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# If xy=y, |x|+|y|=?

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Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 6385
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42
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05 Oct 2018, 01:36
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55% (hard)

Question Stats:

54% (00:56) correct 46% (00:50) wrong based on 123 sessions

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[Math Revolution GMAT math practice question]

If $$xy=y, |x|+|y|$$=?

$$1) x=-1$$
$$2) y=0$$

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MathRevolution: Finish GMAT Quant Section with 10 minutes to spare
The one-and-only World’s First Variable Approach for DS and IVY Approach for PS with ease, speed and accuracy.
"Only $99 for 3 month Online Course" "Free Resources-30 day online access & Diagnostic Test" "Unlimited Access to over 120 free video lessons - try it yourself"  Math Revolution Discount Codes Manhattan GMAT Discount Codes Magoosh Discount Codes Math Expert Joined: 02 Aug 2009 Posts: 6958 Re: If xy=y, |x|+|y|=? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 05 Oct 2018, 03:15 1 1 If $$xy=y, |x|+|y|$$=? $$xy=y.......xy-y=0.......y(x-1)=0$$, so y=0 or x=1 or both $$1) x=-1$$ So $$x\neq{1}$$, and therefore y=0 Thus |x|+|y|=|-1|+|0|=1 Sufficient $$2) y=0$$ Nothing about x Insuff A _________________ 1) Absolute modulus : http://gmatclub.com/forum/absolute-modulus-a-better-understanding-210849.html#p1622372 2)Combination of similar and dissimilar things : http://gmatclub.com/forum/topic215915.html 3) effects of arithmetic operations : https://gmatclub.com/forum/effects-of-arithmetic-operations-on-fractions-269413.html GMAT online Tutor GMATH Teacher Status: GMATH founder Joined: 12 Oct 2010 Posts: 374 Re: If xy=y, |x|+|y|=? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 05 Oct 2018, 08:28 MathRevolution wrote: [Math Revolution GMAT math practice question] If $$xy=y, |x|+|y|$$=? $$1) x=-1$$ $$2) y=0$$ $$xy = y\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,y\left( {x - 1} \right) = 0\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\left( * \right)\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{ \,\,y = 0 \hfill \cr \,\,{\rm{OR}} \hfill \cr \,\,x = 1 \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,$$ $$? = \left| x \right| + \left| y \right|$$ $$\left( 1 \right)\,\,\,x = - 1\,\,\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{\left( * \right)} \,\,\,\,\,y = 0\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,? = \left| { - 1} \right| + \left| 0 \right|\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\,{\rm{SUFF}}.\,\,\,\,\,\,$$ $$\left( 2 \right)\,\,\,y = 0\,\,\,\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{ \,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {x,y} \right) = \left( {0,0} \right)\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,{\rm{?}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,0\,\, \hfill \cr \,{\rm{Take}}\,\,\left( {x,y} \right) = \left( {1,0} \right)\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,{\rm{?}}\,\,{\rm{ = }}\,\,{\rm{1}}\,\, \hfill \cr} \right.\,$$ This solution follows the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method. Regards, Fabio. _________________ Fabio Skilnik :: http://www.GMATH.net (Math for the GMAT) Course release PROMO : finish our test drive till 31/Oct with (at least) 60 correct answers out of 92 (12-questions Mock included) to gain a 60% discount! Math Revolution GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Aug 2015 Posts: 6385 GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42 GPA: 3.82 Re: If xy=y, |x|+|y|=? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 07 Oct 2018, 18:35 => Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. For DS problems, the VA (Variable Approach) method is the quickest and easiest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember that equal numbers of variables and independent equations ensure a solution. The first step of the VA (Variable Approach) method is to modify the original condition and the question. We then recheck the question. Modifying the original condition: The equality $$xy=y$$ is equivalent to $$y = 0$$ or $$x = 1$$ as shown below: $$xy=y$$ $$=> xy-y=0$$ $$=> y(x-1)=0$$ $$=> y = 0$$ or $$x = 1$$ Since we have $$2$$ variables ($$x$$ and $$y$$) and $$1$$ equation ($$xy=y$$), D is most likely to be the answer. Condition 1) Since $$x = -1$$ from condition 1) and $$y = 0$$ or $$x = 1$$ from the original condition, $$y = 0$$. Thus, $$|x| + |y| = |-1| + |0| = 1.$$ Condition 1) is sufficient. Condition 2) If $$x = 1$$ and $$y = 0$$, then $$|x|+|y| = 1$$. If $$x = 2$$ and $$y = 0$$, then $$|x|+|y| = 2$$. Since we don’t have a unique solution, condition 2) is not sufficient. Therefore, A is the answer. Answer: A Normally, in problems which require 2 equations, such as those in which the original conditions include 2 variables, or 3 variables and 1 equation, or 4 variables and 2 equations, each of conditions 1) and 2) provide an additional equation. In these problems, the two key possibilities are that C is the answer (with probability 70%), and E is the answer (with probability 25%). Thus, there is only a 5% chance that A, B or D is the answer. This occurs in common mistake types 3 and 4. Since C (both conditions together are sufficient) is the most likely answer, we save time by first checking whether conditions 1) and 2) are sufficient, when taken together. Obviously, there may be cases in which the answer is A, B, D or E, but if conditions 1) and 2) are NOT sufficient when taken together, the answer must be E. _________________ MathRevolution: Finish GMAT Quant Section with 10 minutes to spare The one-and-only World’s First Variable Approach for DS and IVY Approach for PS with ease, speed and accuracy. "Only$99 for 3 month Online Course"
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Joined: 14 Jun 2018
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10 Oct 2018, 10:16
chetan2u wrote:
If $$xy=y, |x|+|y|$$=?

