Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 02:55 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 02:55
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
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
rahulp11
User avatar
Joined: 05 Sep 2021
Last visit: 18 Feb 2023
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
91
 [4]
Given Kudos: 80
Posts: 44
Kudos: 91
 [4]
If (3 - x) = 1 - (2x), then 9x^2 = 06 Feb 2022, 22:11
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

66% (02:49) correct 34% (03:06) wrong based on 56 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
If \(\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x}, \) then \(9x^2 =\)
(A) 5
(B) 8
(C) 2 - 3x
(D) 12 - 4x
(E) 20x - 4

Source: Total GMAT Math - Jeff Sackmann

This Question is Locked Due to Poor Quality
Hi there,
The question you've reached has been archived due to not meeting our community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Looking for better-quality questions? Check out the 'Similar Questions' block below for a list of similar but high-quality questions.
Want to join other relevant Problem Solving discussions? Visit our Problem Solving (PS) Forum for the most recent and top-quality discussions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
E
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,802
Own Kudos:
810,922
Given Kudos: 105,868
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,802
Kudos: 810,922
If (3 - x) = 1 - (2x), then 9x^2 = 07 Feb 2022, 01:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rahulp11
If \(\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x}, \) then \(9x^2 =\)
(A) 5
(B) 8
(C) 2 - 3x
(D) 12 - 4x
(E) 20x - 4

Source: Total GMAT Math - Jeff Sackmann
Show more


Can you please check whether you copied the question correctly? [m]\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x} has no solution.

By the way, this question is a copy of the following OG question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-3-2x-1-2- ... 35539.html
User avatar
rahulp11
User avatar
Joined: 05 Sep 2021
Last visit: 18 Feb 2023
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
91
 [2]
Given Kudos: 80
Posts: 44
Kudos: 91
 [2]
If (3 - x) = 1 - (2x), then 9x^2 = 07 Feb 2022, 05:41
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
rahulp11
If \(\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x}, \) then \(9x^2 =\)
(A) 5
(B) 8
(C) 2 - 3x
(D) 12 - 4x
(E) 20x - 4

Source: Total GMAT Math - Jeff Sackmann


Can you please check whether you copied the question correctly? \(\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x}\) has no solution.

By the way, this question is a copy of the following OG question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-3-2x-1-2- ... 35539.html
Show more

I believe the question is correctly copied from the source :angel: . Below is the explanation stated in the source:

EXPL: It’s far from clear at the outset how you’ll find the value of \(9x^2\), but it’s usually the case that you have to get rid of the radical signs to accomplish anything. You can start down that path by squaring both sides of the equation:

\((\sqrt{3 - x})^2 = (1 - \sqrt{2x})^2\)

\(3 - x = 1 + 2x -2\sqrt{2x}\)

\(3x - 2 = 2\sqrt{2x} \)

There’s still a radical, so square both sides again:

\((2\sqrt{2x})^2 = (3x - 2)^2\)

\(4(2x) = 9x^2 - 12x + 4\)

\(9x^2 = 20x - 4\), choice (E).

[end of explaination]

Thanks for providing the OG reference :please:. I am starting to gather that a lot of the Total GMAT Challenge questions are some variation of the harder OG questions
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,802
Own Kudos:
810,922
 [1]
Given Kudos: 105,868
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,802
Kudos: 810,922
 [1]
If (3 - x) = 1 - (2x), then 9x^2 = 07 Feb 2022, 05:57
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rahulp11
Bunuel
rahulp11
If \(\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x}, \) then \(9x^2 =\)
(A) 5
(B) 8
(C) 2 - 3x
(D) 12 - 4x
(E) 20x - 4

Source: Total GMAT Math - Jeff Sackmann


Can you please check whether you copied the question correctly? \(\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x}\) has no solution.

By the way, this question is a copy of the following OG question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-3-2x-1-2- ... 35539.html

I believe the question is correctly copied from the source :angel: . Below is the explanation stated in the source:

EXPL: It’s far from clear at the outset how you’ll find the value of \(9x^2\), but it’s usually the case that you have to get rid of the radical signs to accomplish anything. You can start down that path by squaring both sides of the equation:

\((\sqrt{3 - x})^2 = (1 - \sqrt{2x})^2\)

\(3 - x = 1 + 2x -2\sqrt{2x}\)

\(3x - 2 = 2\sqrt{2x} \)

There’s still a radical, so square both sides again:

\((2\sqrt{2x})^2 = (3x - 2)^2\)

\(4(2x) = 9x^2 - 12x + 4\)

\(9x^2 = 20x - 4\), choice (E).

[end of explaination]

Thanks for providing the OG reference :please:. I am starting to gather that a lot of the Total GMAT Challenge questions are some variation of the harder OG questions
Show more

The problem there is that the equation in the original question, \(\sqrt{3-2x} = \sqrt{2x} +1\), has a solution: \(x = \frac{3}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{5}}{4}\), while the equation in this question, \(\sqrt{3 - x} = 1 -\sqrt{ 2x}\), has no solution for x. Proper GMAT question won't give you an equation that has no real solujtion..
User avatar
Oppenheimer1945
User avatar
Joined: 16 Jul 2019
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 785
Own Kudos:
663
Given Kudos: 236
Location: India
Schools: INSEAD '26 (D) ISB '27 (D) IIMB '26 (A) IIMA '26 (A) HEC '26 (D) LBS '26 IESE '27 (D) Fuqua '27 (WL) Tepper '27 (WL)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q90 V76 DI80
GPA: 7.81
Schools: INSEAD '26 (D) ISB '27 (D) IIMB '26 (A) IIMA '26 (A) HEC '26 (D) LBS '26 IESE '27 (D) Fuqua '27 (WL) Tepper '27 (WL)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q90 V76 DI80
Posts: 785
Kudos: 663
If (3 - x) = 1 - (2x), then 9x^2 = 21 Mar 2024, 23:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
3-x=1+2x-2rt(2x)
3x-2=2rt(2x)
9x^2+4-12x=8x
=>9x^2=20x-4

This Question is Locked Due to Poor Quality
Hi there,
The question you've reached has been archived due to not meeting our community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Looking for better-quality questions? Check out the 'Similar Questions' block below for a list of similar but high-quality questions.
Want to join other relevant Problem Solving discussions? Visit our Problem Solving (PS) Forum for the most recent and top-quality discussions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109802 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts