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mattycen
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Hi mattycen

1) is definitely insufficient because depending upon what the symbol denotes, the value would change.

2) -a * -b -> this would always be equal to -b * -a
-a + -b -> this equals -a -b or -b + -a
the only operation here is subtraction that could change the value of the given expression.
So, using this we can calculate the value of (x§2)§x
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mattycen
If the symbol § represents one of the following operations: addition, subtraction or multiplication, and x≠0, then what is the value of (x§2)§x?

(1) x=5
(2) (−1)§(−2)≠(−2)§(−1)

Hello guys, I can't understand how the answer to this question could be the one indicated.
It would be great if someone would explain me how does it work.
Please move this to DS from PS. Thank you
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mattycen
If the symbol § represents one of the following operations: addition, subtraction or multiplication, and x≠0, then what is the value of (x§2)§x?

(1) x=5
(2) (−1)§(−2)≠(−2)§(−1)

Hello guys, I can't understand how the answer to this question could be the one indicated.
It would be great if someone would explain me how does it work.
Please move this to DS from PS. Thank you

Done. Thankyou for the information.
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Bunuel
If the symbol § represents one of the following operations: addition, subtraction or multiplication, and x≠0, then what is the value of (x§2)§x?

(1) x=5. We need to know what § represents.

(2) (−1)§(−2)≠(−2)§(−1). § is neither addition nor multiplication. Thus it's subtraction: (x§2)§x = (x-2)-x=-2. Sufficient.

Answer: B.




x can be negative in that case answer B is not right one. Do u agree with that?
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Bunuel
If the symbol § represents one of the following operations: addition, subtraction or multiplication, and x≠0, then what is the value of (x§2)§x?

(1) x=5. We need to know what § represents.

(2) (−1)§(−2)≠(−2)§(−1). § is neither addition nor multiplication. Thus it's subtraction: (x§2)§x = (x-2)-x=-2. Sufficient.

Answer: B.




x can be negative in that case answer B is not right one. Do u agree with that?

No, that's not right.

From (2) we know that § represents subtraction. We need to find the value of (x§2)§x, thus since § represents subtraction, the value of (x-2)-x. x there cancels out and we get that (x-2)-x=-2. Therefore we get that (x§2)§x = (x-2)-x=-2 irrespective of the value of x, positive or negative.

Hope it's clear.
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