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# Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6...

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EMPOWERgmat Instructor
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Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink]

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Updated on: 10 Nov 2015, 21:34
3
5
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95% (hard)

Question Stats:

46% (02:21) correct 54% (02:19) wrong based on 145 sessions

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QUANT 4-PACK SERIES Data Sufficiency Pack 3 Question 4 If |a - b| = 6...

If |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|?

(1) |a – c| = 9
(2) |b| = 9

48 Hour Window Answer & Explanation Window
OA, and explanation will be posted after the 48 hour window closes.

This question is part of the Quant 4-Pack series

Scroll Down For Official Explanation

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# Rich Cohen

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Special Offer: Save $75 + GMAT Club Tests Free Official GMAT Exam Packs + 70 Pt. Improvement Guarantee www.empowergmat.com/ ***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!*********************** Originally posted by EMPOWERgmatRichC on 07 Nov 2015, 16:30. Last edited by EMPOWERgmatRichC on 10 Nov 2015, 21:34, edited 2 times in total.  EMPOWERgmat Discount Codes Kaplan GMAT Prep Discount Codes Jamboree Discount Codes Current Student Joined: 20 Mar 2014 Posts: 2643 Concentration: Finance, Strategy Schools: Kellogg '18 (M) GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44 GPA: 3.7 WE: Engineering (Aerospace and Defense) Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink] ### Show Tags 07 Nov 2015, 19:15 1 1 EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote: QUANT 4-PACK SERIES Data Sufficiency Pack 3 Question 4 If |a - b| = 12... If |a – b| = 12 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|? (1) |a – c| = 9 (2) |b| = 9 48 Hour Window Answer & Explanation Window Earn KUDOS! Post your answer and explanation. OA, and explanation will be posted after the 48 hour window closes. This question is part of the Quant 4-Pack series Scroll Down For Official Explanation EMPOWERgmatRichC, can you please check the question as it seems to me that the given values are contradictory. EMPOWERgmat Instructor Status: GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat Joined: 19 Dec 2014 Posts: 11803 Location: United States (CA) GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49 GRE 1: 340 Q170 V170 Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink] ### Show Tags 08 Nov 2015, 17:17 1 Hi Engr2012, Thanks for catching the error - there was one typo in the prompt. It's since been fixed. GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, Rich _________________ 760+: Learn What GMAT Assassins Do to Score at the Highest Levels Contact Rich at: Rich.C@empowergmat.com # Rich Cohen Co-Founder & GMAT Assassin Special Offer: Save$75 + GMAT Club Tests Free
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Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink]

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08 Nov 2015, 19:21
1
If |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|?

(1) |a – c| = 9
(2) |b| = 9

IMO E is correct

I]|a-c|= 9
this doesn't give any value for |c|

II] |b|=9
gives two different values for C

Joining I] and II]

doesn't reveal any unique value

SO E is correct
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Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink]

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08 Nov 2015, 19:37
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
QUANT 4-PACK SERIES Data Sufficiency Pack 3 Question 4 If |a - b| = 6...

If |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|?

(1) |a – c| = 9
(2) |b| = 9

48 Hour Window Answer & Explanation Window
OA, and explanation will be posted after the 48 hour window closes.

This question is part of the Quant 4-Pack series

Scroll Down For Official Explanation

EMPOWERgmatRichC thank you for updating the question.

As for the question, this question uses the definition of the absolute values ---> distance between 2 variables.

Given, |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15 ---> distance between a and b is 6 units , while the distance between b and c is 15 units. Clearly if you are given the distance between a and c as 9 units, it will be sufficient to answer for |c| or distance of c from the 'zero' on the number line.

Statement 1 gives you that exact statement making it sufficient. |a-c| + |a-b| = |b-c| and from this relation you can get a unique 'distance' value of c , thus giving you a unique value of |c|.

Statement 2 does not give any new information for |c|. Not sufficient.

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Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink]

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10 Nov 2015, 05:39
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
QUANT 4-PACK SERIES Data Sufficiency Pack 3 Question 4 If |a - b| = 6...

If |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|?

