Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 11:57 It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 11:57
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
GMATBusters
User avatar
GMAT Tutor
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,921
Own Kudos:
6,855
 [13]
Given Kudos: 241
WE:General Management (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,921
Kudos: 6,855
 [13]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
10
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
GMATBusters
User avatar
GMAT Tutor
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,921
Own Kudos:
6,855
 [2]
Given Kudos: 241
WE:General Management (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,921
Kudos: 6,855
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Raxit85
Joined: 22 Feb 2018
Last visit: 02 Aug 2025
Posts: 761
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 135
Posts: 761
Kudos: 1,202
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
ashwini2k6jha
Joined: 11 Jun 2014
Last visit: 02 Mar 2026
Posts: 93
Own Kudos:
99
 [1]
Given Kudos: 48
Location: India
Schools: ISB '23
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V37
Schools: ISB '23
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V37
Posts: 93
Kudos: 99
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
x^3-x^2+4x^2-4x-5x-+5/x-1=0
(x^2+4x-5)(x-1)/x-1=0
x^2+4x-5=0
x=1,-5
as x=not1
Hence answer B
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 8,627
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
Products:
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,627
Kudos: 5,190
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
at x= 1 ,-5
we get (x^3+3x^2-9x+5)/(x-1) = 0
IMO B ; 1, -5 as x=1 not possible

How many unique roots of the equation (x^3+3x^2-9x+5)/(x-1) = 0?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. None of the above
User avatar
uc26
User avatar
INSEAD School Moderator
Joined: 19 Sep 2018
Last visit: 11 Nov 2021
Posts: 89
Own Kudos:
75
 [1]
Given Kudos: 945
Posts: 89
Kudos: 75
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
For every negative number, we get a negative result for LHS. Example x= -2.
For x=0, we get a result of -5 on the LHS.
For every positive number, we get a positive result for LHS. Example x=3.
Thus the LHS can never equal 0 which means the given equation has no unique roots.
Answer: A.
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,985
Own Kudos:
5,858
 [1]
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,985
Kudos: 5,858
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Asked: How many unique roots of the equation \((x^3+3x^2-9x+5)/(x-1) = 0?\)

\(x^3 + 3x^2 -9x + 5 = 0\) & \(x \neq 1\)
If x=1; \(x^3 + 3x^2 -9x + 5 = 1+ 3 -9 + 5 = 0\); x=1 is a root & (x-1) is a factor of \(x^3 + 3x^2 -9x + 5\)
\(x^3 + 3x^2 -9x + 5 = x^2(x-1) +4x(x-1) -5(x-1) = (x-1)(x^2+4x-5) = (x-1)(x+5)(x-1) = (x-1)^2(x+5)\)
Since \(x \neq 1\); x = -5 is the only root of the equation\( (x^3+3x^2-9x+5)/(x-1) = 0\)

IMO B

User avatar
freedom128
Joined: 30 Sep 2017
Last visit: 01 Oct 2020
Posts: 939
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 402
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
GPA: 3.8
Products:
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 939
Kudos: 1,377
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Note that x=1 is NOT a valid solution for equation (x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)/(x - 1) = 0. The divisor (x-1) must not be zero

(x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)/(x - 1) = 0
--> (x-1)(x^2 +4x -5)/(x-1) = 0
--> (x-1)(x-1)(x+5)/(x-1) = 0
--> x=1 (Not applicable) or x=-5 (Yes)

Therefore, there is only 1 (one) unique root of such equation.

FINAL ANSWER IS (B) 1 only

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
shameekv1989
Joined: 14 Dec 2019
Last visit: 17 Jun 2021
Posts: 816
Own Kudos:
1,006
 [2]
Given Kudos: 354
Location: Poland
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
GMAT 1: 640 Q49 V27
GMAT 2: 660 Q49 V31
GMAT 3: 720 Q50 V38
GPA: 4
WE:Engineering (Consumer Electronics)
Products:
GMAT 3: 720 Q50 V38
Posts: 816
Kudos: 1,006
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
How many unique roots of the equation (x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)/(x - 1) = 0?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. None of the above

\(\frac{(x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)}{(x-1)}\) = \(\frac{(x^3 - x^2 + 4x^2 - 9x + 5)}{(x-1)}\) = \(\frac{(x^2(x-1) + (4x^2-9x+5))}{(x-1)}\) = \(\frac{(x^2(x-1) + (x-1)(4x-5))}{(x-1)}\) = \(\frac{(x^2+4x-5)(x-1)}{(x-1)}\)

x^2+4x-5 = (x+5)(x-1)

But x can not be equal to 1

Hence x = -5 is the only root of the equation

Answer - B
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 17 Dec 2025
Posts: 5,904
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,904
Kudos: 5,449
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
How many unique roots of the equation \(\frac{(x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)}{(x - 1)} = 0\)?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
E. None of the above

\(\frac{(x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)}{(x - 1)} = 0\)

Or, \(\frac{(x−1)(x−1)(x+5)}{(x - 1)} = 0\)

So, \((x−1)(x+5) = 0\)

Hence unique value of \(x = -5\) , Answer must be (B)
User avatar
omema
Joined: 23 Aug 2022
Last visit: 28 Aug 2024
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
Posts: 11
Kudos: 3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Why X=1 is not possible
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,751
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,821
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,751
Kudos: 810,648
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
omema
Why X=1 is not possible

When x = 1, then \(\frac{(x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)}{(x - 1) }= \frac{(x^3 + 3x^2 - 9x + 5)}{0}\), which is undefined. Recall that division by 0 is not allowed.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,966
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,966
Kudos: 1,117
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:
Math Expert
109751 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts