (1) is insufficient

(2)
|x-3|≠0 means x is not 3. But this does not tell what x is. So this is also insufficient.

(1) & (2)
(1) says x =1/3 or 3 and (2) says x≠3. So combining both gives x=1/3

So answer is C.


Squaring works or solving 2 equations works just fine.
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   27 Sep 2008, 14:10
amitdgr wrote:
leonidas wrote:
Is |x|< 1?
(1) |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|
(2) |x - 3| ≠ 0


I like Ian's approach. Definitely faster.

(1)
There is another technique. Square on both sides. This can be applied where there are chances of eliminating the Modulus like we have here in our statement 1

so |x + 1| = 2|x - 1| becomes (x+1)² = 4(x-1)²

x²+1+2x = 4x²+4-8x
3x²-10x+3=0
(3x-1)(x-3)=0

so x can be 1/3 or 3. so (1) is insufficient

(2)
|x-3|≠0 means x is not 3. But this does not tell what x is. So this is also insufficient.

(1) & (2)
(1) says x =1/3 or 3 and (2) says x≠3. So combining both gives x=1/3

So answer is C.


I like this one too. So, whenever, there is an absolute vaue on either side, one of the best approaches is to square?
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink] New post   28 Sep 2008, 03:57
amitdgr wrote:
leonidas wrote:
Is |x|< 1?
(1) |x + 1| = 2|x - 1|
(2) |x - 3| ≠ 0


I like Ian's approach. Definitely faster.

(1)
There is another technique. Square on both sides. This can be applied where there are chances of eliminating the Modulus like we have here in our statement 1

so |x + 1| = 2|x - 1| becomes (x+1)² = 4(x-1)²

x²+1+2x = 4x²+4-8x
3x²-10x+3=0
(3x-1)(x-3)=0

so x can be 1/3 or 3. so (1) is insufficient

(2)
|x-3|≠0 means x is not 3. But this does not tell what x is. So this is also insufficient.

(1) & (2)
(1) says x =1/3 or 3 and (2) says x≠3. So combining both gives x=1/3

So answer is C.


Good approach. I never thought of this. This really makes calculation fool proof.



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Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Problem Solving (PS) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
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Re: PS:Modulus shortcut clarification [#permalink]
28 Sep 2008, 03:57
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