Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 13:45 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 13:45
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
avatar
4112019
Joined: 10 Jan 2013
Last visit: 04 May 2023
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
183
 [105]
Given Kudos: 19
Posts: 4
Kudos: 183
 [105]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
101
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,729
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,798
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,729
Kudos: 810,460
 [19]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
10
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,276
Own Kudos:
26,526
 [12]
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,276
Kudos: 26,526
 [12]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Konstantin1983
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Last visit: 08 Dec 2021
Posts: 298
Own Kudos:
324
 [1]
Given Kudos: 353
Location: Russian Federation
Concentration: General Management, Economics
GMAT 1: 640 Q44 V33
WE:Sales (Telecommunications)
GMAT 1: 640 Q44 V33
Posts: 298
Kudos: 324
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(99,999)^2 - (1)^2 = (100,000 -1)^2 - (1)^2 = (100,000)^2 - 2*100,000 + 1-1=(10^5)^2 - 2*(10^5) = 10^10 - 2*(10^5)=10^5(10^5 - 2) Answer E
User avatar
Divyadisha
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 18 Oct 2014
Last visit: 01 Jun 2018
Posts: 660
Own Kudos:
1,958
 [6]
Given Kudos: 69
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
GPA: 3.98
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
Posts: 660
Kudos: 1,958
 [6]
6
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
4112019
99,999^2 - 1^2 =

A. 10^10 - 2
B. (10^5 – 2)^2
C. 10^4(10^5 – 2)
D. 10^5(10^4 – 2)
E. 10^5(10^5 – 2)

99,999^2 - 1^2

a^2-b^2= (a+b) (a-b)

(99,999+1) (99,999-1)
10^5 (99,998)

10^5 (10^5-2)
E is the answer
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,423
Own Kudos:
1,936
 [6]
Given Kudos: 1,002
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,423
Kudos: 1,936
 [6]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
4112019
99,999^2 - 1^2 =

A. 10^10 - 2
B. (10^5 – 2)^2
C. 10^4(10^5 – 2)
D. 10^5(10^4 – 2)
E. 10^5(10^5 – 2)


99,999^2 - 1^2 =

(99999 - 1) (99999 + 1)

99998 * 100000

(10^5 - 2) * 10^5

Hence (E)
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 17 Dec 2025
Posts: 5,904
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,904
Kudos: 5,447
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
4112019
99,999^2 - 1^2 =

A. 10^10 - 2
B. (10^5 – 2)^2
C. 10^4(10^5 – 2)
D. 10^5(10^4 – 2)
E. 10^5(10^5 – 2)

\(99,999^2 - 1^2\) \(=\) \((99,999 - 1)(99,999 + 1)\)

Or, \(99,999^2 - 1^2\) \(=\) \(99,99800000\)

Or, \(99,999^2 - 1^2\) \(=\) \(100,00000000 - 200000\)

Or, \(99,999^2 - 1^2\) \(=\) \(10^5(10^5 – 2)\), Answer must be (E)
User avatar
akadiyan
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 31 May 2017
Last visit: 20 Jun 2025
Posts: 724
Own Kudos:
706
 [1]
Given Kudos: 53
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Products:
Posts: 724
Kudos: 706
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
99,999^2 - 1^2

\(a^2\)-\(b^2\)= (a+b) (a-b)

(99,999+1) (99,999-1)
\(10^5\) (99,998)

\(10^5\) (\(10^5\)-2)

Ans: E
User avatar
Basshead
Joined: 09 Jan 2020
Last visit: 07 Feb 2024
Posts: 907
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 431
Location: United States
Posts: 907
Kudos: 323
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Difference of squares = \(a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)\)

\(= (99,999 + 1) (99,999 - 1)\)
\(= 10^5 * (10^5 - 2)\)

Answer is. E
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,438
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 484
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,438
Kudos: 79,375
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
 
4112019
\(99,999^2 - 1^2 =\)


A. \(10^{10} - 2\)

B. \((10^5 – 2)^2\)

C. \(10^4(10^5 – 2)\)

D. \(10^5(10^4 – 2)\)

E. \(10^5(10^5 – 2)\)
­
You can also use (a-b)^2 here. 

\(99,999^2 - 1^2\\
= (10^5 - 1)^2 - 1^2\\
= 10^{10} - 2*10^5 + 1 - 1^2\\
= 10^{10} - 2*10^5\\
= 10^5(10^5 - 2)\)­

Answer (E)­
User avatar
adipiscimagni
Joined: 04 Feb 2026
Last visit: 12 Mar 2026
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I've had this question on a Official Practice GMAT, and the correct anwer is D) 10^5(10^4 -2). How so?
Bunuel


99,999^2 - 1^2 =

A. 10^10 - 2
B. (10^5 – 2)^2
C. 10^4(10^5 – 2)
D. 10^5(10^4 – 2)
E. 10^5(10^5 – 2)

Apply \(a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)\):

\(99,999^2-1^2 =(99,999+1)(99,999-1)=10^5(10^5-1-1)=10^5(10^5-2)\)

Answer: E.

Hope it's clear.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,729
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,798
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,729
Kudos: 810,460
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
adipiscimagni
I've had this question on a Official Practice GMAT, and the correct anwer is D) 10^5(10^4 -2). How so?

E is correct for this question as shown above.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109729 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts