Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 08:58 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 08:58
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
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,814
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,871
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,814
Kudos: 811,028
 [17]
Kudos
Add Kudos
17
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
imeanup
Joined: 15 Jun 2017
Last visit: 24 Mar 2026
Posts: 452
Own Kudos:
635
 [3]
Given Kudos: 8
Location: India
Posts: 452
Kudos: 635
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
learnwithrohan
Joined: 28 Mar 2017
Last visit: 19 Mar 2026
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
33
 [2]
Given Kudos: 22
Posts: 51
Kudos: 33
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Edoua
Joined: 18 Feb 2024
Last visit: 16 Mar 2026
Posts: 103
Own Kudos:
55
 [1]
Given Kudos: 638
Posts: 103
Kudos: 55
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Answer D
4k^2 +15k -4 >0
(K+4)(K-1/4)>0

-4 and 1/4 are the 2 solutions of the equation (k+4)(k-1/4)=0

Using the waiving line method to find the solution

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
sayan640
Joined: 29 Oct 2015
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,119
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 789
GMAT 1: 570 Q42 V28
Products:
GMAT 1: 570 Q42 V28
Posts: 1,119
Kudos: 862
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
KarishmaB MartyMurray , After solving -2*k + root over ( 4 - 15*k ) I am getting the range as -4 <k <1/4 and selected option A . What mistake did I make ? Can you please help ?­
I found ( k+4 ) * (4k -1 ) < 0 and then used the wavy line method to get suitable range. Please help.­
User avatar
Regor60
Joined: 21 Nov 2021
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 529
Own Kudos:
420
 [4]
Given Kudos: 462
Posts: 529
Kudos: 420
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Try 0.

Equation then becomes:

√4 = 2.

This eliminates B, D and E since 0 is not in their ranges.

Leaving A and C.

How do their ranges differ ?

C allows for all values less than 1/4, while A limits C's range to >-4.

So if -4 generates a positive result, we then could eliminate A:

(-2*-4) + √(4-(15*-4)) =

8 + √64 = 16

Answer C

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
MartyMurray
Joined: 11 Aug 2023
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,848
Own Kudos:
7,110
 [1]
Given Kudos: 212
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 1,848
Kudos: 7,110
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sayan640
KarishmaB MartyMurray , After solving -2*k + root over ( 4 - 5*k ) I am getting the range as -4 <k <1/4 and selected option A . What mistake did I make ? Can you please help ?­
I found ( k+4 ) * (4k -1 ) < 0 and then used the wavy line method to get suitable range. Please help.
­Notice that  when you start off, you do not actually have this:

­\( -2k + \sqrt{4 - 15k} = 0\)

What you actually have is this:

\( -2k + \sqrt{4 - 15k} > 0\)

Then, this:

\( \sqrt{4 - 15k} > 2k \)­

So, when you take this step, you are squaring an inequality, which may not be a valid operation if the two sides can have different signs:

\( (\sqrt{4 - 15k})^2 > (2k)^2 \)­

In fact, we can confirm that something is wrong with the approach of squaring both sides and using the wavy line method by noticing that, for any negative k with a large absolute value, ­\( -2k + \sqrt{4 - 15k}\) must clearly be positive.

So, you could either use a different approach, such as plugging in values, or use the approach you used and then check the values you get to adjust your result as needed to adjust for whatever might go wrong as a result of squaring the inequality.

I personally find that the easiest way to solve the problem is to see that any negative k with a large absolute value must work. So, A, B, and E are out because they restrict k to above -4 or above 0. Then, notice that any large positive k won't work. So, D is out. Thus, the only possible correct answer is C.­
User avatar
Oppenheimer1945
Joined: 16 Jul 2019
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 785
Own Kudos:
663
 [1]
Given Kudos: 236
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q90 V76 DI80
GPA: 7.81
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If you're familiar with plotting parabolas, you can solve it within seconds.

\(f(x)=rt(4-15x)\) will be leftwards opening

intersects with \(g(x)=2x\) at x=1/4.

The function \(f(x)\) is above \(g(x)\) for all values of \(x<1/4.\)

Using desmos for clarity.­
Attachments

image_2024-04-19_233632358.png
image_2024-04-19_233632358.png [ 52.17 KiB | Viewed 3855 times ]

User avatar
K-ja
Joined: 05 Jan 2024
Last visit: 17 Nov 2024
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 79
Location: United States
GMAT Focus 1: 615 Q90 V80 DI72
GMAT Focus 1: 615 Q90 V80 DI72
Posts: 11
Kudos: 6
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am still confused why is the answer C and not A?­
User avatar
sayan640
Joined: 29 Oct 2015
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,119
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 789
GMAT 1: 570 Q42 V28
Products:
GMAT 1: 570 Q42 V28
Posts: 1,119
Kudos: 862
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
K-ja
I am still confused why is the answer C and not A?­
Follow the explanation provided by Regor60. You ll easily understand.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,986
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,986
Kudos: 5,859
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Asked: If the value of -\(2k+ \sqrt{4-15k}\) is positive, which of the following ranges represents the value of \(k\)?
4 -15k >=0
k <= 4/15

\(-2k+ \sqrt{4-15k} > 0\)
\(-\sqrt{4-15k} > 2k\)

Case 1: k>=0
4 - 15k > 4kˆ2
4kˆ2 + 15k - 4 < 0
(4k-1)(k+4) <0
-4 < k < 1/4

Case 2: k<0
-2k > 0
\(\sqrt{4-15k} >=0\)
\(-2k+ \sqrt{4-15k} > 0\) for all values of k<0
k<0

Combining the above 2 results
k<1/4


IMO C
­
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,974
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,974
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
109814 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts