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# If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ

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If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 14 Jul 2018, 01:41
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Question Stats:

43% (01:39) correct 57% (01:54) wrong based on 138 sessions

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If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equal to x-2y?

A) 3
B) 7
C) 11
D) 13
E) 17

Originally posted by KSBGC on 13 Jul 2018, 15:24.
Last edited by Bunuel on 14 Jul 2018, 01:41, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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Re: If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ  [#permalink]

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13 Jul 2018, 20:15
4
1
selim wrote:
If $$x^2$$ < 81 and $$y^2$$ < 25 what is the largest prime number that can be equal to x-2y ?

A) 3
B) 7
C) 11
D) 13
E) 17

Algebraic approach -

$$x^2<81 => -9<x<9$$ --------(1)

$$y^2<5=> -5<y<5$$, multiply this equation by $$-2$$ to get

$$-10<-2y<10$$ -----(2). Add equation (1) & (2) to get

$$-19<x-2y<19$$. In this range the Largest Prime Number is $$17$$.

Option E
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Re: If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ  [#permalink]

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13 Jul 2018, 15:45
1
1
I overlooked that the numbers do not have to be intergers, therefore the following would work:

x= 8.9 , y = -4.9

x-2y = 8.9 - (-9.8) = 18.7

Hence choice E is the biggest prime
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Re: If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ  [#permalink]

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13 Jul 2018, 19:00
1
My approach is the following:

We need the greatest prime number, so we have to maximize x-2y, how? y has to be negative

So then:

$$x^{2}<9^{2}$$ ---> x = 9
$$y^{2}<(-5)^{2}$$ ---> y = -5

Limit = 9 + 10 = 19 prime but we can't take it, we need a prime less than 19

If we take one digit less we have that:

$$x^{2}=8^{2}$$ ---> x = 8
$$y^{2}=(-4)^{2}$$ ---> y = -4

So then 8 + 8 =16 not prime

There are two numbers between 16 and 19 --> 17 (prime) and 18 (not prime)

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Re: If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ  [#permalink]

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13 Jul 2018, 20:17
1
selim wrote:
If $$x^2$$ < 81 and $$y^2$$ < 25 what is the largest prime number that can be equal to x-2y ?

A) 3
B) 7
C) 11
D) 13
E) 17

$$x^2<81.......|x|<9.........x>-9...and...x<9$$
$$y^2<25.......|y|<5.........y>-5.... and.... y<5$$.....

the MAX value of x-2y is when x is positive and y is negative
so just LESS than 9-2*(-5)=9+10=19 so <19
therefore x-2y can take ANY value <19...
17 is the closest prime number to 19, hence answer 17

E
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Re: If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ  [#permalink]

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14 Jul 2018, 01:42
1
selim wrote:
If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equal to x-2y?

A) 3
B) 7
C) 11
D) 13
E) 17

This is my own question and below is official solution:

10. If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equal to x-2y?
A. 7
B. 11
C. 13
D. 17
E. 19

Notice that we are not told that $$x$$ and $$y$$ are integers.

$$x^2<81$$ means that $$-9<x<9$$ and $$y^2<25$$ means that $$-5<y<5$$. Now, since the largest value of $$x$$ is almost 9 and the largest value of $$-2y$$ is almost 10 (for example if $$y=-4.9$$), then the largest value of $$x-2y$$ is almost 9+10=19, so the actual value is less than 19, which means that the largest prime that can be equal to $$x-2y$$ is 17. For example: $$x=8$$ and $$y=-4.5$$.

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Re: If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ  [#permalink]

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05 Aug 2019, 02:26
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Re: If x^2<81 and y^2<25, what is the largest prime number that can be equ   [#permalink] 05 Aug 2019, 02:26
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