$$xy=y.......xy-y=0.......y(x-1)=0$$, so y=0 or x=1 or both

$$1) x=-1$$
So $$x\neq{1}$$, and therefore y=0
Thus |x|+|y|=|-1|+|0|=1
Sufficient

$$2) y=0$$
Insuff

A

why is x not equal to 1 in statement 2. why is it insufficient just because y = 0?

in statement 1, only x =-1 and we take y = 0 from the given. so why not the same in statement 2?

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Posts: 6958

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10 Oct 2018, 19:01
Shri15kumar wrote:
chetan2u wrote:
If $$xy=y, |x|+|y|$$=?

$$xy=y.......xy-y=0.......y(x-1)=0$$, so y=0 or x=1 or both

$$1) x=-1$$
So $$x\neq{1}$$, and therefore y=0
Thus |x|+|y|=|-1|+|0|=1
Sufficient

$$2) y=0$$
Insuff

A

why is x not equal to 1 in statement 2. why is it insufficient just because y = 0?

in statement 1, only x =-1 and we take y = 0 from the given. so why not the same in statement 2?

Hi..

The equation is y(x-1)=0
So three cases..
1) y=0
2) X=1
3) both y=0 and x=1

Statement I gives value of X as -1 so y HAS to be 0, thus we have value of both X and y
Statement II gives y as 0 so X can be 1 or it can be any other value as y=0 makes equation y(x-1)=0(x-1)=0 true .. here X can be 10 1,100 anything still equation will be true.
Had it been given y is 5 or y is not equal to 0, X would have been 1
_________________

1) Absolute modulus : http://gmatclub.com/forum/absolute-modulus-a-better-understanding-210849.html#p1622372
2)Combination of similar and dissimilar things : http://gmatclub.com/forum/topic215915.html
3) effects of arithmetic operations : https://gmatclub.com/forum/effects-of-arithmetic-operations-on-fractions-269413.html

GMAT online Tutor

Intern
Joined: 14 Jun 2018
Posts: 47
Location: India

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11 Oct 2018, 03:43
chetan2u wrote:
Shri15kumar wrote:
chetan2u wrote:
If $$xy=y, |x|+|y|$$=?

$$xy=y.......xy-y=0.......y(x-1)=0$$, so y=0 or x=1 or both

$$1) x=-1$$
So $$x\neq{1}$$, and therefore y=0
Thus |x|+|y|=|-1|+|0|=1
Sufficient

$$2) y=0$$
Insuff

A

why is x not equal to 1 in statement 2. why is it insufficient just because y = 0?

in statement 1, only x =-1 and we take y = 0 from the given. so why not the same in statement 2?

Hi..

The equation is y(x-1)=0
So three cases..
1) y=0
2) X=1
3) both y=0 and x=1

Statement I gives value of X as -1 so y HAS to be 0, thus we have value of both X and y
Statement II gives y as 0 so X can be 1 or it can be any other value as y=0 makes equation y(x-1)=0(x-1)=0 true .. here X can be 10 1,100 anything still equation will be true.
Had it been given y is 5 or y is not equal to 0, X would have been 1

Got it! Thank you sir!
Re: If xy=y, |x|+|y|=? &nbs [#permalink] 11 Oct 2018, 03:43
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