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Bunuel
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Bunuel
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earnit
As per ii) j^j = 1.

So 1 can also be equal to j^0.

Therefore, j^j = j^0. so same base power is equated which brings us to: j=0.

But 0^0 = 0 so that is not our solution.

hence j=1, as any number raised to same power if = 1 then that number is 1.

Am i right in assuming the following rule (highlighted one) based on the above calculations ?

Kindly shed some light on it.

Sorry, but not following you...

Anyway, 0^0, in some sources equals to 1, some mathematicians say it's undefined. But you won't need this for the GMAT because the case of 0^0 is not tested on the GMAT. So on the GMAT the possibility of 0^0 is always ruled out (in our question it's also rules out, notice that we are given that j is not 0).
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What if J=-1?
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What if J=-1?

J = -1 does not satisfy any of the statements:

(1) |J| = 1 and J^(-1) = (-1)^(-1) = -1.

(2) (-1)^(-1) = -1 not 1.
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Hi Bunuel,

Not getting where am I going wrong with statement 1

|j|=j^-1

j=1/j

j^2=1

And j=-(1/j)

j^2=-1

Can you please help me.
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NandishSS
Hi Bunuel,

Not getting where am I going wrong with statement 1

|j|=j^-1

j=1/j

j^2=1

And j=-(1/j)

j^2=-1

Can you please help me.

j^2=-1 has no real solutions.

j^2=1 has two solutions j=-1 and j=1 but j=-1 does not satisfy |j|=j^(-1), so we are left with j=1 only.

Hope it's clear.
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Bunuel
If \(j \ne 0\), what is the value of \(j\) ?


(1) \(|j| = j^{-1}\)

(2) \(j^j = 1\)

Hi

For stmt 1, what I did was I squared both sides to get rid of the mod sign. So :

j^2=1/j^2

j^4=1
Hence j takes both 1 0r -1. not sufficient.

Pls advise. tx
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Bunuel
If \(j \ne 0\), what is the value of \(j\) ?


(1) \(|j| = j^{-1}\)

(2) \(j^j = 1\)

Hi

For stmt 1, what I did was I squared both sides to get rid of the mod sign. So :

j^2=1/j^2

j^4=1
Hence j takes both 1 0r -1. not sufficient.

Pls advise. tx

When you square any equation, you are invariably increasing the number of solutions to twice the actual number of solution. A linear equation has 1 solution while a quadratic equation has 2 etc.

Statement 1 is linear in j and hence only 1 solution should be possible. When you square, make sure to check back the solutions by plugging them into the main equation and see which one actually satisfies the original linear equation.

After you got 1 and -1 as your solutions, -1 is rejected as it does not satisfy \(|j| = j^{-1}\). Thus, only j=1 satisfies the given conditions.

Hope this helps.
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Hello Bunuel,

Though I agree with the solution, I am not able to see where I am going wrong when solving for S1.Can you please check my work and suggest where I am going wrong?

S1: \(|J| = J^{-1}\)

Opening the Modulus we have

Case 1:

\(J = J^{-1}\)

\(J^2 = 1\)

\(J = ± 1\)

Case 2 :

\(-J = j^{-1}\)

\(-J^2 = 1\) (Undefined on GMAT).

Substituting Both J = 1 and J = -1 into the equation we can also see the equation is satisfied.

So, should we not conclude that J = ± 1 ?
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susheelh
Hello Bunuel,

Though I agree with the solution, I am not able to see where I am going wrong when solving for S1.Can you please check my work and suggest where I am going wrong?

S1: \(|J| = J^{-1}\)

Opening the Modulus we have

Case 1:

\(J = J^{-1}\)

\(J^2 = 1\)

\(J = ± 1\)

Case 2 :

\(-J = j^{-1}\)

\(-J^2 = 1\) (Undefined on GMAT).

Substituting Both J = 1 and J = -1 into the equation we can also see the equation is satisfied.

So, should we not conclude that J = ± 1 ?

j = -1 does NOT satisfy |j| = j^(-1):

LHS = |-1| = 1 while RHS = (-1)^(-1) = -1.
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cant j be an imaginary number for the first statement?
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cant j be an imaginary number for the first statement?

1. On the GMAT all numbers used are real numbers.

2. If this were not the case, still |j| = j^(-1) has no complex solution.
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I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation.
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I have edited the question and the solution by adding more details to enhance its clarity. I hope it is now easier to understand.
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Bunuel
If \(j \ne 0\), what is the value of \(j\) ?


(1) \(|j| = j^{-1}\)

(2) \(j^j = 1\)

in statement 1,
is it possible to do it like this:

|j| = j^-1
j^2 = j^-2
j = 1 or j = 0, in this case j=1. ?
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Bunuel
If \(j \ne 0\), what is the value of \(j\) ?


(1) \(|j| = j^{-1}\)

(2) \(j^j = 1\)

in statement 1,
is it possible to do it like this:

|j| = j^-1
j^2 = j^-2
j = 1 or j = 0, in this case j=1. ?

j^2 = j^(-2);

j^2 = 1/j^2;

j^4 = 1;

j = 1 or j = -1.

Since squaring can in some cases create false roots, you should plug back the solutions to check their validly.

If j = 1, then |j| = j^(-1) = 1. Hence this root is valid.
If j = -1, then |j| = 1, while j^(-1) = -1. Hence this root is not valid.

P.S. j = 0, is not the root at all.
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