(1) |a – c| = 9
(2) |b| = 9

48 Hour Window Answer & Explanation Window
OA, and explanation will be posted after the 48 hour window closes.

This question is part of the Quant 4-Pack series

Scroll Down For Official Explanation

Hi Rich,
Really good question. Can you please detail your way in answering this question?Is Algebra only way to solve it? Using Test IT could not help me? I reached the answer A only as there are 3 variables with 3 equations but I could not prove it because I do not know how to solve 3 equations under modulus.
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Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink]

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10 Nov 2015, 06:37
1
Engr2012 wrote:
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
QUANT 4-PACK SERIES Data Sufficiency Pack 3 Question 4 If |a - b| = 6...

If |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|?

(1) |a – c| = 9
(2) |b| = 9

48 Hour Window Answer & Explanation Window
OA, and explanation will be posted after the 48 hour window closes.

This question is part of the Quant 4-Pack series

Scroll Down For Official Explanation

EMPOWERgmatRichC thank you for updating the question.

As for the question, this question uses the definition of the absolute values ---> distance between 2 variables.

Given, |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15 ---> distance between a and b is 6 units , while the distance between b and c is 15 units. Clearly if you are given the distance between a and c as 9 units, it will be sufficient to answer for |c| or distance of c from the 'zero' on the number line.

Statement 1 gives you that exact statement making it sufficient. |a-c| + |a-b| = |b-c| and from this relation you can get a unique 'distance' value of c , thus giving you a unique value of |c|.

Statement 2 does not give any new information for |c|. Not sufficient.

Hi Engr2012,

Even I worked on the question on the similar way
considering these values on number line
But Statement 1 only provides value /magnitude of difference among these three points , but none provides value for the exact point.

As you mentioned it would be sufficient to answer for |c| or distance of c from the 'zero' on the number line.

But where does zero exist or reference of points in terms of zero is unknown.

ITS statement B which provides that |B|=9
thats also provides us with two options of value of B as 9 or -9
according to which value of C changes

Thats why I picked E

Please let me know flaw in my reasoning
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Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink]

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10 Nov 2015, 21:48
4
1
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
QUANT 4-PACK SERIES Data Sufficiency Pack 3 Question 4 If |a - b| = 6...

If |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|?

(1) |a – c| = 9
(2) |b| = 9

Hi All,

This is a high-difficulty level DS prompt that requires thoroughness and the willingness to prove whether more than one answer to the question exists or not. Since we're dealing with several absolute value calculations, we'll have to consider multiple possibilities (positive and negative) to get to the correct answer.

From the outset, we're given two absolute value equations to work with (|a - b| = 6 and |b - c| = 15). We're asked for the value of |c|.

From the two Facts, it appears that Fact 2 will be considerably easier to deal with (since it limits b to just two possible values), so I'm going to start there.

2) |b| = 9

This Fact tells us that b can equal 9 or -9, so we should do a bit of work to see how those two values would impact the other two variables...

When b = - 9, c can equal two possibilities:

-9 - c = 15
c = - 24
So |c| = |-24| = 24

or

-9 - c = -15
c = 6
So |c| = |6| = 6
Fact 1 is clearly INSUFFICIENT

Before moving on to Fact 1 though, I'm going to do a bit more work to figure out what the variable a could equal....

When b = -9...

a - (-9) = 6
a = -3

or

a - (-9) = -6
a = -15

When b = +9...

a - (9) = 6
a = 15

or

a - (9) = -6
a = 3

1) |a - c| = 9

Since we've done a number of different calculations in Fact 2, we should look to see if any of them will also 'fit' Fact 1.

IF...
a = -3
b = -9
c = 6
Then all 3 of the absolute value equations (the two in the prompt and the one in Fact 1) are satisfied and the answer to the question is |6| = 6.

IF...
a = -15
b = -9
c = -24
Then all 3 of the absolute value equations (the two in the prompt and the one in Fact 1) are satisfied and the answer to the question is |-24| = 24.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT.

