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14 Sep 2015, 22:57
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
85%
(hard)
Question Stats:
58% (02:53) correct
42%
(02:53)
wrong
based on 759
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If the quantity 5^2 + 5^4 + 5^6 is written as (a + b)(a – b), in which both a and b are integers, which of the following could be the value of b?
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
E. 25
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20
E. 25
20 Sep 2015, 21:20
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Bunuel
MANHATTAN GMAT OFFICIAL SOLUTION:
One first natural move is to factor \(5^2\) out of the numeric expression:
\(5^2 + 5^4 + 5^6 = 5^2(1 + 5^2 + 5^4)\)
Meanwhile, \((a + b)(a – b)\) becomes \(a^2 – b^2\).
So, somehow we have to turn \(5^2(1 + 5^2 + 5^4)\) into a difference of squares. It must come down to the stuff in the parentheses.
Flip around those terms, so that we have the larger powers first: \(5^4 + 5^2 + 1\).
This should look almost like a special product: \((x + y)^2 = x^2 + 2xy + y^2\), if \(x = 5^2\) and \(y = 1\). In fact, write that out:
\((5^2+1)^2 = 5^4 + 2(5^2) + 1\)
The expression we actually have, \(5^4 + 5^2 + 1\), is very close. Add \(5^2\) and subtract it as well:
\(5^4 + 5^2 + 1\)
\(= 5^4 + 5^2 + 1 + 5^2 – 5^2\)
\(= (5^4 + 5^2 + 1 + 5^2) – 5^2\)
\(= (5^4 + 2(5^2) + 1) – 5^2\)
\(= (5^2 + 1)^2 – 5^2\)
\(= 26^2 – 5^2\)
Almost there. Remember, we had 5^2 as well:
\(5^2 + 5^4 + 5^6 = 5^2(1 + 5^2 + 5^4) = 5^2(26^2 – 5^2)\)
\(= (26*5)^2 – (5*5)^2\)
\(= 130^2 – 25^2\).
Oher differences of squares can be equal to the original expression, but this is the only one that fits an answer choice: (E) 25.
There are other ways to solve this problem as well, such as backsolving.
\(5^2 + 5^4 + 5^6 = a^2 – b^2\)
\(5^2 + 5^4 + 5^6 + b^2 = a^2\)
Try different b’s from the answer choices, and see which one, when added to the original expression, gives you a perfect square.
Testing (E):
\(5^2+ 5^4 + 5^6 + 25^2\)
\(= 5^2 + 5^4 + 5^6 + 5^4\)
\(= 5^2 + 2×5^4 + 5^6\)
\(= (5 + 5^3)^2\)
This is the only answer that fits.
The correct answer is E.
General Discussion
14 Sep 2015, 23:18
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Bunuel
(a+b)(a-b) = a^2 - b^2
5^2+ 5^4 + 5^6 = 5^2 (1+5^2+5^4)
if the above expression is solved even then every term of the expression will remain a multiple of 5^2 which is out of parenthesis
hence, b must be a multiple of 5^2 i.e. 25
Answer: option E
One possible explanation is here,
5^2+ 5^4 + 5^6 = 5^2 (1+5^2+5^4) = 5^2 (1+2*5^2+5^4 - 5^2) = 5^2 [(1+5^2)^2 - (5)^2] = 5^2 [(1+5^2+5)(1+5^2-5)]
i.e. (5+5^4+5^3)(5+5^4-5^3) = (a + b)(a – b)
i.e. b = 5^3
