Last visit was: 12 May 2025, 02:35 It is currently 12 May 2025, 02:35
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
 [42]
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
35
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
723,549
 [7]
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
 [7]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
AdmitJA
Joined: 04 Jul 2014
Last visit: 26 Mar 2018
Posts: 276
Own Kudos:
1,196
 [3]
Given Kudos: 420
Location: India
GMAT 1: 640 Q44 V34
GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V37
GPA: 3.58
WE:Analyst (Accounting)
Products:
GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V37
Posts: 276
Kudos: 1,196
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
 [14]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
riyazgilani
i answered choice a : x-3

i took the the expression as x^2-6x+9 ---> (x-3)^2. no my understanding is that on GMAT when some expression is under root sign, only positive root is considered...? is it correct. if it is so, the we need not take mod value...? pls help

Exactly because the square root function cannot give negative result the answer is |3-x|, an absolute value of 3-x, which also cannot be negative.

MUST KNOW: \(\sqrt{x^2}=|x|\):

The point here is that since square root function can not give negative result then \(\sqrt{some \ expression}\geq{0}\).

So \(\sqrt{x^2}\geq{0}\). But what does \(\sqrt{x^2}\) equal to?

Let's consider following examples:
If \(x=5\) --> \(\sqrt{x^2}=\sqrt{25}=5=x=positive\);
If \(x=-5\) --> \(\sqrt{x^2}=\sqrt{25}=5=-x=positive\).

So we got that:
\(\sqrt{x^2}=x\), if \(x\geq{0}\);
\(\sqrt{x^2}=-x\), if \(x<0\).

What function does exactly the same thing? The absolute value function: \(|x|=x\), if \(x\geq{0}\) and \(|x|=-x\), if \(x<0\). That is why \(\sqrt{x^2}=|x|\).

I'd advice to go through basics and only after to practice questions:

Theory on Abolute Values: https://gmatclub.com/forum/math-absolut ... 86462.html
Absolute value tips: https://gmatclub.com/forum/absolute-val ... 75002.html

DS Abolute Values Questions to practice: https://gmatclub.com/forum/search.php?s ... &tag_id=37
PS Abolute Values Questions to practice: https://gmatclub.com/forum/search.php?s ... &tag_id=58

Hard set on Abolute Values: https://gmatclub.com/forum/inequality-a ... 86939.html
avatar
tae808
Joined: 03 Dec 2013
Last visit: 21 Feb 2020
Posts: 50
Own Kudos:
59
 [1]
Given Kudos: 11
Location: United States (HI)
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
GPA: 3.56
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
Posts: 50
Kudos: 59
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I have edited the question and the solution by adding more details to enhance its clarity. I hope it is now easier to understand.
User avatar
mpugni
Joined: 11 Dec 2023
Last visit: 03 Jan 2024
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can you give me an explanation of how 9+x^2-6x broke down to (3-x)^2
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
723,549
 [1]
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mpugni
Can you give me an explanation of how 9+x^2-6x broke down to (3-x)^2

    \(a^2 - 2ab + b^2 = (a - b)^2\)

Similarly:

    \(9 + x^2 - 6x = 9 - 6x + x^2 = 3^2 - 2*3*x + x^2 = (3 - x)^2\)
User avatar
eggybezos
Joined: 18 Feb 2024
Last visit: 14 Mar 2024
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Posts: 5
Kudos: 22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
­hi can anyone explain why factorising the original expression does not factor into (x-3)^2? the output is the same as (3-x)^2, both equal the same as 9 + xsq - 6x is the same as xsq - 6x + 9. so therefore I am confused about the answer choice
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
723,549
 [1]
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
 
eggybezos
­hi can anyone explain why factorising the original expression does not factor into (x-3)^2? the output is the same as (3-x)^2, both equal the same as 9 + xsq - 6x is the same as xsq - 6x + 9. so therefore I am confused about the answer choice
­The expression (x - 3)^2 is equivalent to (3 - x)^2, so it doesn't make a difference which one you substitute in. You'll end up with the same answer either way.
User avatar
Mishthi
Joined: 06 Jul 2021
Last visit: 29 Jan 2025
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 49
Posts: 3
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation.
User avatar
GMATkid1997
Joined: 10 May 2018
Last visit: 12 Dec 2024
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 82
Posts: 44
Kudos: 42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Why is this approach wrong
-Squared the root to get rid of the root
-Then brought the resulting expression to the form x−3
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATkid1997
Why is this approach wrong
-Squared the root to get rid of the root
-Then brought the resulting expression to the form x−3
­
You doubt is addressed in this post.

The point is \(\sqrt{(3 - x)^2} = |3 - x|\), not x - 3.
User avatar
Ilham23
Joined: 16 Sep 2022
Last visit: 15 Oct 2024
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 1
Location: Azerbaijan
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think this is a high-quality question and the explanation isn't clear enough, please elaborate. This is the solution I get: square root of (x−3)^2.

How do you get this: square root of (3−x)^2?
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Ilham23
I think this is a high-quality question and the explanation isn't clear enough, please elaborate. This is the solution I get: square root of (x−3)^2.

How do you get this: square root of (3−x)^2?
You doubt is addressed in this post.

The point is \(\sqrt{(3 - x)^2} = |3 - x|\), not x - 3.
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 11 May 2025
Posts: 15,959
Own Kudos:
73,054
 [1]
Given Kudos: 467
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 15,959
Kudos: 73,054
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
\sqrt{}

Bunuel
Which of the following options always equates to \(\sqrt{9 + x^2 - 6x}\)?

A. \(x - 3\)
B. \(3 + x\)
C. \(|3 - x|\)
D. \(|3 + x|\)
E. \(3 - x\)

The thing to remember here is that \(\sqrt{x^2} = |x|\)

The details are discussed here:
https://anaprep.com/algebra-squares-and-square-roots/


\(\sqrt{9 + x^2 - 6x} = \sqrt{(x-3)^2}= |x-3|\)

|x - 3| = |3 - x| because |x| = |-x|

Answer (C)
User avatar
satish_sahoo
Joined: 02 Jul 2023
Last visit: 02 May 2025
Posts: 164
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 161
Products:
Posts: 164
Kudos: 141
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation.
User avatar
Testuhsjsj2673
Joined: 07 Jan 2024
Last visit: 07 May 2025
Posts: 4
Given Kudos: 3
Products:
Posts: 4
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I like the solution - it’s helpful.
User avatar
KDM91
Joined: 04 May 2021
Last visit: 05 May 2025
Posts: 80
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 36
Products:
Posts: 80
Kudos: 20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

eggybezos
­hi can anyone explain why factorising the original expression does not factor into (x-3)^2? the output is the same as (3-x)^2, both equal the same as 9 + xsq - 6x is the same as xsq - 6x + 9. so therefore I am confused about the answer choice
­The expression (x - 3)^2 is equivalent to (3 - x)^2, so it doesn't make a difference which one you substitute in. You'll end up with the same answer either way.

If one of the answer options was mod of x-3 instead of mod of 3-x, then would that be a correct answer also.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 12 May 2025
Posts: 101,323
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93,456
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 101,323
Kudos: 723,549
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Kedar91
Bunuel

eggybezos
­hi can anyone explain why factorising the original expression does not factor into (x-3)^2? the output is the same as (3-x)^2, both equal the same as 9 + xsq - 6x is the same as xsq - 6x + 9. so therefore I am confused about the answer choice
­The expression (x - 3)^2 is equivalent to (3 - x)^2, so it doesn't make a difference which one you substitute in. You'll end up with the same answer either way.

If one of the answer options was mod of x-3 instead of mod of 3-x, then would that be a correct answer also.

Yes, because |3 - x| = |x - 3|, both indicate the distance between 3 and x on the number line.
Moderators:
Math Expert
101323 posts
Founder
40639 posts