Events & Promotions
|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Apr 2808:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
Whether you are just beginning your MBA journey or fine-tuning your path to a 700+ score, GMAT Day is designed to give you a competitive edge.
16 Sep 2014, 01:28
Kudos
Bookmarks
What is the value of \(a + b\) ?
(1) \(|a| = -|b|\)
(2) \(|b| = -|a|\)
(1) \(|a| = -|b|\)
(2) \(|b| = -|a|\)
16 Sep 2014, 01:28
Kudos
Bookmarks
Official Solution:
Both statements convey the same information: \(|a| + |b| = 0\). For this to be true, both \(a\) and \(b\) must be zero. Therefore, \(a + b = 0\).
But why is this so? The absolute value is always non-negative, i.e., \(|\text{some expression}| \geq 0\). This implies that an absolute value is either zero or positive. Given that the sum of two absolute values (or the sum of two non-negative values) is zero: \(\text{non-negative} + \text{non-negative} = 0\), it's evident that both values must be zero for this equation to hold true.
Answer: D
Both statements convey the same information: \(|a| + |b| = 0\). For this to be true, both \(a\) and \(b\) must be zero. Therefore, \(a + b = 0\).
But why is this so? The absolute value is always non-negative, i.e., \(|\text{some expression}| \geq 0\). This implies that an absolute value is either zero or positive. Given that the sum of two absolute values (or the sum of two non-negative values) is zero: \(\text{non-negative} + \text{non-negative} = 0\), it's evident that both values must be zero for this equation to hold true.
Answer: D
NatalieStarr
Joined: 04 Feb 2014
Last visit: 03 Jan 2022
Posts: 1
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 154
Location: Spain
Schools: HBS '18 Stanford '18 CBS '18 Sloan '21 (II)
10 Jul 2018, 22:19
Kudos
Bookmarks
Bunuel
I understand the arrangement of the equation made above but I was considering the following:
(1) if a>0, a=-b; -b+b=0
BUT if a<0, -a=-b; a=b; and then the sum is a+a=2a (or b+b=2b)
in this case the answer would be not sufficient. Where is the mistake here?
Thank you
I understand the arrangement of the equation made above but I was considering the following:
(1) if a>0, a=-b; -b+b=0
BUT if a<0, -a=-b; a=b; and then the sum is a+a=2a (or b+b=2b)
in this case the answer would be not sufficient. Where is the mistake here?
Thank you
