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605-655 Level|   Coordinate Geometry|                           
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above Updated on: 23 Mar 2025, 02:56
Originally posted by Bunuel on 23 Jul 2015, 10:47.
Last edited by Bunuel on 23 Mar 2025, 02:56, edited 6 times in total.
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Difficulty:

45% (medium)

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67% (02:06) correct 33% (02:11) wrong based on 4558 sessions

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y = ax - 5
y = x + 6
y = 3x + b

In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above each contain the point (p,r). If a and b are constants, what is the value of b?

(1) a = 2
(2) r = 17


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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 26 Oct 2015, 10:02
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23. Geometry




24. Coordinate Geometry




25. Triangles




26. Polygons




27. Circles




28. Rectangular Solids and Cylinders




29. Graphs and Illustrations



For more check Ultimate GMAT Quantitative Megathread
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 23 Jul 2015, 11:30
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mcelroytutoring
DS 136 from OFG 2016 (new question)

y = ax - 5
y = x + 6
y = 3x + b

In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above each contain the point (p,r). If a and b are constants, what is the value of b?

1) a = 2

2) r = 17

Solution provided by : mcelroytutoring

Let's start by substituting the point (p,r) into all equations in place of (x,y) which will make step #2 a bit easier to comprehend but is not necessary to solve the question. Then, let's consider the number of variables left in each equation.

#1: r = ap - 5 (3 variables R,A,P)
#2: r = p + 6 (2 variables R,P)
#3: r = 3p + b (3 variables R,B,P)

1) a = 2 allows us to reduce equation #1 to the variables r and p, which are the same two variables as equation #2. Thus we have simultaneous equations. As soon as we verify that the equations are different, we know that we can solve for both variables. Once we know r and p, we can substitute in equation #3 to solve for b. Sufficient.

2) r = 17 allows us to do the same thing, more or less. It reduces equation #2 to only one variable, allowing us to solve for p. Once we have p (and r), we can use equation #3 to solve for b. Sufficient.
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 24 Sep 2015, 01:53
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if each of the 3 equations contains points (p,r) this means that they intersect in that point
1. a=2
Find the intercept Intercept for three simultaneous equations
y=2x-5
y=x+6
y=3x+b
Let's use the first 2 equations: plug y=x+6 in the secod equation
x+6=2x-5 -> x=11, y=17 we can use the values to calulate b in the 3rd equation
17=33+b -> b=-16 SUFFICIENT

2. Here we have directly the value for Y, let's plug it in the 2nd equation
y=x+6 -> 17=x+6 -> x=11, y=17; We can plug these values in the 3rd equation and find b as we did above
17=33+b -> b=-16 SUFFICIENT

Answer (D) Most important point is here to catch the hint about intersection of 3 lines at one point
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 26 Oct 2015, 10:50
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I think it's D.

Keeping point (p,r) in all the equations we get :

p = ar -5 -----(1)
p = r + 6 ------(2)
p = 3r + b ------(3)

Now consider (1) if a = 2 from (1) and (2) we get
r = 11 , p=17 and putting in (3) we can get b.

Similarly for (2) we can get the values for r and p and hence can get the value for b.

So both statements individually are correct to answer the question.
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 26 Oct 2015, 19:14
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m2k
I think it's D.

Keeping point (p,r) in all the equations we get :

p = ar -5 -----(1)
p = r + 6 ------(2)
p = 3r + b ------(3)

Now consider (1) if a = 2 from (1) and (2) we get
r = 11 , p=17 and putting in (3) we can get b.

Similarly for (2) we can get the values for r and p and hence can get the value for b.

So both statements individually are correct to answer the question.

Approach if right but the values you derived are wrong. According to me r = 17 and that is what stmt b also states. :gl
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 10 Jun 2016, 11:23
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y = ax - 5 ... eq 1
y = x + 6 ... eq 2
y = 3x + b ...eq 3

Total of 4 variables are present.

Statement 1 : a = 2

Insert in eq 1

We have y = 2x -5 and y = x+6

Solving we get x = 11 and y = 17

Substitute in eq 3 and we get value of b

Statement 2: r=17

This means the y co- ordinate is 17
Substitute in eq 2 we get x as 11

Again can find value of b from equation 3

Hence D
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 16 Mar 2017, 08:58
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(eq1) \(y = ax - 5\)
(eq2) \(y = x + 6\)
(eq3) \(y = 3x + b\)

In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above each contain the point (p, r). If a and b are constants, what is the value of b?

1) \(a = 2\)
2) \(r = 17\)

Solution:

1) \(a = 2\)
- Putting the value of a in eq1, we get: \(y = 2x - 5\)
- At this point you can solve for (x, y), plug (x, y) in (eq3) and solve for (b) [though this approach might take few seconds]
(alternatively, faster method)
- you can skip solving for (x, y) and deduce that given 3 equations and 3 unknowns (since a is given in statement 1) we can solve for all of them (including b), since the lines are have different slopes i.e. different lines. Hence, we can get single value of 'b', proving the condition SUFFICIENT.
NOTE: 3 equations and 3 unknowns does not ALWAYS mean that we can find 3 unknown. We have to make sure that 2 of them or all of them are not the same line.

2) \(r = 17\)
- Since, point (p, r) lie on all the line, we can plugin the point in above equation
\(r = ap - 5 => 17 = ap - 5\)
\(r = p + 6 => 17 = p + 6\)
\(r = 3p + b => 17 = 3p + b\)
- Again, we do not need to solve for all the variables and just recognize that the above equations will lead to single value of b. Hence, SUFFICIENT.

