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If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul

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Bunuel
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If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   15 Oct 2014, 16:25
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Tough and Tricky questions: Absolute Values.



If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the result of a + b?

A. -1
B. -1/3
C. 1/3
D. 2/3
E. 1
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D
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bharatS
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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   15 Oct 2014, 19:02
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Bunuel wrote:

Tough and Tricky questions: Absolute Values.



If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the result of a + b?

A. -1
B. -1/3
C. 1/3
D. 2/3
E. 1


Hello There,
|a| = 1/3
Absolute value of 'a' can have two values = 1/3 and -(1/3)
|b| = 2/3
Absolute value of 'b' can have two values = 2/3 and -(2/3)

Now different combinations of a + b are as follows:
a + b = (1/3) + (2/3) = 1
- a - b = -(1/3) - (2/3) = -1
a - b = (1/3) - (2/3) = -(1/3)
-a + b = -(1/3) + (2/3) = 1/3

Cross verifying with the given options, left over option is D.
Please correct my approach if any.
Thanks!
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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   15 Oct 2014, 20:23
bharatS wrote:
Bunuel wrote:

Tough and Tricky questions: Absolute Values.



If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the result of a + b?

A. -1
B. -1/3
C. 1/3
D. 2/3
E. 1


Hello There,
|a| = 1/3
Absolute value of 'a' can have two values = 1/3 and -(1/3)
|b| = 2/3
Absolute value of 'b' can have two values = 2/3 and -(2/3)

Now different combinations of a + b are as follows:
a + b = (1/3) + (2/3) = 1
- a - b = -(1/3) - (2/3) = -1
a - b = (1/3) - (2/3) = -(1/3)
-a + b = -(1/3) + (2/3) = 1/3

Cross verifying with the given options, left over option is D.
Please correct my approach if any.
Thanks!


Looks good, I solved it in the same exact approach as you!
+1 Kudos :ninja
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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   22 Aug 2016, 22:32
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Bunuel wrote:

Tough and Tricky questions: Absolute Values.



If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the result of a + b?

A. -1
B. -1/3
C. 1/3
D. 2/3
E. 1



Since \(a\) can be \(\frac{1}{3}\) or \(\frac{-1}{3}\) and similarly \(b\) can be \(\frac{2}{3}\) or \(\frac{-2}{3}\) . To get all values of a + b and hence eliminate:

D is the answer.


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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   14 Mar 2017, 14:12
basically we have to check the combinations of various values of a and b
|a| = 1/3 means a can be equal to 1/3 or - 1/3
|b| = 2/3 means b can be equal to 2/3 or - 2/3
after adding them in various possible ways the answer are 1 , -1 , 1/3 , -1/3
the total can never be 2/3
Correct answer - D
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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   14 Mar 2017, 14:39
|a|=-1/3 and 1/3
Similarly |b|= -2/3 and 2/3
So after doing addition one value of a with one value of b ,we will get four value -1,+1,-1/3,+1/3.
So option D is correct.

Thanks

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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   20 Mar 2017, 06:52
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Bunuel wrote:

Tough and Tricky questions: Absolute Values.



If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the result of a + b?

A. -1
B. -1/3
C. 1/3
D. 2/3
E. 1


We see that a = 1/3 or -1/3 and that b = 2/3 or -2/3.

Thus, the possible combinations of a + b are follows:

1/3 + 2/3 = 1 or

1/3 + (-2/3) = -1/3 or

(-1/3) + 2/3 = 1/3 or

(-1/3) + (-2/3) = -1

Thus, 2/3 cannot be the sum of a and b.

Answer: D
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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   21 Mar 2017, 04:18
Bunuel wrote:

Tough and Tricky questions: Absolute Values.



If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the result of a + b?

A. -1
B. -1/3
C. 1/3
D. 2/3
E. 1


|a| = 1/3, a = 1/3 or -1/3
|b| = 2/3. b = 2/3 or -2/3

therefore a+b could be 1/3+2/3 = 1, 1/3-2/3 = -1/3, -1/3+2/3 = 1/3, -1/3-2/3 = -1

hence option D
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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink] New post   07 Nov 2022, 23:57
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Re: If |a| = 1/3 and |b| = 2/3, which of the following CANNOT be the resul [#permalink]
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