Last visit was: 05 Sep 2026, 07:03 It is currently 05 Sep 2026, 07:03
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
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

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
stretchad
User avatar
Joined: 20 Nov 2005
Last visit: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 32
Own Kudos:
99
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 32
Kudos: 99
This is one of my first posts on the board and came up with 28 Nov 2005, 19:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This is one of my first posts on the board and came up with this question while studying (albeit while trying to watch my COLTS play the Steelers in Monday night football!!)

Problem Solving question #55 in the OG 11th ed. is a minimizing question and the explanation in the OG doesn't explain it very well for me. Isn't there some rule for easily calculating the value of X that minimizes or maximizes a given formula or am I thinking of something else?

How do I go about handling these questions?

Thanks!



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
gamjatang
User avatar
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Last visit: 07 Jul 2007
Posts: 523
Own Kudos:
1,244
Location: South Korea
Posts: 523
Kudos: 1,244
This is one of my first posts on the board and came up with 28 Nov 2005, 19:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
stretchad
This is one of my first posts on the board and came up with this question while studying (albeit while trying to watch my COLTS play the Steelers in Monday night football!!)

Problem Solving question #55 in the OG 11th ed. is a minimizing question and the explanation in the OG doesn't explain it very well for me. Isn't there some rule for easily calculating the value of X that minimizes or maximizes a given formula or am I thinking of something else?

How do I go about handling these questions?

Thanks!
Show more


Please let me know what question it is.
User avatar
ywilfred
User avatar
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Last visit: 06 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,987
Own Kudos:
2,073
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,987
Kudos: 2,073
This is one of my first posts on the board and came up with 28 Nov 2005, 19:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Do post the question, as not everybody owns a copy of the 11th Ed. OG. This way, more people can answer your question.

Thanks !
User avatar
stretchad
User avatar
Joined: 20 Nov 2005
Last visit: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 32
Own Kudos:
99
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 32
Kudos: 99
This is one of my first posts on the board and came up with 28 Nov 2005, 21:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Sorry about that.

I think this one is a fairly simple one, but i feel like there must be an easy rule to remember as problems get increasingly difficult...

If y = 4 + (x - 3)^2, then y is lowest when x =
a - 14
b - 13
c - 0
d - 3
e - 4
User avatar
laxieqv
User avatar
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Last visit: 24 Jun 2011
Posts: 831
Own Kudos:
1,539
Posts: 831
Kudos: 1,539
This is one of my first posts on the board and came up with 29 Nov 2005, 03:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
stretchad
Sorry about that.

I think this one is a fairly simple one, but i feel like there must be an easy rule to remember as problems get increasingly difficult...

If y = 4 + (x - 3)^2, then y is lowest when x =
a - 14
b - 13
c - 0
d - 3
e - 4
Show more


the rule is to spread the condensed expression into the form of a quadratic expression IN CASE it's originally in condensed form
For example: y=ax^2+bx+c . This is a parabola. The biggest/ smallest of y then is the peak/ nadir of the parabola. The formula for this point is :
-( b^2-4ac)/ (-4a) ( if i remember correctly, i'll double-check it)

1) if the expression contains -x^2, the question asks for the peak/ the biggest value.
2) if the expression contains x^2, the question asks for the nadir/ the smallest value.

For example: y=x^2 - 6x + 12
the nadir is -[((-6)^2- 4*12*1)/ 4*1] = 3 --> the smallest value of y is 3


OR you can solve it another way by trying to group the expression into froms of - (ax+b)^2 +c OR (ax+b)^2 +c
For example: x^2-6x+12= (x-3)^2+3



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!