Last visit was: 14 Dec 2024, 02:51 It is currently 14 Dec 2024, 02:51
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Reviews
Social
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
505-555 Level|   Exponents|      
avatar
MarcoL90
avatar
Joined: 22 Sep 2016
Last visit: 16 Jan 2019
Posts: 13
Own Kudos:
12
 []
Given Kudos: 12
Posts: 13
Kudos: 12
 []
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y Updated on: 16 Oct 2016, 06:28
Originally posted by MarcoL90 on 16 Oct 2016, 06:21.
Last edited by Bunuel on 16 Oct 2016, 06:28, edited 2 times in total.
Edited the question.
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
8
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

82% (01:49) correct 18% (02:29) wrong based on 311 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 14 Dec 2024
Posts: 97,874
Own Kudos:
685,689
 []
Given Kudos: 88,270
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 97,874
Kudos: 685,689
 []
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 16 Oct 2016, 06:31
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MarcoL90
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2

\(\frac{(y^2 – 16)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y – 4)(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{1}{6}\)

\(6(y+4)=3x\);

\(2(y+4)=x\);

\(y=\frac{x-8}{2}\).

Answer:B.
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,807
Own Kudos:
12,060
 []
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,807
Kudos: 12,060
 []
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 28 Nov 2017, 13:50
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

Many Test Takers would approach this question algebraically (which is fine); however, it's designed in such a way that you can also get to the solution by TESTing VALUES (although we are not allowed to use X=4 or Y=0 in our work).

Let's TEST Y = 5.... that makes the equation...

9/3X = 1/6
3X = 54
X = 18

Thus, we're looking for an answer that equals 5 when X=18. There's only one answer that matches...

Final Answer:
Show Spoiler
B


GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
General Discussion
User avatar
jabhatta2
User avatar
Joined: 15 Dec 2016
Last visit: 21 Apr 2023
Posts: 1,311
Own Kudos:
246
Given Kudos: 188
Posts: 1,311
Kudos: 246
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 25 Jun 2020, 16:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
MarcoL90
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2

\(\frac{(y^2 – 16)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y – 4)(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{1}{6}\)

\(6(y+4)=3x\);

\(2(y+4)=x\);

\(y=\frac{x-8}{2}\).

Answer:B.

Hi Bunuel :

Per the yellow highlight, are you allowed to cancel (y-4) on both sides if y = 4 ?

I am trying to understand the significance of the information per the red font specifically.

If the red bit was not given, would we be able to cancel (y-4) on both sides

Thank you
Jd
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 14 Dec 2024
Posts: 97,874
Own Kudos:
685,689
 []
Given Kudos: 88,270
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 97,874
Kudos: 685,689
 []
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 25 Jun 2020, 21:16
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jabhatta@umail.iu.edu
Bunuel
MarcoL90
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2

\(\frac{(y^2 – 16)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y – 4)(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{1}{6}\)

\(6(y+4)=3x\);

\(2(y+4)=x\);

\(y=\frac{x-8}{2}\).

Answer:B.

Hi Bunuel :

Per the yellow highlight, are you allowed to cancel (y-4) on both sides if y = 4 ?

I am trying to understand the significance of the information per the red font specifically.

If the red bit was not given, would we be able to cancel (y-4) on both sides

Thank you
Jd

If we were not told that y is not equal to 4, we would not be able to reduce by y - 4.
User avatar
jabhatta2
User avatar
Joined: 15 Dec 2016
Last visit: 21 Apr 2023
Posts: 1,311
Own Kudos:
246
Given Kudos: 188
Posts: 1,311
Kudos: 246
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 25 Jun 2020, 21:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
jabhatta@umail.iu.edu
Bunuel
MarcoL90
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2

\(\frac{(y^2 – 16)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y – 4)(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{1}{6}\)

\(6(y+4)=3x\);

\(2(y+4)=x\);

\(y=\frac{x-8}{2}\).

Answer:B.

Hi Bunuel :

Per the yellow highlight, are you allowed to cancel (y-4) on both sides if y = 4 ?

I am trying to understand the significance of the information per the red font specifically.

If the red bit was not given, would we be able to cancel (y-4) on both sides

Thank you
Jd

If we were not told that y is not equal to 4, we would not be able to reduce by y - 4.

That's what I thought too !

Just wondering, why can't we reduce by y-4 ?

Is it because we are not allowed to divide by zero ?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 14 Dec 2024
Posts: 97,874
Own Kudos:
685,689
Given Kudos: 88,270
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 97,874
Kudos: 685,689
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 25 Jun 2020, 21:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jabhatta@umail.iu.edu
Bunuel
jabhatta@umail.iu.edu
Bunuel
MarcoL90
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2

\(\frac{(y^2 – 16)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y – 4)(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\);

\(\frac{(y+4)}{(3x)} = \frac{1}{6}\)

\(6(y+4)=3x\);

\(2(y+4)=x\);

\(y=\frac{x-8}{2}\).

Answer:B.

Hi Bunuel :

Per the yellow highlight, are you allowed to cancel (y-4) on both sides if y = 4 ?

I am trying to understand the significance of the information per the red font specifically.

If the red bit was not given, would we be able to cancel (y-4) on both sides

Thank you
Jd

If we were not told that y is not equal to 4, we would not be able to reduce by y - 4.

That's what I thought too !

Just wondering, why can't we reduce by y-4 ?

Is it because we are not allowed to divide by zero ?

Posted from my mobile device

Yes. If we were not told that y is not equal to 4, then we'd have that y = 4 OR y = (x – 8)/2.
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 13 Dec 2024
Posts: 5,423
Own Kudos:
4,599
Given Kudos: 161
Location: India
Schools: HBS '22 CBS '22 Wharton '22
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: HBS '22 CBS '22 Wharton '22
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,423
Kudos: 4,599
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 25 Jun 2020, 23:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MarcoL90
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2

Asked: If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

6(y-4)(y+4) = 3x(y-4)
2(y+4) = x

\(y = \frac{x}{2} - 4 = [m](x-8)/2\)[/m]

IMO B
User avatar
Satishqwerty
User avatar
Joined: 12 Oct 2019
Last visit: 13 Jan 2022
Posts: 46
Own Kudos:
41
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 46
Kudos: 41
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 26 Jun 2020, 03:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
y not equal to 4 means that RHS cannot be 0
and x not equal to 0 means LHS cannot be indefinite.

Since, it is all variables, you can TEST IT. I find the algebra way faster.

\(\frac{(y^2 – 16)}{(3x)} = \frac{(y – 4)}{6}\)

\(\frac{(y-4)(y+4)}{3x} = \frac{(y-4)}{6}\)

\(\frac{(y+4)}{3x } = \frac{1}{6}\)

\(y+4 = \frac{x}{2}\)

\(y = \frac{x}{2} - 4\)

\(y = \frac{(x-8)}{2}\)

OA, B
MarcoL90
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y – 4)/6, then in terms of x, y equals:

A: (x + 8) / 2

B: (x – 8) / 2

C: (-3x) / 2

D: (-3x + 8) / 2

E: (3x – 8) / 2
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 35,817
Own Kudos:
930
Posts: 35,817
Kudos: 930
If y is not equal to 4, x is not equal to 0, and (y^2 – 16)/(3x) = (y 19 May 2022, 21:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
97874 posts