Answer: (D)
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 10 Sep 2017, 19:04
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Would it be correct to simply say that we have 4 variables with 3 equations so eliminating any one variable gets us to three equations and three variables and is therefore sufficient? Is that logic sound?
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 13 Nov 2017, 20:21
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what is the significance of the the line "In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above each contain the point (p,r)",

i solved the problem, but wud have did the same even if they didnt provide line above . as question has 3 equations with 4 variables
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 13 Nov 2017, 22:31
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Cheryn
what is the significance of the the line "In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above each contain the point (p,r)",

i solved the problem, but wud have did the same even if they didnt provide line above . as question has 3 equations with 4 variables

The highlighted statement in effect says that all these 3 lines meet each other at one point and so there is a single value of (x,y) that satisfies these 3 equations. It is only because of this highlighted statement you can solve this set of equations for a unique value of x,y, a and b.

Hope this clarifies your doubt. :-)
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 11 Dec 2017, 14:28
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Hi All,

We're given the equations for 3 lines (and those equations are based on 4 unknowns: 2 variables and the 2 'constants' A and B):

Y = (A)(X) - 5
Y = X + 6
Y = 3X + B

We're told that the three lines all cross at one point on a graph (p,r). We're asked for the value of B. While this question looks complex, it's actually built around a 'system' math "shortcut" - meaning that since we have 3 unique equations and 4 unknowns, we just need one more unique equation (with one or more of those unknowns) and we can solve for ALL of the unknowns:

1) A =2

With this information, we now have a 4th equation, so we CAN solve for B.
Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT

2) R = 17

This information tell us the x co-ordinate where all three lines will meet, so it's the equivalent of having X=17 to work with. This 4th equation also allows us to solve for B.
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT

Final Answer:
Show Spoiler
D


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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 02 Jan 2018, 11:00
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Bunuel
y = ax - 5
y = x + 6
y = 3x + b
In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above each contain the point (p,r). If a and b are constants, what is the value of b?

(1) a = 2
(2) r = 17

We can begin by substituting p and r for x and y, respectively, in the three given equations.

1) r = ap – 5

2) r = p + 6

3) r = 3p + b

Statement One Alone:

a = 2

We can substitute 2 for a in the equation r = ap – 5. Thus, we have:

r = 2p – 5

Next we can set equations 1 and 2 equal to each other.

2p – 5 = p + 6

p = 11

Since p = 11, we see that r = 11 + 6 = 17

Finally, we can substitute 11 for p and 17 for r in equation 3. This gives us:

17 = 3(11) + b

17 = 33 + b

-16 = b

Statement one alone is sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

r = 17

We can substitute r into all three equations and we have:

1) 17 = ap – 5

2) 17 = p + 6

3) 17 = 3p + b

We see that p = 11. Now we can substitute 11 for p in equation 3 to determine a value for b.

17 = 3(11) + b

-16 = b

Statement two alone is also sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: D
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 20 Jul 2019, 23:56
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Video solution for the same

https://gmatquantum.com/official-guides ... ial-guide/
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 06 May 2021, 06:09
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Video solution from Quant Reasoning starts at 11:16
Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/QuantReasoning? ... irmation=1
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 02 Jul 2021, 01:48
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Bunuel
y = ax - 5
y = x + 6
y = 3x + b
In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above each contain the point (p,r). If a and b are constants, what is the value of b?

(1) a = 2
(2) r = 17

Answer: Option D

Video solution by GMATinsight

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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 13 Jul 2021, 10:09
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y = ax - 5
y = x + 6
y = 3x + b



State 1 : a = 2

In eq 1

We have y = 2x -5 and y = x+6

Solving we get x = 11 and y = 17

From eq 3 and we get value of b

State 2: r=17

Gibes us y co- ordinate ias 17
Substitute in eq 2 we get x as 11

Again can find value of b from equation 3

Hence D
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 18 Jul 2021, 16:40
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(x, y) => (p, r)

r = ap - 5
r = p + 6
r = 3p + b

1)
a = 2
r = 2*p

p + 6 = 2p - 5
P = 11

r = p + 6
r = 11 + 6 = 17

r = 3p + b
17 = 3 (11) + b
b = -16

SUFF

2) r = 17

r = p + 6
17 = p + 6
p = 11

r = 3p + b
17 = 3*11 + b
b = -16
SUFF
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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 29 Jul 2021, 23:21
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Statement (1) a = 2
We now have 4 equations and 4 unknowns(x,y,a,b) to solve for b.
(Sufficient)

Statement (2)r = 17
Substitute the value in the equations given in the question stem.
17 = a p – 5..........(i)

17 = p + 6...........(ii)

17 = 3p + b..........(iii)

p=11 from (ii)

b=17 - 3(11)

=>b= -16
(sufficient)
(option d)

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In the xy-plane, the straight-line graphs of the three equations above 23 May 2022, 08:52
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GMATNinja, Bunuel, can you please clarify whether st1 and st2 are even necessary to solve this question?

I approached this question in the following way:

y = ax - 5----> r=ap-5;
y = x + 6---> r=p+6
y = 3x + b---> r=3p+b
3p+b=p+6--> p+b/3=p+6---> b/3=6--> b=18
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