Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 02:25 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 02:25
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
noTh1ng
User avatar
Joined: 07 Apr 2015
Last visit: 06 Jan 2017
Posts: 123
Own Kudos:
214
 [16]
Given Kudos: 185
Posts: 123
Kudos: 214
 [16]
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? Updated on: 28 Jul 2015, 00:36
Originally posted by noTh1ng on 24 Jul 2015, 05:11.
Last edited by noTh1ng on 28 Jul 2015, 00:36, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
16
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:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

80% (01:19) correct 20% (02:09) wrong based on 440 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
What is the largest possible value of \(c\) if \(5c + (d-12)^2 = 235\) ?

A) 17
B) 25
C) 35
D) 42
E) 47
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
E
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,822
Own Kudos:
811,130
 [2]
Given Kudos: 105,878
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: 109,822
Kudos: 811,130
 [2]
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 24 Jul 2015, 05:15
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
noTh1ng
What is the largest possible value of \(c\) if \(5c + (d-12)^2 = 235\) ?

A) 17
B) 25
C) 35
D) 42
E) 47


I was not able to solve this algebraically...
Show more

To maximize c, we should minimize (d-12)^2. (d-12)^2 is a square of a number, thus its smallest possible value is 0 (for d = 12).

In this case we'd have 5c + 0 = 235 --> c = 47.

Answer: E.
User avatar
ENGRTOMBA2018
User avatar
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Last visit: 01 Dec 2021
Posts: 2,319
Own Kudos:
3,890
Given Kudos: 816
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Schools: Kellogg '18 (M)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44
GPA: 3.7
WE:Engineering (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Kellogg '18 (M)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44
Posts: 2,319
Kudos: 3,890
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 24 Jul 2015, 05:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
noTh1ng
What is the largest possible value of \(c\) if \(5c + (d-12)^2 = 235\) ?

A) 17
B) 25
C) 35
D) 42
E) 47


I was not able to solve this algebraically...
Show more

You need to remember that the minimum value of a square term is 0. Any square \(\geq\) 0

Thus, the given equation is : \(5c + (d-12)^2 = 235\) ---> \(5c = 235 - (d-12)^2\)

Now, based on the above manipulation, we can see that 235- a positive quantity = will only decrease the value of c.

Thus the maximum value of c will be obtained when (d-12)^2 = 0 ---> d =12

Thus the maximum value of c = (235-0 )/5 = 47. E is the correct answer.
User avatar
GMATinsight
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 08 Jul 2010
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 6,977
Own Kudos:
16,915
Given Kudos: 128
Status:GMAT/GRE Tutor l Admission Consultant l On-Demand Course creator
Location: India
GMAT: QUANT+DI EXPERT
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
WE:Education (Education)
Products:
My Reviews
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
Posts: 6,977
Kudos: 16,915
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 24 Jul 2015, 06:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
noTh1ng
What is the largest possible value of \(c\) if \(5c + (d-12)^2 = 235\) ?

A) 17
B) 25
C) 35
D) 42
E) 47


I was not able to solve this algebraically...
Show more

Clearly d needs to be minimized to find the maximum value of c
i.e. d-12 must be a minimum perfect square and 235 - (d-12)^2 must be a multiple of 5
which is possible when d=12 i.e. d-12 = 0
i.e. 5c = 235 - 0 = 235
i.e. c = 47

Answer: option E
User avatar
TimeTraveller
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jun 2015
Last visit: 29 Jul 2017
Posts: 237
Own Kudos:
361
Given Kudos: 47
Concentration: Finance
GPA: 3.5
Posts: 237
Kudos: 361
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 24 Jul 2015, 06:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
5c + (d-12)^2 = 235.

to maximise the value of c the value of (d-12)^2 must be minimised.

(d-12)^2 is minimum when d = 12: (12-12)^2 = 0.

So, 5c = 235, c = 235/5 = 47. Ans (E).
avatar
joshbeall
avatar
Joined: 21 Feb 2016
Last visit: 12 Apr 2016
Posts: 6
Posts: 6
Kudos: 0
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 25 Feb 2016, 17:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Engr2012

You need to remember that the minimum value of a square term is 0. Any square \(\geq\) 0
Show more

Well, only if you exclude imaginary numbers, which my brain didn't automatically do.

I had to re-read this question a few times and look at the answer choices until I realized that we're excluding imaginary numbers.

Is it safe to assume that the GMAT will always disregard imaginary numbers? Or do you have to infer whether imaginary numbers are valid based on the question and answer choices?

This is another way of asking: Can we safely assume, 100% of the time, that if we see a squared number, it is greater than 0? Because \(i^2\) is -1--which is less than 0.

Thanks for helping me get this clarified!

-Josh
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,822
Own Kudos:
811,130
Given Kudos: 105,878
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: 109,822
Kudos: 811,130
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 25 Feb 2016, 22:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
joshbeall
Engr2012

You need to remember that the minimum value of a square term is 0. Any square \(\geq\) 0

Well, only if you exclude imaginary numbers, which my brain didn't automatically do.

I had to re-read this question a few times and look at the answer choices until I realized that we're excluding imaginary numbers.

Is it safe to assume that the GMAT will always disregard imaginary numbers? Or do you have to infer whether imaginary numbers are valid based on the question and answer choices?

This is another way of asking: Can we safely assume, 100% of the time, that if we see a squared number, it is greater than 0? Because \(i^2\) is -1--which is less than 0.

Thanks for helping me get this clarified!

-Josh
Show more

All numbers on the GMAT are by default real numbers. So, we do not consider complex/imaginary numbers on the GMAT.
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 17 Dec 2025
Posts: 5,903
Own Kudos:
5,454
 [2]
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,903
Kudos: 5,454
 [2]
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 04 Mar 2017, 23:30
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
noTh1ng
What is the largest possible value of \(c\) if \(5c + (d-12)^2 = 235\) ?

A) 17
B) 25
C) 35
D) 42
E) 47
Show more

Check using the options , I will try with the largest value of c ( As given in the option )

\(5c + (d-12)^2 = 235\)

Or, \(5*47 + (d-12)^2 = 235\)

Or, \(235 + (d-12)^2 = 235\)

Or, \((d-12)^2 = 0\)

Thus, if d = 12 ; \((d-12)^2 = 0\)

So, the greatest possible value of c will be (E) 47...
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,977
Own Kudos:
1,117
Posts: 38,977
Kudos: 1,117
What is the largest possible value of c if 5c + (d-12)^2 = 235? 17 Jan 2026, 07:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109822 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts