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: