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AnkitOrYadav
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Bunuel
If x and y are non-zero integers, what is the value of \((x^{2y} − 1)\)?


(1) \(|x| + |y| = 5\), where \(1 < |x| < y\)

(2) \(| x^2 − 4| + | y − 3| = 0\)

Question: what is the value of \((x^{2y} − 1)\)?

To answer the question we need to know the value of \(x^y\) irrespective of the sign of this expression because we finally have to square it to calculate \((x^{2y} − 1)\)

Statement 1: \(|x| + |y| = 5\), where \(1 < |x| < y\)

This statement is Possible only when \(x = +2\) or \(-2\) and \(y = +3\)
i.e. \(x^y = 2^3 or -2^3 = +8 or -8\)
i.e. \(x^{2y} = 8^2 = 64\)
SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: \(| x^2 − 4| + | y − 3| = 0\)
Since modulus of any expression can't be Negative hence minimum it may be zero
therefore in this case \(| x^2 − 4| \) and \(| y − 3| \) both MUST be zero

i.e. \(x = +2\) or \(-2\) and \(y = 3\)
i.e. \(x^y = 2^3 or -2^3 = +8 or -8\)
i.e. \(x^{2y} = 8^2 = 64\)
SUFFICIENT

Answer: Option D

P.S.This is GMATINSIGHT Method taught at GMATINSIGHT class which is so logical and so quick that any mathematical solutionmay be left behind. To know more, you may get in touch.
i understand the secondstatement explanation,but unable to understand 1 statement:
This statement is Possible only when \(x = +2\) or \(-2\) and \(y = +3\)

Why cannot we consider x=-3 and y=-2
or x=3 and y=-3

Because the statement tells us that y is larger than 1 - it can't be a negative number!
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AnkitOrYadav
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Bunuel
If x and y are non-zero integers, what is the value of \((x^{2y} − 1)\)?


(1) \(|x| + |y| = 5\), where \(1 < |x| < y\)

(2) \(| x^2 − 4| + | y − 3| = 0\)

Question: what is the value of \((x^{2y} − 1)\)?

To answer the question we need to know the value of \(x^y\) irrespective of the sign of this expression because we finally have to square it to calculate \((x^{2y} − 1)\)

Statement 1: \(|x| + |y| = 5\), where \(1 < |x| < y\)

This statement is Possible only when \(x = +2\) or \(-2\) and \(y = +3\)
i.e. \(x^y = 2^3 or -2^3 = +8 or -8\)
i.e. \(x^{2y} = 8^2 = 64\)
SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: \(| x^2 − 4| + | y − 3| = 0\)
Since modulus of any expression can't be Negative hence minimum it may be zero
therefore in this case \(| x^2 − 4| \) and \(| y − 3| \) both MUST be zero

i.e. \(x = +2\) or \(-2\) and \(y = 3\)
i.e. \(x^y = 2^3 or -2^3 = +8 or -8\)
i.e. \(x^{2y} = 8^2 = 64\)
SUFFICIENT

Answer: Option D

P.S.This is GMATINSIGHT Method taught at GMATINSIGHT class which is so logical and so quick that any mathematical solutionmay be left behind. To know more, you may get in touch.
i understand the secondstatement explanation,but unable to understand 1 statement:
This statement is Possible only when \(x = +2\) or \(-2\) and \(y = +3\)

Why cannot we consider x=-3 and y=-2
or x=3 and y=-3

AnkitOrYadav

Because it's given that \(1 < |x| < y\) i.e.y can NOT be taken less than or equal to 2

I hope this helps!!!
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am i missing something here? where are the arrows in the original question?
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dbcoupie123
am i missing something here? where are the arrows in the original question?

There are no arrows in the original question. It's a copy-paste error.
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Bunuel
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am i missing something here? where are the arrows in the original question?

There are no arrows in the original question. It's a copy-paste error.

Thanks! then the first question stem should read |y|, not |4|
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dbcoupie123
Bunuel
dbcoupie123
am i missing something here? where are the arrows in the original question?

There are no arrows in the original question. It's a copy-paste error.

Thanks! then the first question stem should read |y|, not |4|
________________________________________________________
Fixed. Thank you.
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