If x and y are non-zero integers and |x| + |y| = 32, what is

I know the solution for this problem has been given by many contributors. I personally am hooked on graphs when I see such equations. This helps me visualize the solutions better. But honestly, I was puzzled by this question, as by graphs I need to keep in mind the different ranges.

So, I tried both approaches. The one of Algebra and other of Graphs. Have a look at the question and let me know if you find the graph approach easy.

Note that one need not determine the values of both x and y to solve this problem; the value of product xy will suffice.

(1) SUFFICIENT: Statement (1) can be rephrased as follows:

-4x – 12y = 0
-4x = 12y
x = -3y

If x and y are non-zero integers, we can deduce that they must have opposite signs: one positive, and the other negative. Therefore, this last equation could be rephrased as

|x| = 3|y|

We don’t know whether x or y is negative, but we do know that they have the opposite signs. Converting both variables to absolute value cancels the negative sign in the expression x = -3y.

We are left with two equations and two unknowns, where the unknowns are |x| and |y|:

|x| + |y| = 32
|x| – 3|y| = 0

Subtracting the second equation from the first yields

4|y| = 32
|y| = 8

Substituting 8 for |y| in the original equation, we can easily determine that |x| = 24. Because we know that one of either x or y is negative and the other positive, xy must be the negative product of |x| and |y|, or -8(24) = -192.

(2) INSUFFICIENT: Statement (2) also provides two equations with two unknowns:

|x| + |y| = 32
|x| - |y| = 16

Solving these equations allows us to determine the values of |x| and |y|: |x| = 24 and |y| = 8. However, this gives no information about the sign of x or y. The product xy could either be -192 or 192.

The correct answer is A.