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Bunuel
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Njincho
Hello,

Isn't m^2+n^2 = (m+n)^2?

Thanks in advance

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No.

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


7. Algebra



For more check Ultimate GMAT Quantitative Megathread

Hope it helps.
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Hi, I haven't seen cubic equations in OG. Is it tested on real test? is there any other method to solve this long resolution question?
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Hi, I haven't seen cubic equations in OG. Is it tested on real test? is there any other method to solve this long resolution question?

You are not asked to solve the cubic equation in this question, nor would you be asked to do so in the real/official questions. Here you have to do certain algebraic manipulations which are perfectly in the scope of the GMAT. Having said that, the question is tough as 700-lvel question tag indicates .
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Njincho
Hello,

Isn't m^2+n^2 = (m+n)^2?

Thanks in advance

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no, (m+n)^2 =(m+n)*(m+n) —> on FOILing we have -> m^2 +n^2 +2mn
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Hi Bunuel

\(x\sqrt{x}+y\sqrt{y}=32\)
\(x\sqrt{y}+y\sqrt{x}=31\)
adding both equation we get
\((x+y)(\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y})=63\)

Now x+y has be multiple or must divide 63 only 12.6 does that. so that's the answer. Is my approach correct?
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Even i did the question with the same approach as mentioned by Krishna7568. Please let us know if this is fine as it is seemingly a quicker way to solve this.
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Krishna7568
Hi Bunuel

\(x\sqrt{x}+y\sqrt{y}=32\)
\(x\sqrt{y}+y\sqrt{x}=31\)
adding both equation we get
\((x+y)(\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y})=63\)

Now x+y has be multiple or must divide 63 only 12.6 does that. so that's the answer. Is my approach correct?

Your logic is not clear. Why should x + y necessarily be 12.6? Why it cannot be 5? Or any other number?
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Bunuel
If \(x\sqrt{x} + y\sqrt{y} = 32\) and \(x\sqrt{y} + y\sqrt{x} = 31\), then what is the value of \(x + y\) ?


A. \(\sqrt{5}\)
B. \(5\)
C. \(6.2\)
D. \(12.6\)
E. \(25\)


Tried this via elimination
adding both given, we get
√x (x+y) + √y (x+y) = 63
(x+y) (√x+√y) = 63

If we insert x+y = 5.. the product is approx 15 which is unequal to 63
If we insert x+y = 25.. the product is approx 173 which is unequal to 63..
So the only number that fits is 12.6 .. so Ans D
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Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?

I squared both equations and then substituted the 2xy sqrt(xy) and which simplified down to (x+y)^1 (x-y)^2 = 63

The equation is solved when X=5 and Y=2 so X+Y=7

Where did I go wrong?

Work Below:

X^3 + 2xysqrt(xy) + y^3 = 32^2

(X^2)(Y) + 2XYsqrt(XY) + (Y^2)X = 31^2

Combining the above I get the following:

X^3 + 31^2 - (X^2)(Y) - (y^2)(x) + y^3 = 32^2

This simplifies down to (X^2 - Y^2) (X-Y) = 32^2 - 31^2

Further simplifies down to (X+Y) (X-Y)^2 = 63
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wolfof6thstreet
Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?

I squared both equations and then substituted the 2xy sqrt(xy) and which simplified down to (x+y)^1 (x-y)^2 = 63

The equation is solved when X=5 and Y=2 so X+Y=7

Where did I go wrong?

Work Below:

X^3 + 2xysqrt(xy) + y^3 = 32^2

(X^2)(Y) + 2XYsqrt(XY) + (Y^2)X = 31^2

Combining the above I get the following:

X^3 + 31^2 - (X^2)(Y) - (y^2)(x) + y^3 = 32^2

This simplifies down to (X^2 - Y^2) (X-Y) = 32^2 - 31^2

Further simplifies down to (X+Y) (X-Y)^2 = 63
­
1. When you square you get extra roots

2. (x - y)^2 (x + y) = 63 has infinitely many solutions.

3. You assmue x and y to be integers, which in fact they are not (\(x\sqrt{x} + y\sqrt{y} = 32\) and \(x\sqrt{y} + y\sqrt{x} = 31\) has two sets of (x,y) satisfying \(x = \frac{63}{10} - \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\), \(y = \frac{63}{10} + \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\) and vice versa). Even for integers, (x - y)^2 (x + y) = 63 has more solutions: x = 2, y = 5 and x = 5, y = 2 and x = 31, y = 32 and x = 31, y = 32.­
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Bunuel

wolfof6thstreet
Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?

I squared both equations and then substituted the 2xy sqrt(xy) and which simplified down to (x+y)^1 (x-y)^2 = 63

The equation is solved when X=5 and Y=2 so X+Y=7

Where did I go wrong?

Work Below:

X^3 + 2xysqrt(xy) + y^3 = 32^2

(X^2)(Y) + 2XYsqrt(XY) + (Y^2)X = 31^2

Combining the above I get the following:

X^3 + 31^2 - (X^2)(Y) - (y^2)(x) + y^3 = 32^2

This simplifies down to (X^2 - Y^2) (X-Y) = 32^2 - 31^2

Further simplifies down to (X+Y) (X-Y)^2 = 63
­
1. When you square you get extra roots

2. (x - y)^2 (x + y) = 63 has infinitely many solutions.

3. You assmue x and y to be integers, which in fact they are not (\(x\sqrt{x} + y\sqrt{y} = 32\) and \(x\sqrt{y} + y\sqrt{x} = 31\) has two sets of (x,y) satisfying \(x = \frac{63}{10} - \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\), \(y = \frac{63}{10} + \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\) and vice versa). Even for integers, (x - y)^2 (x + y) = 63 has more solutions: x = 2, y = 5 and x = 5, y = 2 and x = 31, y = 32 and x = 31, y = 32.­
­Thanks Bunuel. Can you elaborate on how squaring causes extra roots? I know a lot of time we square equations to solve like in equations with complex roots, absolute value inequalities, and to manipulate simplifying multivariables using sum and difference of squares. 

Is there a rule of thumb when you have to be careful of squaring? Or is it best practice to just always plug the answer choices into the original equation to verify? 
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wolfof6thstreet

Bunuel

wolfof6thstreet
Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?

I squared both equations and then substituted the 2xy sqrt(xy) and which simplified down to (x+y)^1 (x-y)^2 = 63

The equation is solved when X=5 and Y=2 so X+Y=7

Where did I go wrong?

Work Below:

X^3 + 2xysqrt(xy) + y^3 = 32^2

(X^2)(Y) + 2XYsqrt(XY) + (Y^2)X = 31^2

Combining the above I get the following:

X^3 + 31^2 - (X^2)(Y) - (y^2)(x) + y^3 = 32^2

This simplifies down to (X^2 - Y^2) (X-Y) = 32^2 - 31^2

Further simplifies down to (X+Y) (X-Y)^2 = 63
­
1. When you square you get extra roots

2. (x - y)^2 (x + y) = 63 has infinitely many solutions.

3. You assmue x and y to be integers, which in fact they are not (\(x\sqrt{x} + y\sqrt{y} = 32\) and \(x\sqrt{y} + y\sqrt{x} = 31\) has two sets of (x,y) satisfying \(x = \frac{63}{10} - \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\), \(y = \frac{63}{10} + \frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\) and vice versa). Even for integers, (x - y)^2 (x + y) = 63 has more solutions: x = 2, y = 5 and x = 5, y = 2 and x = 31, y = 32 and x = 31, y = 32.­
­Thanks Bunuel. Can you elaborate on how squaring causes extra roots? I know a lot of time we square equations to solve like in equations with complex roots, absolute value inequalities, and to manipulate simplifying multivariables using sum and difference of squares. 

Is there a rule of thumb when you have to be careful of squaring? Or is it best practice to just always plug the answer choices into the original equation to verify? 
­Easiest example would be to consider equation x = 1. Squaring gives x^2 = 1, which yields x = 1 or x = -1.­
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Bunuel

Is there anyway to solve this question within 2min to max 2.5min with all those steps and recalls that someone has to come up with under exam stress?

Is this question a realistic question to appear on the gmat exam?


Thanks in advance?
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Rebaz
Bunuel

Is there anyway to solve this question within 2min to max 2.5min with all those steps and recalls that someone has to come up with under exam stress?

Is this question a realistic question to appear on the gmat exam?


Thanks in advance?

It's a hard question but I think it's realistic to solve this question under 3 minutes:


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