Combined, we already have two sets of values that fit ALL of the given information and provide two different solutions (see above).
Combined, INSUFFICIENT

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# Rich Cohen

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Special Offer: Save $75 + GMAT Club Tests Free Official GMAT Exam Packs + 70 Pt. Improvement Guarantee www.empowergmat.com/ ***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!*********************** SVP Joined: 26 Mar 2013 Posts: 1674 Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink] ### Show Tags 10 Nov 2015, 22:25 Hi Rich, Thanks for detailing your explanation. I have come with a question. What is the fact or condition which could be added to make the solution sufficient? It will help see how the variation of the question can happen. Thanks Current Student Joined: 20 Mar 2014 Posts: 2643 Concentration: Finance, Strategy Schools: Kellogg '18 (M) GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44 GPA: 3.7 WE: Engineering (Aerospace and Defense) Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink] ### Show Tags 13 Nov 2015, 12:05 Mo2men wrote: Hi Rich, Thanks for detailing your explanation. I have come with a question. What is the fact or condition which could be added to make the solution sufficient? It will help see how the variation of the question can happen. Thanks 1 way will be to have b=9 instead of |b|=9 for statement 2, and for statement 1, you can eliminate some cases by adding the fact that a and/or c have to be >0 etc. Many different ways to make the statements sufficient on their own and even when combined. EMPOWERgmatRichC , thank you for the solution. Statement 1 is not sufficient. I interpreted the sufficiency incorrectly above. Statement 1 and the question stem mention the same thing, making this statement not sufficient. Intern Joined: 27 Dec 2011 Posts: 42 Location: Brazil Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy GMAT 1: 620 Q48 V27 GMAT 2: 680 Q46 V38 GMAT 3: 750 Q50 V41 GPA: 3.5 Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink] ### Show Tags 14 Nov 2015, 17:07 1 Very nice question. $$|a-b|=6$$ $$|b-c|=15$$ or $$|c-b|=15$$ On the real line: $$c---------a------b------a---------c$$ each - represents 1 unit (1) |a-c|=9. This is just repeating the above. Can't help answering the question (otherwise this would not be a DS...). Don't need even to consider letter C, its B or E. (2) if b=-9 then $$(c=-24)----------(a=-15)------(b=-9)------(a=-3)---------(c=6)$$ if b=9 then $$(c=-6)----------(a=3)------(b=9)------(a=15)---------(c=24)$$ |c| has two values 6 or 24 , insufficient. Letter E Math Revolution GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Aug 2015 Posts: 5579 GMAT 1: 800 Q59 V59 GPA: 3.82 Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink] ### Show Tags 15 Nov 2015, 01:33 Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solution. If |a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15, then what is the value of |c|? (1) |a – c| = 9 (2) |b| = 9 There are 3 variables (a,b,c) and 2 equations (|a – b| = 6 and |b – c| = 15), so we need one more equation. There are 2 equations given from the 2 conditions, so there is high chance (D) will be our answer. From condition 1, a-b=-6, 6/ b-c=-15, 15/ a-c=-9,9. There are too many possible answers, so this is insufficient. From condition 2, a-b=-6, 6/ b-c=-15, 15/ b=-9,9; this is insufficient for the same reason Looking at them together, c=-24, a=-15, b=-9 or c=-6, a=3, b=9. This also gives no unique answer,so this is insufficient as well. For cases where we need 1 more equation, such as original conditions with “1 variable”, or “2 variables and 1 equation”, or “3 variables and 2 equations”, we have 1 equation each in both 1) and 2). Therefore, there is 59 % chance that D is the answer, while A or B has 38% chance and C or E has 3% chance. Since D is most likely to be the answer using 1) and 2) separately according to DS definition. Obviously there may be cases where the answer is A, B, C or E. _________________ MathRevolution: Finish GMAT Quant Section with 10 minutes to spare The one-and-only World’s First Variable Approach for DS and IVY Approach for PS with ease, speed and accuracy. "Only$99 for 3 month Online Course"
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Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6... [#permalink]

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20 Feb 2017, 07:07
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Re: Data Sufficiency Pack 3, Question 4 If |a - b| = 6...   [#permalink] 20 Feb 2017, 07:07
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