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# Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1

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Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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09 Aug 2014, 03:56
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27% (02:23) correct 73% (01:58) wrong based on 326 sessions

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Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1. How many possible values of x exist?

A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5

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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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09 Aug 2014, 04:32
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5
For the equation (x^2−x−1)$$^{(x+2)}$$=1 to be true, there are three possibilities:

1. $$(x^2-x-1) =1$$
$$x^2-x-2=0$$---> $$x=2$$ or $$x=-1$$. Both roots are possible. So, we have 2 values.

2. $$(x^2-x-1) =-1$$ and (x+2) is even
$$x^2-x=0$$--->$$x=1$$ or $$x=0$$. Check if $$x+2$$ is even: if $$x=1$$, then $$x+2-odd$$; if $$x=0$$, then $$x+2-even$$.
So only $$x=0$$ is possible. +1 value.

3. x+2=0 and $$(x^2-x-1)\neq=0$$ .
Therefore, x=-2. +1 value

Hence 4 values: -2, -1, 0, 2

D.
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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24 Dec 2014, 05:00
1
x=0 is 1st solution.
x+2=0 implies x=-2 second solution
x^2-x-1=1 implies x^2-x-2=0 implies x=2 and x=-1 another 2 solutions so total 4 solutions.
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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01 Feb 2015, 10:42
2
smyarga wrote:
For the equation (x^2−x−1)$$^{(x+2)}$$=1 to be true, there are three possibilities:

1. $$(x^2-x-1) =1$$
$$x^2-x-2=0$$---> $$x=2$$ or $$x=-1$$. Both roots are possible. So, we have 2 values.

2. $$(x^2-x-1) =-1$$ and (x+2) is even
$$x^2-x=0$$--->$$x=1$$ or $$x=0$$. Check if $$x+2$$ is even: if $$x=1$$, then $$x+2-odd$$; if $$x=0$$, then $$x+2-even$$.
So only $$x=0$$ is possible. +1 value.

3. x+2=0 and $$(x^2-x-1)\neq=0$$ .
Therefore, x=-2. +1 value

Hence 4 values: -2, -1, 0, 2

D.

Hi,

How did you get (x^2-x-1) to equal "-1"?

TO
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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01 Feb 2015, 13:34
thorinoakenshield wrote:

Hi,

How did you get (x^2-x-1) to equal "-1"?

TO

if (x^2-x-1) is equal to -1, then (x+2) must be even. why ?? because (-1)^2n = 1 here n can take values of 0,1,2,3,,, etc
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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01 Feb 2015, 15:51
Hi thorinoakenshield,

We're given (X^2 - X - 1)^(X+2) = 1

Given the way that the prompt is written, there are several ways to get a total that = 1:

(1)^(any power) = 1
(-1)^(even power) = 1
(any number)^0 = 1

The 'second option' is arguably the most 'complex' because it depends on 2 things (the base = -1 AND the exponent is EVEN).

IF....
(X^2 - X - 1) = -1
X^2 - X = 0
X(X - 1) = 0

This equation has 2 solutions: 0 and 1. HOWEVER, only one of them fits the given prompt....

IF....
X = 0, we have (-1)^(0+2) = 1, so this is a valid solution.

IF....
X = 1, we have (-1)(1+3) = -1 --> this is NOT a valid solution, since the end result is NOT 1.

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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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16 Sep 2015, 19:59
EMPOWERgmatRichC wrote:
Hi thorinoakenshield,

We're given (X^2 - X - 1)^(X+2) = 1

Given the way that the prompt is written, there are several ways to get a total that = 1:

(1)^(any power) = 1
(-1)^(even power) = 1
(any number)^0 = 1

The 'second option' is arguably the most 'complex' because it depends on 2 things (the base = -1 AND the exponent is EVEN).

IF....
(X^2 - X - 1) = -1
X^2 - X = 0
X(X - 1) = 0

This equation has 2 solutions: 0 and 1. HOWEVER, only one of them fits the given prompt....

IF....
X = 0, we have (-1)^(0+2) = 1, so this is a valid solution.

IF....
X = 1, we have (-1)(1+3) = -1 --> this is NOT a valid solution, since the end result is NOT 1.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

what will be the ans? a or d?
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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16 Sep 2015, 23:10
anik1989 wrote:
what will be the ans? a or d?

There are 4 values x can take: -2, -1, 0, 2 (look at smyarga's solution above)
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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17 Sep 2015, 04:55
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
anik1989 wrote:
what will be the ans? a or d?

There are 4 values x can take: -2, -1, 0, 2 (look at smyarga's solution above)

thank you karishma. honestly i dod not get that ans. why power has been ignored in sloution??
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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20 Sep 2015, 01:07
anik1989 wrote:
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
anik1989 wrote:
what will be the ans? a or d?

There are 4 values x can take: -2, -1, 0, 2 (look at smyarga's solution above)

thank you karishma. honestly i dod not get that ans. why power has been ignored in solution??

Hi Anik1989,

No power has been ignored in the solution.

As smyarga mentioned there are three possibilities.

1) Base is 1, then irrespective of the power, answer will be 1. Thus by equating base =1, we get values of x=2, x=-1. Now if we substitute these values in main equation (base^power), equation holds true. Thus we have 2 values of x

2) Base is -1 and power is even number. Then answer will always be 1. Now by equating base to -1, we get x=1,x=0. However, as per our condition if x=1, the power(x+2) becomes odd, thus only x=0 can be taken as a true value. So we have 1 value from this condition.

3) if power is zero(0) then, irrespective of the base, answer will be 1. Thus, by equating power(x+2) to 0, (x+2)=0, x=-2

thus we have totally 4 values(2,-1,0,-2) from all the three above conditions.

Hope it clears your doubt. Power is not ignored, in fact, every possibility is considered!

Cheers
Tx
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Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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21 Sep 2015, 22:49
1
anik1989 wrote:
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
anik1989 wrote:
what will be the ans? a or d?

There are 4 values x can take: -2, -1, 0, 2 (look at smyarga's solution above)

thank you karishma. honestly i dod not get that ans. why power has been ignored in sloution??

$$a^b = 1$$

In which all cases can this happen?
Case 1: a = 1, b can be anything e.g. $$1^4$$, $$1^{-3}$$, $$1^0$$
Case 2: a = -1, b must be an even integer e.g. $$(-1)^2$$, $$(-1)^{-4}$$
Case 3: b = 0, a must be a non zero number. e.g. 2^0

So you evaluate each one of these three cases:

Case 1: a = 1, b can be anything
$$x^2−x−1 = 1$$
$$x^2 - x -2 = 0$$
$$x^2 - 2x + x - 2 = 0$$

$$(x + 1)(x - 2) = 0$$

x = -1 or 2

We don't need to worry about b.

Case 2: a = -1, b must be an even integer
$$x^2−x−1 = -1$$
$$x(x - 1) = 0$$

x = 0 or 1

(x+2) must be even integer.
If x = 0, (0+2) is an even integer.
If x = 1, (1+2) is an odd integer so this is not valid.

From this case, we get only one value of x i.e. 0.

Case 3: b = 0, a must be a non zero number.
(x+2) = 0
x = -2
If x = -2, $$x^2−x−1$$ is not 0. So this is a valid solution too.

We got four solutions: x = -1, 2, 0, -2
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Re: Suppose x is an integer such that (x^2−x−1)^(x+2)=1  [#permalink]

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