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# If the operation @ is defined by x@y=(xy)^1/2 for all

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Manager
Joined: 02 Dec 2012
Posts: 178
If the operation @ is defined by x@y=(xy)^1/2 for all [#permalink]

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17 Dec 2012, 07:43
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5% (low)

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88% (00:56) correct 12% (01:18) wrong based on 1529 sessions

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If the operation @ is defined by $$x@y=\sqrt{xy}$$ for all positive numbers x and y, then (5@45)@60 =

(A) 30
(B) 60
(C) 90
(D) $$30\sqrt{15}$$
(E) $$60\sqrt{15}$$
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Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 46130
Re: If the operation @ is defined by x@y=(xy)^1/2 for all [#permalink]

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17 Dec 2012, 07:46
2
If the operation @ is defined by $$x@y=\sqrt{xy}$$ for all positive numbers x and y, then (5@45)@60 =

(A) 30
(B) 60
(C) 90
(D) $$30\sqrt{15}$$
(E) $$60\sqrt{15}$$

$$(5@45)@60 =(\sqrt{5*45})@60=(\sqrt{225})@60=15@60=\sqrt{15*60}=30$$.

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Re: If the operation @ is defined by x@y=(xy)^1/2 for all [#permalink]

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17 Dec 2012, 07:50
3
I'm writing the answer but Bunuel is too fast to reply, a machine
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Re: If the operation @ is defined by x@y=(xy)^1/2 for all [#permalink]

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24 Oct 2013, 20:11
1
1
I tried to keep the numbers as manageable as possible and use numbers that I knew the perfect squares of.

$$(5@45)@60$$= $$\sqrt{5*(5*9)}$$ $$=5*3=15$$

$$15@60=$$ $$\sqrt{(3*5)*(3*4*5)}$$ $$= 3*5*2= 30$$
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Re: If the operation is defined by xy=(xy)^1/2 for all [#permalink]

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21 Jun 2016, 10:29
1
If the operation @ is defined by $$x@y=\sqrt{xy}$$ for all positive numbers x and y, then (5@45)@60 =

(A) 30
(B) 60
(C) 90
(D) $$30\sqrt{15}$$
(E) $$60\sqrt{15}$$

We are given that the operation @ is defined by x@y = √(xy) for all positive numbers.

We are next given that (5@45)@60. Following PEMDAS rules, we want to begin with the operation inside the parentheses. According to the operation, x will be replaced with 5, and y will be replaced with 45. Thus, we have:

5@45 = √(5 *45) = √225 = 15

We have determined that (5@45) = 15, so we substitute 15 for (5@45) to obtain 15@60.

According to the operation, x will now be replaced with 15 and y will now be replaced with 60. Thus we have:

15@60 = √(15*60) = √900 = 30

The answer is A.
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Re: If the operation is defined by xy=(xy)^1/2 for all [#permalink]

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10 Jul 2017, 09:45
What is the point of these questions? I don't get what is being tested here
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Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Posts: 2559
Re: If the operation is defined by xy=(xy)^1/2 for all [#permalink]

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28 Aug 2017, 15:39
Top Contributor
If the operation @ is defined by $$x@y=\sqrt{xy}$$ for all positive numbers x and y, then (5@45)@60 =

(A) 30
(B) 60
(C) 90
(D) $$30\sqrt{15}$$
(E) $$60\sqrt{15}$$

I call these "Strange Operator" questions.
We want to evaluate: (5 @ 45) @ 60

(5 @ 45) = √[(5)(45)]
= √225
= 15

So, (5 @ 45) @ 60 = 15 @ 60
From here, 15 @ 60 = √[(15)(60)]
= √900
= 30

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Re: If the operation is defined by xy=(xy)^1/2 for all   [#permalink] 28 Aug 2017, 15:39
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# If the operation @ is defined by x@y=(xy)^1/2 for all

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