GMAT Changed on April 16th - Read about the latest changes here

 It is currently 20 May 2018, 18:29

### 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

# A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Intern
Joined: 19 Dec 2015
Posts: 28
A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

03 May 2016, 07:59
3
KUDOS
18
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

67% (00:31) correct 33% (00:32) wrong based on 587 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is a point on the circle, what is the sum of the squares of the coordinates of P?

1) The radius of the circle is 4.

2) The sum of the coordinates of P is 0.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
Intern
Joined: 19 Dec 2015
Posts: 28
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

03 May 2016, 08:01
1
KUDOS
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Could someone please elaborate what the term "sum of the squares" mean in the context of coordinate geometry?
Manager
Joined: 19 Dec 2015
Posts: 112
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
GPA: 3.8
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 21 Jun 2016, 08:10
5
KUDOS
7
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Hi Sallyzodiac,

The center-radius form of the circle equation is in the format $$(x – h)^2$$ + $$(y – k)^2$$ = $$r^2$$, with the center being at the point (h, k) and the radius being "r". Now if we are told that the circle lies on the origin, this equation is reduced to $$x^2 + y^2 = r ^2$$.

So, for us to calculate the squares of the coordinates - we just need to know the radius of the circle. Hence A.
Attachments

_9159574.png [ 52.84 KiB | Viewed 21270 times ]

Originally posted by FacelessMan on 03 May 2016, 09:40.
Last edited by FacelessMan on 21 Jun 2016, 08:10, edited 1 time in total.
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 45213
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

03 May 2016, 09:42
9
KUDOS
Expert's post
10
This post was
BOOKMARKED
Sallyzodiac wrote:
A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is a point on the circle, what is the sum of the squares of the coordinates of P?

1) The radius of the circle is 4.

2) The sum of the coordinates of P is 0.

Say the coordinates of P are (x,y), then the question asks about the value of x^2 + y^2.

In an x-y Cartesian coordinate system, the circle with center (a, b) and radius r is the set of all points (x, y) such that:
$$(x-a)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2$$

This equation of the circle follows from the Pythagorean theorem applied to any point on the circle: as shown in the diagram above, the radius is the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle whose other sides are of length x-a and y-b.

If the circle is centered at the origin (0, 0), then the equation simplifies to:
$$x^2+y^2=r^2$$.

According to the above, the first statement of the question gives the direct answer: x^2 + y^2 = r^2 = 4^2. The second statement is not sufficient.

Check more here: math-coordinate-geometry-87652.html

Hope it helps.
_________________
Intern
Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 48
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

19 Jun 2016, 09:41
1
KUDOS
Hi Bunuel - My confusion is on the wording of the question- " If p is a point on the circle..." this is in fact saying that p has to be on the "outlined" circle and NOT for example inside the circle? If we choose p to be in the origin, 0,0 we would have another answer. But from what I am reading no one is considering P to be "inside" the circle. Are there any key clue to rule out points inside the circle?
best
Oloman

Bunuel wrote:
Sallyzodiac wrote:
A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is a point on the circle, what is the sum of the squares of the coordinates of P?

1) The radius of the circle is 4.

2) The sum of the coordinates of P is 0.

Say the coordinates of P are (x,y), then the question asks about the value of x^2 + y^2.

In an x-y Cartesian coordinate system, the circle with center (a, b) and radius r is the set of all points (x, y) such that:
$$(x-a)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2$$

This equation of the circle follows from the Pythagorean theorem applied to any point on the circle: as shown in the diagram above, the radius is the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle whose other sides are of length x-a and y-b.

If the circle is centered at the origin (0, 0), then the equation simplifies to:
$$x^2+y^2=r^2$$.

According to the above, the first statement of the question gives the direct answer: x^2 + y^2 = r^2 = 4^2. The second statement is not sufficient.

Check more here: math-coordinate-geometry-87652.html

Hope it helps.
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 45213
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

19 Jun 2016, 09:50
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
oloman wrote:
Hi Bunuel - My confusion is on the wording of the question- " If p is a point on the circle..." this is in fact saying that p has to be on the "outlined" circle and NOT for example inside the circle? If we choose p to be in the origin, 0,0 we would have another answer. But from what I am reading no one is considering P to be "inside" the circle. Are there any key clue to rule out points inside the circle?
best
Oloman

Bunuel wrote:
Sallyzodiac wrote:
A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is a point on the circle, what is the sum of the squares of the coordinates of P?

1) The radius of the circle is 4.

2) The sum of the coordinates of P is 0.

Say the coordinates of P are (x,y), then the question asks about the value of x^2 + y^2.

In an x-y Cartesian coordinate system, the circle with center (a, b) and radius r is the set of all points (x, y) such that:
$$(x-a)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2$$

This equation of the circle follows from the Pythagorean theorem applied to any point on the circle: as shown in the diagram above, the radius is the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle whose other sides are of length x-a and y-b.

If the circle is centered at the origin (0, 0), then the equation simplifies to:
$$x^2+y^2=r^2$$.

According to the above, the first statement of the question gives the direct answer: x^2 + y^2 = r^2 = 4^2. The second statement is not sufficient.

Check more here: math-coordinate-geometry-87652.html

Hope it helps.

Yes, on the circle means on the circumference, while in the circle means inside the circumference.
_________________
Manager
Joined: 03 Jul 2016
Posts: 76
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin [#permalink]

### Show Tags

27 Aug 2016, 16:17
Question asked here is, nothing the square of the radius of the circle, since the circle is centered at origin. Statement that helps in finding out the radius of the circle is sufficient.

Hence A.
Board of Directors
Status: Stepping into my 10 years long dream
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Posts: 3445
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin [#permalink]

### Show Tags

28 Aug 2016, 00:10
3
KUDOS
Keats wrote:
A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is a point on the circle, what is the sum of the squares of the coordinates of P?

(1)The radius of the circle is 4.
(2)The sum of the coordinates of P is 0.

We are given the center at origin, so equation of circle will be $$x^2 + y^2 = r^2$$

Since, P is on the circle, it will satisfy this equation.

Statement 1 : We are given the value of r = 4, so we can find out the value of $$x^2 + y^2$$, Hence Sufficient.

Statement 2 says x = -y. Even if we put this value in the equation we will get $$2x^2 = r^2$$

But Since we don't know r, we cannot find the value of x. hence, insufficient.

_________________

My GMAT Story: From V21 to V40
My MBA Journey: My 10 years long MBA Dream
My Secret Hacks: Best way to use GMATClub
Verbal Resources: All SC Resources at one place | All CR Resources at one place

Find a bug in the new email templates and get rewarded with 2 weeks of GMATClub Tests for free

Intern
Joined: 10 Jun 2017
Posts: 16
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

13 May 2018, 03:18
My god... Back in High School (or maybe elementary school), here in Portugal, we distinguish a circumference from a circle as being geometry elements completely different from each other. While a circumference is an imaginary line in which every point has the same distance to a specified center, defining thus the limits of a certain circular area and the circle is that area and is defined by the infinite set of points that are in a distance less than or equal to a specified radius. So, a circumference is and equation such as x^2 + y^2 = r^2 and a circle is an inequality such as x^2 + y^2 <= r^2. So the circumference has distance units such as meter, miles, feet, etc and the circle has square distance units such as square meters, etc. This is brilliantly coherent and makes no room for any confusion!

As far as I can understand on the GMAT, according to Bunnel:

"Yes, on the circle means on the circumference, while in the circle means inside the circumference. "

This distinction is SUPER confusing!!! in/on makes all the difference and while for a native this might be even logic for a non native is a pain in.... Furthermore, this makes a person who knows all the mathematical concepts to answer this question right, answering it wrong because of english language issues, which are not supposed to be assessed in this part...

I'm sorry for unburdening my frustration on you guys but I got 2 questions wrong on the same mock because of this and my exam is in 5 freaking days...

Cheers to y'all!
DS Forum Moderator
Joined: 22 Aug 2013
Posts: 1139
Location: India
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

13 May 2018, 23:34
1
KUDOS
Miracles86 wrote:
My god... Back in High School (or maybe elementary school), here in Portugal, we distinguish a circumference from a circle as being geometry elements completely different from each other. While a circumference is an imaginary line in which every point has the same distance to a specified center, defining thus the limits of a certain circular area and the circle is that area and is defined by the infinite set of points that are in a distance less than or equal to a specified radius. So, a circumference is and equation such as x^2 + y^2 = r^2 and a circle is an inequality such as x^2 + y^2 <= r^2. So the circumference has distance units such as meter, miles, feet, etc and the circle has square distance units such as square meters, etc. This is brilliantly coherent and makes no room for any confusion!

As far as I can understand on the GMAT, according to Bunnel:

"Yes, on the circle means on the circumference, while in the circle means inside the circumference. "

This distinction is SUPER confusing!!! in/on makes all the difference and while for a native this might be even logic for a non native is a pain in.... Furthermore, this makes a person who knows all the mathematical concepts to answer this question right, answering it wrong because of english language issues, which are not supposed to be assessed in this part...

I'm sorry for unburdening my frustration on you guys but I got 2 questions wrong on the same mock because of this and my exam is in 5 freaking days...

Cheers to y'all!

Hello

May I suggest you dont worry about it too much. You are correct that a circle centered at origin (0,0) with a radius of r should ideally be written as:
x^2 + y^2 <= r^2

And I think the meaning of this inequality is that within the circle (inside, not touching the boundary), all points will satisfy: x^2 + y^2 < r^2
While on the boundary (circumference), all points will satisfy: x^2 + y^2 = r^2

Now as per the first statement, since radius of the circle is 4, and since P is a point (x,y) on the boundary of the circle, then definitely the sum of squares of the two coordinates of P, x^2 + y^2 will be = r^2. First statement is thus sufficient.
Intern
Joined: 10 Jun 2017
Posts: 16
Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is [#permalink]

### Show Tags

15 May 2018, 02:53
amanvermagmat wrote:
Miracles86 wrote:
My god... Back in High School (or maybe elementary school), here in Portugal, we distinguish a circumference from a circle as being geometry elements completely different from each other. While a circumference is an imaginary line in which every point has the same distance to a specified center, defining thus the limits of a certain circular area and the circle is that area and is defined by the infinite set of points that are in a distance less than or equal to a specified radius. So, a circumference is and equation such as x^2 + y^2 = r^2 and a circle is an inequality such as x^2 + y^2 <= r^2. So the circumference has distance units such as meter, miles, feet, etc and the circle has square distance units such as square meters, etc. This is brilliantly coherent and makes no room for any confusion!

As far as I can understand on the GMAT, according to Bunnel:

"Yes, on the circle means on the circumference, while in the circle means inside the circumference. "

This distinction is SUPER confusing!!! in/on makes all the difference and while for a native this might be even logic for a non native is a pain in.... Furthermore, this makes a person who knows all the mathematical concepts to answer this question right, answering it wrong because of english language issues, which are not supposed to be assessed in this part...

I'm sorry for unburdening my frustration on you guys but I got 2 questions wrong on the same mock because of this and my exam is in 5 freaking days...

Cheers to y'all!

Hello

May I suggest you dont worry about it too much. You are correct that a circle centered at origin (0,0) with a radius of r should ideally be written as:
x^2 + y^2 <= r^2

And I think the meaning of this inequality is that within the circle (inside, not touching the boundary), all points will satisfy: x^2 + y^2 < r^2
While on the boundary (circumference), all points will satisfy: x^2 + y^2 = r^2

Now as per the first statement, since radius of the circle is 4, and since P is a point (x,y) on the boundary of the circle, then definitely the sum of squares of the two coordinates of P, x^2 + y^2 will be = r^2. First statement is thus sufficient.

Of course, that is absolutely right. But when I read the question, I thought that this was a trap for rushing test takers. So I thought the point was somewhere inside the circle and because it wasn't on the boundary, as you properly deduced, no conclusion could be made about the squares of x and y... Got it now and at least this mistake I won't make it again!

Re: A certain circle in the xy-plane has its center at the origin. If P is   [#permalink] 15 May 2018, 02:53
Display posts from previous: Sort by