Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 03:44 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 03:44
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
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
   1   2 
605-655 Level|   Absolute Values|   Inequalities|         
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,379
Own Kudos:
778,193
 [2]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,379
Kudos: 778,193
 [2]
Is the square root of (x - 5)^2 = 5 - x ? (1) -x|x| > 0 (2) 5 - x > 0 20 Feb 2020, 00:16
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rishabhshreyas14
Bunuel
dhushan
Just want to make sure that my line of thinking is right. I got D as well.

sqrt(x-5)^2 = 5-x
==> |x-5| = 5-x

which means that if

x-5<0, -(x-5) = 5-x = no solution, therefore x<5

x-5>0, x-5 = 5-x, which means that x>5 and x = 5

from (1) -x|x| > 0, we know that x has to be negative -(-x)|-x| is the only way to get a number greater than 0. Therefore, this means that of the three possible solutions for x, only this x<5 hold true.

from (2) 5-x>0, therefore x<5.

Can someone please point out if there is something wrong with my reasoning.

Is \(\sqrt{(x-5)^2}=5-x\)?

First of all, recall that \(\sqrt{x^2}=|x|\).

Is \(\sqrt{(x-5)^2}=5-x\)? --> is \(|x-5|=5-x\)? --> is \(x-5\leq{0}\)? --> is \(x\leq{5}\)?

(1) \(-x|x| > 0\) --> \(|x|\) is never negative (positive or zero), so for \(-x|x|\) to be positive, \(-x\) must be positive \(-x>0\) --> \(x<0\). Sufficient.

(2) \(5-x>0\) --> \(x<5\). Sufficient.

Answer: D.

Bunuel how did you get this part "is x−5≤0x−5≤0? --> is x≤5x≤5" from the previous eqn?
Show more

This is a property of an absolute value:

When \(x\leq{0}\) then \(|x|=-x\), or more generally when \(some \ expression\leq{0}\) then \(|some \ expression|={-(some \ expression)}\). For example: \(|-5|=5=-(-5)\);

When \(x\geq{0}\) then \(|x|=x\), or more generally when \(some \ expression\geq{0}\) then \(|some \ expression|={some \ expression}\). For example: \(|5|=5\).

According to the above, \(|x-5|=5-x=-(x-5)\), so x - 5 must be less than or equal to 0.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,582
Own Kudos:
1,079
Posts: 38,582
Kudos: 1,079
Is the square root of (x - 5)^2 = 5 - x ? (1) -x|x| > 0 (2) 5 - x > 0 21 Aug 2025, 12:08
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.
   1   2 
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
105379 posts
kingbucky
496 posts