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chetan2u
Bunuel
If |3 – x| < x + 5, which of the following may be true about x ?

I. x > –1
II. x < 2
III. x < –2

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and II only
D. I and III only
E. I, II, and III

|3 – x| < x + 5
Two case:

(1) 3-x>0 or x<3:
3-x<x+5……….2x>-2…….x>-1, so I and II will fit in.

(2) \(3-x\leq 0\) or x>3:
x-3<x+5………..-3<5……Always true.

Combined we are looking at x>-1.


Only I and II.


C

Bunuel, Typo in OA, I am correcting it.

chetan2u
How II is valid? Since x > -1, what if x = -5? Still x < 2. Please help if I'm missing somewhere

Hi

The question is MAY be true and not MUST be true, so any small value fitting in that range is sufficient.

Now we know values between -1 and 2 are valid for range x<2.

For that matter even x<-0.99 MAY be true as -0.995 or -0.998 or -0.999 will give an answer yes to expression.
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Asked: If |3 – x| < x + 5, which of the following may be true about x ?

|3 – x| < x + 5
Case 1: x>=3
x-3 < x+5
-3 < 5
ALWAYS TRUE

Case 2: x<3
3-x < x+5
x > -1
-1 <x < 3

Combining x>=3 and -1<x<3
x > -1

I. x > –1: ALWAYS TRUE
II. x < 2: MAY BE TRUE
III. x < –2: CAN NOT BE TRUE

IMO C
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­In such question,
Please put nearby values from given option and check.
you will notice only I and II these two are valid. for may be true condition.
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|3 – x| < x + 5
=> | x - 3 | < x + 5

We have two cases as we have one modulus
-Case 1: x - 3 ≥ 0

=> | x - 3 | = x - 3
=> x - 3 < x + 5
=> 8 > 0

Which is true always
=> x - 3 ≥ 0 is a solution
=> x ≥ 3 is TRUE
-Case 2: x - 3 ≤ 0
=> | x - 3 | = -(x - 3)
=> - (x - 3) < x + 5
=> -x + 3 < x + 5
=> 2x > -2
=> x > -1

BUT the range was x ≤ 3
=> -1 < x ≤ 3 is a solution

Combining both the solutions we get
-1 < x ≤ 3 and 3 ≤ x
=> -1 < x

I. x > –1
WILL BE TRUE ALWAYS

II. x < 2

MAY be TRUE for values of x between -1 and 2

III. x < –2

WILL NEVER BE TRUE as x > -1


So, Answer will be C
Hope it helps!

Watch the following video to MASTER Absolute Values

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3 - x < x + 5

3 - 5 < x + x
-2 < 2x
-1 < x
x > -1


The question asks which of the following may be true (i.e., which statements describe a range that overlaps with our solution x > -1
  • I. x > -1: This is the exact solution. Since all values of x satisfy this, it definitely "may be true."
  • II. x < 2: Values like x = 0 or x = 1 are in our solution set (x > -1) and also satisfy x < 2. Therefore, this "may be true."
  • III. x < -2: Our solution requires x to be greater than -1. There is no overlap between x > -1 and x < -2. Therefore, this cannot be true.
Conclusion
Statements I and II can be true.
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