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GMATPrepNow
What is the sum of all solutions to the equation \(x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} - 2 = 4\)?

A) -35
B) -19
C) 7
D) 19
E) 35


hey GMATPrepNow Brent :) can you please provide your detailed solution :)

have a good weekend :)
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GMATPrepNow
What is the sum of all solutions to the equation \(x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} - 2 = 4\)?

A) -35
B) -19
C) 7
D) 19
E) 35


hey GMATPrepNow Brent :) can you please provide your detailed solution :)

have a good weekend :)

Done!
Have a good weekend yourself!

Cheers,
Brent
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GMATPrepNow
What is the sum of all solutions to the equation \(x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} - 2 = 4\)?

A) -35
B) -19
C) 7
D) 19
E) 35

Approach #1
If we recognize that \(x^{\frac{2}{3}} = (x^{\frac{1}{3}})^2\), then we can use a technique called u-substitution.
Let \(u = x^{\frac{1}{3}}\)

Now take original equation and replace \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) with \(u\) to get: u² - u - 2 = 4
Subtract 4 from both sides to get: to get: u² - u - 6 = 0
Factor: (u - 3)(u + 2) = 0
So, the two solutions here are u = 3 and u = -2

At this point, we replace u with \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) to get:
\(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = 3 and \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = -2

If \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = 3, then x = 27
If \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = -8, then x = -8

So, the SUM of the solutions = 27 + -8 = 19

Answer: D
---------------------------------------------------------

Approach #2
If we recognize that \(x^{\frac{2}{3}} = (x^{\frac{1}{3}})^2\), then we can go straight to factoring.

GIVEN: \(x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} - 2 = 4\)
Subtract 4 from both sides to get: \(x^{\frac{2}{3}} - x^{\frac{1}{3}} - 6 = 0\)
Factor: \((x^{\frac{1}{3}} - 3)(x^{\frac{1}{3}} + 2) = 0\)
So, EITHER \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = 3 OR \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = -2

If \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = 3, then x = 27
If \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) = -8, then x = -8

So, the SUM of the solutions = 27 + -8 = 19

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent


Hello Brent, GMATPrepNow

thank you for great explanation :) just one question: can you please explain when to use u-substitution method ? I didn't get it.

thanks!
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dave13

Hello Brent, GMATPrepNow

thank you for great explanation :) just one question: can you please explain when to use u-substitution method ? I didn't get it.
thanks!

As you can see from my solutions above, it isn't absolutely necessary to use u-substitution here, but it does help make things clearer.
I'd say one might CONSIDER using u-substitution in cases where a particular term appears more than once.

For example: (k² + 7k - 1)² = 10(k² + 7k - 1) + 24
If we let u = (k² + 7k - 1), our equation becomes u² = 10u + 24 (much easier to deal with)

Does that help?

Cheers,
Brent
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