Last visit was: 07 Sep 2026, 11:28 It is currently 07 Sep 2026, 11:28
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: 07 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,208
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 111,359
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,208
Kudos: 839,784
 [14]
Kudos
Add Kudos
14
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
gmatophobia
User avatar
Quant Chat Moderator
Joined: 22 Dec 2016
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 3,174
Own Kudos:
12,336
 [4]
Given Kudos: 1,860
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Posts: 3,174
Kudos: 12,336
 [4]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ZIX
Joined: 30 Sep 2023
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 88
Own Kudos:
196
 [2]
Given Kudos: 526
Posts: 88
Kudos: 196
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
btsaami
Joined: 03 Feb 2023
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 141
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 581
Location: India
Schools: ISB '27
Products:
Schools: ISB '27
Posts: 141
Kudos: 38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Please note that √x and √y will be positive. (even root)

x−y=√x+√y

Rearranging the equation, we get

x- √x = y + √y
√x (√x - 1) = √y(√y+1)
On comparing, we can say that √x= √y + 1. Hence, the answer.
User avatar
btsaami
Joined: 03 Feb 2023
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 141
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 581
Location: India
Schools: ISB '27
Products:
Schools: ISB '27
Posts: 141
Kudos: 38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gmatophobia

Bunuel
If \(x-y=\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}\), what is \(\sqrt{x}\) in terms of \(y\)?

A. \(1+\sqrt{y}\)
B. \(1-\sqrt{y}\)
C. \(\sqrt{y}-1\)
D. \(1-y\)
E. \(1+y\)
\(x-y=\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}\)

\((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y})- (\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}) = 0\)

\((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y} - 1) = 0\)

\(\sqrt{x} = 1 + \sqrt{y}\)

Option A
­Hi gmatophobia
Can you please let me know why did you pull all the various to LHS? We can directly divide and get the answer. Is it done to check all possible roots?
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 07 Sep 2026
Posts: 113,208
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 111,359
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 113,208
Kudos: 839,784
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
btsaami

gmatophobia

Bunuel
If \(x-y=\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}\), what is \(\sqrt{x}\) in terms of \(y\)?

A. \(1+\sqrt{y}\)
B. \(1-\sqrt{y}\)
C. \(\sqrt{y}-1\)
D. \(1-y\)
E. \(1+y\)
\(x-y=\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}\)

\((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y})- (\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}) = 0\)

\((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y} - 1) = 0\)

\(\sqrt{x} = 1 + \sqrt{y}\)

Option A
­Hi gmatophobia
Can you please let me know why did you pull all the various to LHS? We can directly divide and get the answer. Is it done to check all possible roots?
The question should have specified that x and y are positive numbers. In this case, we could safely divide \((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y})\) by \((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})\) and get \(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y} = 1\).

However, without that condition, we cannot divide \((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y})\) by \((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})\) because \((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})\) could be 0 when x = y = 0, and division by 0 is not allowed. So, we should follow the approach used in the solution, which gives \((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y} - 1) = 0\). This, in turn, gives two possibilities: \(\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y} = 0\) or \(\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{y} - 1 = 0\). Thus, the correct answer to the question would be \(\sqrt{x} = -\sqrt{y}\) or \(\sqrt{x} = \sqrt{y} + 1\).

So, the wording of the question is not precise overall.

Hope it's clear.­
Moderator:
Math Expert
113208 posts