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# Math: Absolute value (Modulus)

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Intern
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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23 Aug 2018, 02:37
How frequent or how many absolute value questions can we approximately expect on the GMAT? I understand there may not be a sure way to know or guess but just looking for an estimate based on past and present experiences.
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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23 Aug 2018, 03:12
1
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onyx12102 wrote:
How frequent or how many absolute value questions can we approximately expect on the GMAT? I understand there may not be a sure way to know or guess but just looking for an estimate based on past and present experiences.

______________
I'd say 1 or 2.
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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23 Aug 2018, 05:02
1
onyx12102 wrote:
How frequent or how many absolute value questions can we approximately expect on the GMAT? I understand there may not be a sure way to know or guess but just looking for an estimate based on past and present experiences.

Not more than a couple. The problem is that often GMAT likes to combine topics. So, you might have a geometry question which will make you use some basic absolute value concept such as area bounded by the graph of |x| + |y| = 4. So a basic understanding of all topics is a good idea even if you plan to ignore some topics.
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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01 Sep 2018, 15:16
Quote:
2. Solve new equations:
a) x−1=4x−1=4 --> x=5
b) −x+1=4−x+1=4 --> x=-3

3. Check conditions for each solution:
a) x=5x=5 has to satisfy initial condition x−1>=0x−1>=0. 5−1=4>05−1=4>0. It satisfies. Otherwise, we would have to reject x=5.
b) x=−3x=−3 has to satisfy initial condition x−1<0x−1<0. −3−1=−4<0−3−1=−4<0. It satisfies. Otherwise, we would have to reject x=-3.

So...just to clarify...the answer can either be 5 or -3?

Just need the clarification on what this is saying
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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03 Sep 2018, 21:55
In the following example of 3-steps approach for complex problems

Example #1
Q.: |x+3|−|4−x|=|8+x||x+3|−|4−x|=|8+x|. How many solutions does the equation have?
Solution: There are 3 key points here: -8, -3, 4. So we have 4 conditions:

a) x<−8x<−8. −(x+3)−(4−x)=−(8+x)−(x+3)−(4−x)=−(8+x) --> x=−1x=−1. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-1 is not less than -8) Can any one please explain me how x<-8 because whenever I am doing it I am getting x>=-8 for both |8+x| and -|8+x|

b) −8≤x<−3−8≤x<−3. −(x+3)−(4−x)=(8+x)−(x+3)−(4−x)=(8+x) --> x=−15x=−15. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-15 is not within (-8,-3) interval.)

c) −3≤x<4−3≤x<4. (x+3)−(4−x)=(8+x)(x+3)−(4−x)=(8+x) --> x=9x=9. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-15 is not within (-3,4) interval.)

d) x≥4x≥4. (x+3)+(4−x)=(8+x)(x+3)+(4−x)=(8+x) --> x=−1x=−1. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-1 is not more than 4)
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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22 Sep 2018, 03:50
IN Example #1
Q.: |x+3|−|4−x|=|8+x||x+3|−|4−x|=|8+x|. How many solutions does the equation have?
C condition has typo error
c) −3≤x<4−3≤x<4. (x+3)−(4−x)=(8+x)(x+3)−(4−x)=(8+x) --> x=9x=9. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-15 is not within (-3,4) interval.)

its not -15 but 9
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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29 Sep 2018, 06:26
chetan2u Hi, sorry I keep bugging you but your explanations are easiest to understand
Can you explain to me the "trick" mentioned in the post? I don't get it :/ What are we doing after finding the mid-point?
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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29 Sep 2018, 10:02
hibobotamuss wrote:
chetan2u Hi, sorry I keep bugging you but your explanations are easiest to understand
Can you explain to me the "trick" mentioned in the post? I don't get it :/ What are we doing after finding the mid-point?

No problems. Pl keep asking questions and I would reply to each whenever I get time
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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29 Sep 2018, 10:24
"Problem: 1<x<9. What inequality represents this condition?

A. |x|<3
B. |x+5|<4
C. |x-1|<9
D. |-5+x|<4
E. |3+x|<5
Solution: 10sec. Traditional 3-steps method is too time-consume technique. First of all we find length (9-1)=8 and center (1+8/2=5) of the segment represented by 1<x<9. Now, let’s look at our options. Only B and D has 8/2=4 on the right side and D had left site 0 at x=5. Therefore, answer is D."

This is the "trick" mentioned in the post, don't know what it means chetan2u
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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20 Nov 2018, 13:54
gettinit wrote:
Let’s consider following examples,

Example #1 I am not understanding this example and really struggling with modulus? Can someone please elaborate and explain in further detail? From this post I can't see how I would use this on every modulus problem?
Q.: $$|x+3| - |4-x| = |8+x|$$. How many solutions does the equation have?
Solution: There are 3 key points here: -8, -3, 4. So we have 4 conditions:

a) $$x < -8$$. $$-(x+3) - (4-x) how did we get -(x+3) here?= -(8+x)$$ --> $$x = -1$$. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-1 is not less than -8)

b) $$-8 \leq x < -3$$. $$-(x+3)-(4-x) =+ (8+x)$$ --> $$x = -15$$. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-15 is not within (-8,-3) interval.)

c) $$-3 \leq x < 4$$. $$+ (x+3)-(4-x) =+ (8+x)$$ --> $$x = 9$$. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-15 is not within (-3,4) interval.)

d) $$x \geq 4$$. $$+(x+3) + (4-x) = + (8+x)$$ --> $$x = -1$$. We reject the solution because our condition is not satisfied (-1 is not more than 4)

I am totally lost with this post and also with other modulus problems I looked up in Gmat club thank you very much for your help in advance!!!!!

I didn't understand how the sign for each expression was determined.
I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks!!
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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26 Nov 2018, 16:07
Bunuel wrote:

When are we supposed to use the 3-step method? I mean, on which kind of problems?
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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15 May 2019, 16:22
1
OP or Bunuel

There is a typo in the first post.

It says "(-15 is not within (-3,4) interval." for the range in (c) when it should actually say "9 is not within the -3<x<4 range"
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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15 May 2019, 20:55
dcummins wrote:
OP or Bunuel

There is a typo in the first post.

It says "(-15 is not within (-3,4) interval." for the range in (c) when it should actually say "9 is not within the -3<x<4 range"

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Edited. Thank you.
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Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)  [#permalink]

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05 Jul 2019, 05:44
rrsnathan wrote:
hi,

i have a doubt in the example

Q.: |x^2-4| = 1. What is x?
Solution: There are 2 conditions:

a) (x^2-4)\geq0

how the range for this example is (X^2-4)>=0 and not (x^2-4)>0?

regards,
RRSNATHAN

You can ignore "=0" part. (x^2 - 4) cannot be 0 since its mod is 1. So you can certainly write the range as (x^2 - 4) > 0. In the overall scheme, it doesn't change anything. People usually write the ranges are ">=0" and "<0" to cover everything. Here "=0" is not needed.

Posted from my mobile device

I have a doubt for this question

Does not this expression mean that x^2 is at a distance of 1 from 4. Then should not the correct answers be only sq root 5 and sq root 3 instead of -sq root 3 and -sq root 5 as these don't have a distance of 1 from 4 ?

Regards
Re: Math: Absolute value (Modulus)   [#permalink] 05 Jul 2019, 05:44

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