Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 09:17 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 09:17
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,729
Own Kudos:
810,415
 [5]
Given Kudos: 105,798
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,729
Kudos: 810,415
 [5]
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,729
Own Kudos:
810,415
 [1]
Given Kudos: 105,798
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,729
Kudos: 810,415
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
ribbons
Joined: 26 Dec 2023
Last visit: 13 Apr 2026
Posts: 159
Own Kudos:
94
 [1]
Given Kudos: 75
Products:
Posts: 159
Kudos: 94
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Purnank
Joined: 05 Jan 2024
Last visit: 18 Apr 2026
Posts: 680
Own Kudos:
613
 [1]
Given Kudos: 167
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GMAT Focus 1: 635 Q88 V76 DI80
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 635 Q88 V76 DI80
Posts: 680
Kudos: 613
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
­Given - x is non-zero integer, now to check how many values of x are there such that (|x|)^x = 4.
for all -ve values of x the (|x|)^x will get changed into 1 / ((|x|)^x) hence not possible to get the value equal to 4 with any -ve integer values.
Therefore, (|x|)^x = 4 is only possible with the only +ve value 2.
Answer B.
User avatar
Nidzo
Joined: 26 Nov 2019
Last visit: 02 Aug 2025
Posts: 958
Own Kudos:
1,477
 [2]
Given Kudos: 59
Location: South Africa
Posts: 958
Kudos: 1,477
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\((|x|)^x = 4\)

First thing one notices is that the base value is the absolute value of \(x\), while the exponent is just \(x\)­. As \(x\) is a non-zero integer, we do not want an exponent value which is negative given that any integer to the negative power becomes a fraction with a numerator of 1 (ie \(a^{-2} = \frac{1}{a^2}\)).

This means: \((|x|) = x\). Plugging that into \((|x|)^x = 4\) gives:

\(x^x = 4\) 

\( x^x = 2^2\)

Thus \(x\) can only equal \(x = 2\) 

ANSWER B­
User avatar
gmatophobia
User avatar
Quant Chat Moderator
Joined: 22 Dec 2016
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 3,173
Own Kudos:
11,439
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,862
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Posts: 3,173
Kudos: 11,439
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
­If \(x\) non-zero integer, how many values of \(x\) are there such that \((|x|)^x = 4\)?

A. None
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. Infinitely many­

 
­
x cannot be negative. Hence, x is a positive integer.

\((|x|)^x = 4\)

\(x^x = 4\)

The only value that fits in is \(x = 2\)

Option B­
User avatar
Scholar94
Joined: 16 Feb 2021
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 49
Own Kudos:
7
 [1]
Given Kudos: 341
Status:I'm not afraid of hard work. I like it!
Location: Nigeria
Schools: Wharton '27
Products:
Schools: Wharton '27
Posts: 49
Kudos: 7
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
­If \(x\) non-zero integer, how many values of \(x\) are there such that \((|x|)^x = 4\)?

A. None
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. Infinitely many­


­

Answer: B
X is non zero integer, the expression can only be written as |x|^x=2^2,

if x<0 |x|=-x and x=-2, the LHS will be -2^-2=1/4. This does not satisfy the equation. Thus x can can only be 2

Posted from my mobile device
Moderators:
Math Expert
109729 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts