Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

 It is currently 04 May 2015, 17:33

### 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

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

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# What is the value of ab^2 1. a = b-1 2. a = b^2-1

Author Message
TAGS:
Manager
Joined: 30 Jul 2011
Posts: 118
Location: United States (NJ)
Concentration: General Management, Finance
GMAT 1: 520 Q40 V21
GPA: 2.95
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 18 [0], given: 24

What is the value of ab^2 1. a = b-1 2. a = b^2-1 [#permalink]  21 Aug 2011, 14:19
00:00

Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

58% (01:17) correct 42% (02:01) wrong based on 12 sessions
What is the value of $$ab^2$$

1. $$a = b-1$$

2. $$a = b^2-1$$

[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by restore on 02 Sep 2011, 06:52, edited 1 time in total.
Manager
Joined: 19 Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Concentration: Finance, Economics
Schools: Duke '15
GPA: 3.9
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 56 [0], given: 4

Re: Value Problem [#permalink]  21 Aug 2011, 14:54
Are you sure it is not

a=b^2-1

In which case it is sufficient as

b-1 = b^2-1
b^2-b = 0 (add 1 to both sides and subtract b)
b can only have two values 0 or 1

0:0^2-0=0
1:1^2-1=0

If it is 0 then ab^2 will be 0.
If it is 1, then a has to be 0 as a=b^2-1 - so ab^2= 0

ab^2 is therefore 0.

Hope this helps (please recheck as I'm sure I have reviewed this before and statement 2 was as I have stated)
_________________

Show Thanks to fellow members with Kudos its shows your appreciation and its free

Manager
Joined: 25 Dec 2010
Posts: 85
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 29 [0], given: 2

Re: Value Problem [#permalink]  22 Aug 2011, 13:35
With the given information , i am getting E .
Math Forum Moderator
Joined: 20 Dec 2010
Posts: 2035
Followers: 135

Kudos [?]: 1107 [0], given: 376

Re: Value Problem [#permalink]  22 Aug 2011, 14:02
restore wrote:
What is the value of $$ab^2$$

1. $$a = b-1$$

2. $$b = b^2-1$$

Could you please recheck your question and OA. If those are correct, please provide us with MGMAT OE. thanks
_________________
Re: Value Problem   [#permalink] 22 Aug 2011, 14:02
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
1 If a > 0, is 2/(a+b) + 2/(a-b) = 1? 6 28 Apr 2013, 19:10
What is the value of (a+b)^2? 1 24 Dec 2012, 17:59
4 What is the value of ab^2 ? 14 09 Jun 2010, 05:22
What is the value of (a+b)^2? 1) ab=0 2) (a-b)^2=36 4 24 May 2006, 14:16
What is the sum of the integers A and B? 1. A=-/B/ 2.B=-/A 12 21 Jan 2006, 21:52
Display posts from previous: Sort by