Last visit was: 19 Jul 2025, 17:03 It is currently 19 Jul 2025, 17:03
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
User avatar
pritis
Joined: 03 Jun 2011
Last visit: 08 Jun 2011
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
7
 [1]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 5
Kudos: 7
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
fluke
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 20 Dec 2010
Last visit: 24 Oct 2013
Posts: 1,104
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 376
Posts: 1,104
Kudos: 5,009
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
CounterSniper
Joined: 20 Feb 2015
Last visit: 14 Apr 2023
Posts: 618
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 74
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Posts: 618
Kudos: 803
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
abdulraufliaqat
Joined: 09 Nov 2015
Last visit: 24 Aug 2016
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
Status:You think you cannot?? Rethink & repeat until its done - Abdul Rauf Liaqat
Location: Pakistan
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
GMAT 1: 460 Q45 V11
GPA: 3.03
WE:Operations (Telecommunications)
GMAT 1: 460 Q45 V11
Posts: 18
Kudos: 16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
if a = -1, then putting values in equation
= -[ (-1)^2 + (-1)^3 + (-1^4) + (-1^5) ]
= -[ 1 - 1 + 1 - 1 ]
= 0
User avatar
abdulraufliaqat
Joined: 09 Nov 2015
Last visit: 24 Aug 2016
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
Status:You think you cannot?? Rethink & repeat until its done - Abdul Rauf Liaqat
Location: Pakistan
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
GMAT 1: 460 Q45 V11
GPA: 3.03
WE:Operations (Telecommunications)
GMAT 1: 460 Q45 V11
Posts: 18
Kudos: 16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
if a = -1, then putting values in equation
= -[ (-1)^2 + (-1)^3 + (-1^4) + (-1^5) ]
= -[ 1 - 1 + 1 - 1 ]
= 0

Answer = C = 0
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 18 Jul 2025
Posts: 5,965
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,965
Kudos: 5,162
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
If a = -1, what is the value of –(a^2 +a^3 + a^4 + a^5)?

A. -14
B. -4
C. 0
D. 4
E. 14

\(- Number^{even}\) = \(+ Number\)

\(- Number^{odd}\) = \(- Number\)

Further there is one more property of the number 1

\(1^{odd/even}\) = \(1\)

From the given numbers we have -

\(a^2+ a^4\) = 1 + 1 =>2

\(a^3 + a^5\) = (-1) + (-1) =>-2

Hence,\(a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + a^5\) = -2 + 2 =>0

Hence answer is (C) 0
User avatar
sashiim20
Joined: 04 Dec 2015
Last visit: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 612
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 276
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
pritis
If a = -1, what is the value of –(a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + a^5)?

A. -14
B. -4
C. 0
D. 4
E. 14

\(–(a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + a^5)\)

\(–((-1)^2 + (-1)^3 + (-1)^4 + (-1)^5)\)

\(–(1-1 +1 -1) = -(0) = 0 .\) Answer C...
User avatar
TimeTraveller
Joined: 28 Jun 2015
Last visit: 29 Jul 2017
Posts: 237
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 47
Concentration: Finance
GPA: 3.5
Posts: 237
Kudos: 335
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\(a = -1\)
\(a^2 = 1\)
\(a^3 = -1\)
\(a^4 = 1\)
\(a^5 = -1\)

\(-(a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + a^5) = -(1 - 1 + 1 - 1) = 0.\)
User avatar
pushpitkc
Joined: 26 Feb 2016
Last visit: 19 Feb 2025
Posts: 2,819
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 47
Location: India
GPA: 3.12
Posts: 2,819
Kudos: 5,874
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If the number(x) is negative, x^even = positive and x^odd = negative

The expression(which contains 2 even powers and 2 odd powers of x), cancel each other out.
Since the number is 1, they have the same magnitude.
The sum will be 0(Option C)
User avatar
ydmuley
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Mar 2014
Last visit: 01 Dec 2019
Posts: 809
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 199
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\(a = -1\)

\(a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + a^5\)

\((-1)^2 + (-1)^3 + (-1)^4 + (-1)^5\)

\(1 - 1 + 1 - 1\)

\(0\)

Hence, Answer is C
avatar
ManifestDreamMBA
Joined: 17 Sep 2024
Last visit: 19 Jul 2025
Posts: 1,004
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 194
Products:
Posts: 1,004
Kudos: 652
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
a = -1
a^even = 1
a^odd = -1
–(a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + a^5)
= - (1-1+1-1)
= - 0
= 0
pritis
If a = -1, what is the value of –(a^2 + a^3 + a^4 + a^5)?

A -14
B -4
C 0
D 4
E 14
Moderators:
Math Expert
102627 posts
PS Forum Moderator
698 posts